- The presidential election process - Who can vote? - Electoral college - Swing states

1. American Politics
Week 44

2. Plan
Learning goals:
• Can explain the process of
running for President in the
US
• Understands the
presidential election
process

3. The Party ticket
Party platform

5. The Party ticket
Party platform

7. The Party ticket
Party platform

8. Who can vote?
 US citizen or American territories (Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa)
 At least 18 years old
 Meets the resident requirements of their state
 Registered to vote before the state’s deadline
× Non-citizens, including permanent legal
residents
× Some people with felony convictions. Rules vary
by state.
× Some people who are mentally incapacitated.
Rules vary by state.

10. Who can vote?
Discuss in pairs:
1. Do enough US citizens have the right to vote?
2. Among the those who have the right to vote,
do enough of them actually do it?

11. The Party ticket
Party platform

12. Who can vote?
Amendment?
• A change or addition to legislation (e.g. the Constitution)
• Refer to amendments when talking about change of voter rights
• See the video from yesterday and take notes (e.g. Women’s suffrage
[right to vote] – 19th amendment in 1920)

13. The Election Procedure
January of election year:
the primaries and
caucuses
Summer of election year:
the national party
conventions
Fall: the election
campaigns
Tuesday after the first
Monday in November:
Election Day
December: The Electoral
College elects the
President
January 20 the following
year: Inauguration Day, the
new President takes office.

15. Electoral College
Discuss in groups:
1. The electoral college is known to assist
small states as well as geographically large
states with small populations. Do you think
that the electoral college benefits the small
states? What other system could be
implemented to help states with small
populations?
2. In 1964, it was decided that the electoral
college would consist of 538 votes. Why do
you think they decided on that number?
What is the benefit of including the three
additional seats from the District of
Columbia?

16. Electoral College
Discuss in pairs:
• Why do you think the caucus in Iowa attracts so much attention?
• How democratic do you think the American electoral system is?
• Some argue that the Electoral College is obsolete. Discuss this view.
• Can you think of a reason, if you look back on the history of the United
States, that might explain why they did not go for direct elections?
What made the Founding Fathers, in 1787, take this extra precaution
by including an extra stage in the election procedure?
• Discuss the pros and cons of a two-party system and a multi-party
system.
• Discuss the pros and cons of a “winner-takes-all” system and a system
of proportional representation (popular vote).

17. Electoral college
Figure out the following:
1. Who’s the governor now, from
what party?
2. Number of delegates/electoral
college votes
3. Track record of previous
elections (go back min. 5 pres.
elections)
4. What are the polls telling us
today?
5. What are the main political
issues the voters care about?
6. Who can vote? Any
restrictions?