2. Natural born citizen
At least 35 years old
JFK (youngest elected);
TR (youngest to serve);
Reagan (oldest elected)
14 years a resident of US
Informal Qualifications
WHO CAN BE PRESIDENT?
3.
4. Four years, with an option for four more
Not codified until 1951…Why? (22nd Amendment)
George Washington’s precedent
Should the 22nd Amendment be repealed?
Would a single, 6 year term be better?
THE PRESIDENT’S TERM
15. What happens if the president dies?
VP assumes the office
John Tyler the first
Constitution: “powers and
duties…devolve to the vice president.”
25th Amendment (1967) lays out the
process of presidential succession
Presidential Succession Act of 1947:
Congress fixes the order of succession
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION
17. What happens if the president is disabled?
Office goes to VP if:
1. President informs Congress, in writing,
that he or she cannot discharge the duties
of the office
2. VP and majority of the Cabinet informs
Congress, in writing, that the president
cannot fulfill the duties of the office
1985: Reagan
2002: George W. Bush
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION
18. What are the Constitutional duties of the VP?
9 VPs have succeeded to the Presidency
The Modern Vice-Presidency
Balancing the Ticket
A Co-President?
THE VICE-PRESIDENT
19. "I do not propose to be buried until I am dead." — Daniel Webster,
turning down the vice presidency in 1839.
Being vice president is comparable to "a man in a cataleptic fit; he
cannot speak; he cannot move; he suffers no pain; he is perfectly
conscious of all that goes on, but has no part in it." — Thomas R.
Marshall, vice president under Woodrow Wilson.
"I am vice president. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything." —
John Adams
"The second office of this government is honorable and easy, the first is
but a splendid misery." — Thomas Jefferson
"I would a great deal rather be anything, say professor of history, than
vice president." — Theodore Roosevelt
"I go to funerals. I go to earthquakes." — Nelson Rockefeller
"The vice president has two duties. One is to inquire daily as to the
health of the president, and the other is to attend the funerals of Third
World dictators. And neither of those do I find an enjoyable exercise."
Presidential candidate John McCain, in 2000
20. Original Plan
Electors from each state cast two ballots, each for a different
candidate.
Who were the electors?
Most votes: President
Second most votes: VP
CHOOSING THE PRESIDENT
21. By 1796
Adams wins; Jefferson his VP
Election of 1800
Both political parties nominate Pres & VP candidates
Jefferson & Burr tie; House elects Jefferson
12th Amendment
Electors vote for a Pres & VP candidate
POLITICAL PARTIES:
A WRENCH IN THE WORKS
22. Party Conventions
Both parties by 1832
Created by the parties
Each state given a number of delegates
Who are these delegates & how are they chosen?
NOMINATING THE PRESIDENT
23. Most delegates chosen through primaries
Process varies from state to state
Most states award delegates proportionally
Front-loading
New Hampshire has, by state law, held first primary since 1940
States continue to move primaries up on the calendar. Why?
How does front-loading impact the process?
https:// www.you tu be.c o m/ wa tch? v =X 5OfR i oyK i w
(NH primary)
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
24. What’s good about New Hampshire being first?
What’s bad about New Hampshire being first?
NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY
29. Used in states without a primary
Caucus-goers gather, debate, and select a candidate
Iowa always the first caucus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RXie7FJqOA
(Iowa)
CAUCUSES
30. President & VP candidates formally nominated
Party platforms decided…candidates not beholden to them
Why are conventions still important?
NATIONAL CONVENTION
31. Be a governor of a large state
Be a US Senator
Be a WASP
Be telegenic
HOW TO GET
NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT
32. What happens if there’s a tie?
Decided by the House
Each state one vote
1800 & 1824
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUS9mM8Xbbw
(Electoral College CGPGrey)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wC42HgLA4k
(flaws in EC)
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
34. Popular vote winner does not always win
winner-take-all
Small states over-represented (CA v. WY)
1824; 1876; 1888; 2000
15 presidents without a majority (11
plurality)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEB9hWYMpA0
(Election 2000)
THE AL GORE CONUNDRUM
35. Electors are technically “free agents”
Has happened, but has never impacted results of an election
Faithless electors
THE ROGUE ELECTOR RECURRENCE
36. 3rd party can prevent one candidate from getting a majority
Close in 1912, 1924, 1948, 1968
Would throw election to House (Problems?)
1.
2.
3.
THE GEORGE WALLACE MALFUNCTION
39. Scrap the Electoral College all together
Popular vote winner always wins
All votes equal
Cons:
Small states opposed
Weaken federalism
TV Campaign
DIRECT POPULAR ELECTION
40. Electors chosen in the same way as member of Congress
No more winner-take-all
More accurate reflection of popular vote
Cons
No guarantee popular vote winner wins
Encourage gerrymandering
DISTRICT PLAN
41.
42. Candidates get electoral votes proportional to votes received
Example: 40% of the vote in a 20 electoral vote state gets:
Eliminates winner-take-all
Cons:
Small states over-represented
Loser of popular vote could still win election
Increased clout of minor parties
PROPORTIONAL PLAN
43. Keeps electoral college largely in tact
Winner of popular vote also gets 102 electoral votes (321)
If no majority, run-off election is held
Electors themselves eliminated
Cons:
Little support
Difficult to understand
Wacky
NATIONAL BONUS PLAN
44. Known process
Has worked well, with few exceptions
Identifies winner quickly and certainly
Provides winner a mandate
SUPPORTING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
