Road to the White House

Preview Each event listed below is a step in the process of running for president. Based on what you know about elections, arrange the steps in the most logical order.

Form a campaign organization Develop a campaign strategy Run in primaries and caucuses Build a coalition of supporters Participate in televised debates Hold popular election Announce candidacy Attend national convention Raise funds

Once you put the steps in order: Answer this question: Do you think this process helps or hinders us in electing the best individual as president?

Road to the White House Official Constitutional Requirements Age: 35 Citizenship: Natural born citizen Residency: Resident of US for last 14 years Unofficial Requirements White, Ancestry: European background (62% British) Male and older (43-69) WASP: Protestant and wealthy Marital status: married Political background: political or law background

Organize 1-2 yrs Primaries/Caucuses Feb-June National Conventions (Rep: 8/27-30 ; Dem: 9/3-6) Campaign -- Sep-Nov Vote -- November Electoral College – Dec/Jan Transition – Nov/Jan Inauguration – Jan TIMELINE-8 STEPS

Step One: Organize and Planning Build a coalition of supporters Exploratory committee Raise funds Form a campaign organization Hire major staff Develop a campaign strategy State staff and organization

STEP 2: State Caucuses and Primaries Purpose: Small meetings, where people come together to select delegates First state: Iowa Importance: as we have seen, Iowa can give a huge boost to a candidate (Santorum and Romney) or force people out of the race early (Bachmann, Perry and Huntsman) Primaries State elections with in a party to get delegates support at the national convention 3 kinds: open, closed and binding First state: New Hampshire Importance: weeds out candidates, proves who can win and where

STEP 3: Win Nomination at Convention Purpose of convention: Choose party’s candidate Where do we hold the convention: Big electoral state Why: Get media exposure for party and candidate What is the Platform Committee: Writes rules for convention and writes the party’s stance on current issues (that is voted on by delegates) Significance of the Keynote address: kicks off convention, sets tone and exposes an “up and coming star” of the party Selection of the Nominee: as many ballots as it takes to get the majority support of delegates Acceptance speeches: Accepts Picks the VP running mate Call for unity: get the party faithful fired up for the Fall election

STEP 4: Campaign against other Parties Formal start of the campaign : Kick off is the Labor Day weekend: the beginning of September; 8 weeks to package the candidate Time constraints: Campaign needs to decide its strategy for winning the elections; where to campaign, how to spend resources; swing states are states that can “swing” the election because they have more electoral votes or independent voters that can be swayed to vote for either party Use of Media: Decide how and where to spend money; ads, radio, talk shows, TV Debates: A candidate has to decide if (s )he will participate; if so when, where, the format. 10

STEP 5: General Election Day America votes: Presidential elections are always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November; every four years; always in even number years Voting: goes on all day and polls close at 8:00pm Exit Polls: gets info about how people voted as they exit the polling place Media Coverage: As the east coast polls close, broadcasting the outcome can affect the west where the polls are still opened

STEP 6: Electoral College Electoral System: the people who really elect the president Number of electoral votes needed to win: 270 Electoral votes by state: number of representatives and+ 2 senators = electors Vote: Each states sends electors from the winning party to the capitol to vote for president on the first Monday after the 2nd Wed. in December Plurality vs. majority: Most popular vote vs 50% +1 Problems with the system: Popular vote doesn’t win; electors aren’t obligated to vote any one way; messy system if no one gets 270 electoral votes

STEP 7: Transition Period Lameduck President: Outgoing president President elect: Briefed by appropriate government agencies Secret service protection: Full time police protection for president and family Transition: Cabinet selected, inaugural address written; starts putting the staff in place. An office and staff is provided by the government

STEP 8: Inauguration When: January 20th Oath of office: Sworn in by Supreme Court Justice; gives the inaugural speech to inspire the country, Parade, if weather permits, the president and family walks down Pennsylvania Ave., assumes the job Inaugural Ball: There are many parties that take place that night; corporate sponsors; the president and VP and spouses go and make an appearance at all of them.

Assignment You will be making a Road Map to the White House. It will include a “pit stop” for every one of the eight steps. You will include a paragraph the explains the step and include a visual that show what the step includes. It will be done a piece of construction paper given to you in class.