 starter activity Spot the odd man out. Clue, they nearly all have one thing in common connected with the Whitehouse Jefferson Roosevelt CoolidgeTruman Dole Ford Nixon Johnson

Who can be a US president? To find out requirements for a US presidential candidate To take part in a balloon debate of presidential hopefuls  Aims

 Your task Read Bennett p.28 and note why presidential elections are the focus of so much media attention. Make your own copy of the 4 stages of presidential elections (p.29). Read Bennett p.28 and note why presidential elections are the focus of so much media attention. Make your own copy of the 4 stages of presidential elections (p.29). Explore the 2008 Presidential election results on the BBC News website, note down: Explore the 2008 Presidential election results on the BBC News website, note down: How many electoral college votes each of the main candidates won How many electoral college votes each of the main candidates won Obama’s share of the popular vote Obama’s share of the popular vote Areas of USA in which his support was strongest Areas of USA in which his support was strongest Voter turnout out Voter turnout out

 Your task Explore the 2008 Presidential election results on the BBC News website, note down: Explore the 2008 Presidential election results on the BBC News website, note down: How many electoral college votes each of the main candidates won (356 Obama v. 173 McCain) How many electoral college votes each of the main candidates won (356 Obama v. 173 McCain) Obama’s share of the popular vote (52.3%) Obama’s share of the popular vote (52.3%) Areas of USA in which his support was strongest (N.E. & West Coast) Areas of USA in which his support was strongest (N.E. & West Coast) Voter turnout out (62.8%) Voter turnout out (62.8%)

 Your task Create a spider diagram listing the requirements of a US president (p.29-32). Include the following headings: constitutional requirements, political experience, major party endorsement, personal characteristics, ability to raise large sums of money, effective organisation, oratorical skills and being ‘telegenic’, sound & relevant policies’. Create a spider diagram listing the requirements of a US president (p.29-32). Include the following headings: constitutional requirements, political experience, major party endorsement, personal characteristics, ability to raise large sums of money, effective organisation, oratorical skills and being ‘telegenic’, sound & relevant policies’.

Constitutional requirements Natural-born US citizen Natural-born US citizen Minimum 35 years Minimum 35 years Resident in USA for at least 14 years Resident in USA for at least 14 years 2 terms of office 2 terms of office Theodore Roosevelt, 42 when became president after death of McKinley (1901) Kennedy, youngest elected president, 43 (1960)

Political experience Typical presidential candidates: vice-presidents (e.g. George Bush Snr), state governors, (e.g. Ronald Reagan) Senators (e.g. Barack Obama) Typical presidential candidates: vice-presidents (e.g. George Bush Snr), state governors, (e.g. Ronald Reagan) Senators (e.g. Barack Obama) Occasionally military leaders, e.g. Eisenhower Occasionally military leaders, e.g. Eisenhower President Reagan & Vice President Bush

Party endorsement Endorsement by Republican or Democrat party necessary Endorsement by Republican or Democrat party necessary Recent independent candidates, include Ross Perot (1992 & 6) & Pat Buchanan (2000) Recent independent candidates, include Ross Perot (1992 & 6) & Pat Buchanan (2000) Not everyone agreed with Pat Buchanan’s conservative ideas!

Personal characteristics Predominantly, white male -43 out of 44 US presidents white, all male Predominantly, white male -43 out of 44 US presidents white, all male 2004, 14 women out of 100 members of Senate 2004, 14 women out of 100 members of Senate Married – no bachelor president since C19th Married – no bachelor president since C19th Free from personal scandal, e.g. Chappaquiddick affair (1969) ended Edward Kennedy’s bid for presidency Free from personal scandal, e.g. Chappaquiddick affair (1969) ended Edward Kennedy’s bid for presidency

Mary Jo Kopechne

Fund-raising ability Ross Perot (1996 & 6) Texan oil billionaire Ross Perot (1996 & 6) Texan oil billionaire 2008, Obama spent c. $650m dollars (privately- funded) / McCain $84 (publicly funded) 2008, Obama spent c. $650m dollars (privately- funded) / McCain $84 (publicly funded)

Organisational skills Major parties cannot endorse candidates during selection process Major parties cannot endorse candidates during selection process Candidates such as Michael Dukakis (1988) & Bob Dole (1996) suffered from poorly organised campaigns Candidates such as Michael Dukakis (1988) & Bob Dole (1996) suffered from poorly organised campaigns Michael Dukakis

Oratorical skills & telegenic FDR tried hard to conceal effects of polio which left him wheelchair bound FDR tried hard to conceal effects of polio which left him wheelchair bound Walter Mondale, ‘I’m no good at television’ (1984) – opponent, Reagan, former Hollywood movie star Walter Mondale, ‘I’m no good at television’ (1984) – opponent, Reagan, former Hollywood movie star Senator Phil Gramm, ‘I’m too ugly to be president’ Senator Phil Gramm, ‘I’m too ugly to be president’ Phil Gramm

George Bush also struggled to convince younger voters he was the best-looking candidate for the job !

Sound & relevant policies Issue saliency increasingly important Issue saliency increasingly important Candidates need clear policies on issues of day, different from their rivals Candidates need clear policies on issues of day, different from their rivals Bill Clinton, main policy issue was ‘the economy stupid’ (1992) Bill Clinton, main policy issue was ‘the economy stupid’ (1992) Obama, anti-Bush campaign Obama, anti-Bush campaign

 Your task Imagine all the top US presidents are in a balloon. It is slowly sinking. Who do you keep and who do you throw out to save as many as you can. You will take on the part of a US president. You must argue on the basis of the skills outlined above who must stay in the balloon and who must go. Imagine all the top US presidents are in a balloon. It is slowly sinking. Who do you keep and who do you throw out to save as many as you can. You will take on the part of a US president. You must argue on the basis of the skills outlined above who must stay in the balloon and who must go.

Plenary Plenary What are the key constitutional requirements to becoming a US president What are the key constitutional requirements to becoming a US president Name 5 important extra-constitutional requirements Name 5 important extra-constitutional requirements

 Extension Produce a promotional advert for your president’s election campaign using MovieMaker or PhotoStory. Produce a promotional advert for your president’s election campaign using MovieMaker or PhotoStory.