HOW DOES HE/SHE GET IN OFFICE?

Presidential Selection/Election

The Original Idea

The Framers gave much deliberation to the selection of the president People were against both ways; congress and the

peoplePopular vote was out

Largely due to an information gapSettled on presidential electors

Each would cast two votes Winner becomes POTUS, second becomes VP

Came to be known as the electoral college

Breakdown of the System

The original system began to break down in 1796 Due to political parties

John Adams was POTUS (Federalist)Thomas Jefferson was VP (Democratic-

Republican)Election of 1800 took 36 ballots in the house

to decide Democratic-Republican electors split their votes Created a tie for president Parties now “nominated” candidates for President and

VP

The 12th Amendment

Added to the Constitution in 1804Made only one major changeElectors now vote for President on one ballotVote for VP on separate ballot

Nominations and Conventions

No mention of conventions or nominations in Constitution Built by the political parties themselves Party out of power usually goes first Can be great financially for the host city

Each state sends delegatesComplicated formulas based on electoral size

and other factors Over 2200 for Republicans Over 4000 for Democrats

Primaries

Most of the delegates selected come from primariesPrimary is an election where voters:

Choose some or all of a State party organizations delegates to their party’s convention

Express a preference among contenders for the electionFirst primaries appears in early 1900s

Combating corruption and political bossesCandidates are selected based on their availability

to get elected to the presidency Name, money, etc.

Primaries can be very hotly contested Usually for party out of power

National Convention

First two days are spent adopting the party platform and having a key note speaker Platform is the party principles and beliefs Key not speeches glorify the party

Last two days are spent nominating the candidate VP is selected based on the candidates wishes Presidential candidate is usually selected on one

ballot

The Nominee

Chosen for likelihood to get elected Well known records in office Free of controversy Governors are very common, as are senators Most are protestant Come from larger states Have a healthy appearance and solid family Ability to project ones self in public is key as well

The Electoral College Today

Electors are chosen by popular vote Generally awarded on a winner take all basis Meet on the Monday after the second Wednesday in

December President technically elected on January 6th

Requires 270 votes to become president If no majority, the House decides POTUS Each state delegation has one vote

Senate decides VP in a tie All 100 vote in senate

Flaws in the College

First: Winner of popular vote may not win the electoral vote Due to the winner take all nature of the electoral vote Also due to the way votes are proportioned Happened in 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000

Second: Nothing requires electors to vote for the candidate favored by popular vote in their state Faithless electors: happened eleven times Never affected an election

Third: election could be decided in the House Each states has one “vote” Could bog down the election process