ELECTING A PRESIDENT

PRESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS NATURAL BORN CITIZEN Must be born in the United States or born to U.S. citizen anywhere in world 35 YEARS OF AGE 14 YEAR RESIDENCY Must be living in the United States for 14 years

ELECTION PROCESS GET NOMINATED Presidential candidate is nominated by a Nominating Convention Convention three months before election Delegates nominate a President/Vice President ticket Delegates decide party platform The issues the president will represent in the election

ELECTION PROCESS GO TO THE PEOPLE The candidates make speeches, appear at rallies, and present the party platform and their views on current issues On the first Tuesday in November the voters vote for electors The electors then vote for the candidates

ELECTION PROCESS GATHER ELECTORAL VOTES The group of electors vote for the President Each elector has one electoral vote Each state # of electors = Senators + Representatives Known as Electoral College

ELECTORAL COLLEGE A system established by the U.S. Constitution The popular vote (votes by the citizens) is cast in November In each state, except Maine and Nebraska, the candidate who receives the most popular votes wins all of the state’s electoral votes Rule is called “Winner-take-all” Electors cast their votes in December

ELECTORAL COLLEGE A candidate can win the nation’s popular vote but still lose the Electoral College! In 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote, but lost the electoral vote to George W. Bush The candidate that wins at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes is declared President

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS one of the most powerful democratically elected officials in the world His powers are stated in the Constitution and through the use of “checks and balances” his actions are always controlled and checked by the Legislative and/or Judicial branches.

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS may not violate laws while he is in office. If he does the House of Representatives may bring impeachment charges against him. then tried in the Senate two-thirds of Senators vote to convict, removed from office.

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS CHIEF EXECUTOR enforces the Constitution and laws passed by Congress issue executive orders Appoints all government officials, including Cabinet officers, Supreme Court Justices, and others although his orders can be declared unconstitutional in the courts and his appointments must be approved by the Senate

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS CHIEF LEGISLATOR recall Congress into a special session may veto the bills passed by Congress or use his influence to get a bill passed or proposed Congress can override the president’s veto by a two-thirds majority

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS JUDICIAL POWERS grant pardons to most indirect control of courts appoints all federal judges All appointments approved by the Senate

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS CHIEF AMBASSADOR determines foreign policy of the nation, directs and negotiates treaties, and appoints other ambassadors and diplomats These appointments must also be cleared by Congress Treaties must be ratified by the Senate

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND LIMITATIONS COMMANDER IN CHIEF civilian control over the military appoints top military commanders, gives them military advice, can discharge officers He can order the armed forces into action He cannot commit U.S. troops to international conflicts for more than 90 days without a formal declaration of war, a power reserved for Congress

BACKUP PLAN THE CONSTITUTION In case of death, resignation, or removal of the President, the Constitution states that he would be succeeded by the Vice President If there is a vacancy in the Presidency and the Vice Presidency, Speaker of the House of Representatives, then the President pro tempore of the Senate, and then the Cabinet members starting with the Secretary of State fills those positions

25th AMENDMENT amendment was passed in 1967 in cases of Presidential disability, the Vice President would take office until the disability was resolved If the Vice President becomes President, he appoints new VP, subject to approval by the Congress