American Government and Organization PS1301 Wednesday, 8 October

Review Office hours today The outcome of the California recall

The Florida Disaster Florida recount (link to Univ. of Chicago study) link to Univ. of Chicago studylink to Univ. of Chicago study The punch card voting system Design of the palm beach ballot

The Butterfly Ballot

Evidence of problems in Palm Beach

Reforming the Electoral College Winner take all (by Congressional District) Proportional Allocation of Electors by State

Outcomes with Different Methods

Direct Election of the President Runoff Elections Alternative Vote/Preference Voting

Preference Voting System is used to elect that nation’s House of Representatives from single member districts. Voters rank their first most preferred candidate by marking a “1” their second most favored candidate with a “2” etc… Candidate with the fewest first choices is eliminated and the ballots for those people who voted for him are examined to see whom they placed second.

Example Candidate A Candidate B Candidate C First round Second round 56 (41+15) 43eliminated

What would the outcome have been with Preference Voting

Presidency Leadership gravitates to presidents during crisis, but then dissipates quickly as the crisis recedes. Source of Power - Delegation of power from Congress and successful presidential assertions of authority (e.g. War Powers Act 1973) President as commander in chief and head diplomat

The President and the Constitution The president’s constitutional duties and authority as commander in chief, commander in chief, diplomat, diplomat, executive, and executive, and legislator legislator are found in Article II of the Constitution.

Emergence of the Modern Presidency Prior to 20 th century, president exercised little power Congress was main institution – leadership in policymaking Growth of federal government and complexity of policy led to increased role for president Also, involvement in world wars Staff, resources grew as asserted more power (Executive Office of the President)