Bell work Do you believe the Electoral College should be abolished? Why or why not? Write at least 5 sentences Quiz: Voting Turn in Bell work as well…. Only 4 this week.

Bell work Describe the process as you know it….. What do you have to do to become the Presidents? Discussion the Electoral Process

The Electoral Process

Objective How does the nominating/electoral process work?

Standards GC.26 Explain the increasing importance of and difference between primaries, caucuses and general elections.

Vocabulary to Know…. Nomination General Election Direct Primary Absentee Voting Precinct Ward Ballot Political Action Committee Incumbent Interest Groups https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48EZKXweGDo

Rap Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhMgy894v5Q

Definitions A precinct is a voting district. A polling place is where the voters who live in a certain precinct go to vote (ex. Riverdale). A ballot is the device used to cast a vote in an election.

Sample Ballots http://www.rutherfordcountytn.gov/election/documents/sampleballot_002.pdf http://www.nashville.gov/Portals/0/SiteContent/ElectionCommission/docs/ballots/pdf/SampleBallot_141104.pdf

Six Steps The presidential election process occurs in 6 steps: Announcement Caucuses or Primaries Conventions/Nomination General Election Electoral College (see notes #5) Inauguration

Step 1: Announcement A person decides to run for office and tells the public about it. TV Radio Speech Political Events **Must be qualified**

Step 2: Caucuses or Primaries Caucus: a meeting of members of a particular political party to select candidates

Caucus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnh-136QqO8

Step 2: Caucuses or Primaries Primary: an election held within a party to pick its candidates in each State Closed Primary: ONLY people registered with the political party can vote (24 States) Open Primary: ANY qualified voter can vote in only one party’s primary (26 States) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojELcKHdwvA

Which primary is better? Closed Primary Open Primary Makes voters choose party Makes candidates follow party platform Prevents “raiding” (voting for the worst candidate of the opposing party) Voters not forced to declare party to the public Includes independent voters Keeps “ballot secrecy”

Which States hold the first Caucus and Primary? 1st Primary= New Hampshire 1st Caucus= Iowa http://www.npr.org/2016/01/26/463870736/no-way-to-pick-a-president-here-are-6-other-ways-to-do-it Why are these races so important? Ton of media attention Candidates focus attention to these States If win, establish being the front runner Give candidates momentum in the election

Super Tuesday Refers to the Tuesday in February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections

2016 Election Calendar http://www.270towin.com/2016-election-calendar/

Step 3: Conventions/Nomination Each party holds a national convention to select/reveal final presidential and vice-presidential nominees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfAcyBzyek4

Step 4: General Election National elections are set the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. (Example: Tuesday November 6th, 2012) States are in charge of general election but Federal government sets time and place

Step 5: Electoral College At least 270 electoral votes required to become President Casts votes in December

Step 6: Inauguration Occurs once every four years on January 20th

Summary

Resources http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_95I_1rZiIs&list=FLSDYXneXxlqBf4pCNL3u2XA http://2012election.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004333#republicans