SS#24-20 – RMR – “Visiting 24 Sussex” SS#24-27 – 22 Minutes – “Raise a Little Hell”

Indicate desire to be the “Big Cheese”. Organize support within your political party. ↓↓

Political parties choose delegates who support a particular candidate to attend National Convention of that party. Delegates chosen at state primaries beginning in January, usually ending in April of the election year. ↓↓

National Convention held in July or August of the election year. One Presidential and one Vice-presidential candidate chosen for each party. ↓↓

The general election campaign begins in August and runs until November. ↓↓ The general election is held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November (fixed term electoral system).

Voters select a “ticket” which includes a Presidential and Vice-presidential candidate. The “ticket” that receives the most votes (a plurality, not necessarily a majority) wins the Electoral College votes for that state e.g. winning California by even a single vote means that ticket receives all that state’s Electoral College votes. Simpsons

The number of Electoral College votes is equal to the number of members of the House of Representatives plus two Senators (which equals 54 Electoral College votes for California and only three for less populous states like Montana ). The “ticket” that wins a majority of the Electoral College votes 270+ out of 538 becomes President and Vice-president.

Indicate desire to be the “Big Cheese”. Organize support within your political party. ↓↓

Justin Trudeau Daniel Pailler Thomas Mulcair Elizabeth May

Political parties decide that it is time to hold a National Leadership Convention – no specified time. Some political parties choose delegates who support a particular candidate to attend. Some, like the Conservatives, ask their members to vote directly for the candidate of their choice. (may be regionally weighted though)

This convention ends with the election of a leader e.g. Michael Ignatieff by the Liberal Party and Stephen Harper by the Conservatives. ↓↓

The political parties wait until a General Election is called by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister The PM must do so at least once every five years, but may do so whenever s/he chooses, or whenever he loses “the confidence of the house” (i.e. not fixed term). ↓↓

A General Election is called which means voters choose a candidate from those offered by whichever parties choose to run in their riding or constituency (there are 308 of these in Canada ). A candidate wins their constituency by getting MORE VOTES than any other candidate in their riding.

The leader of the political party that wins a majority of the seats in the House of Commons (155+ out of 308) OR The leader of the political party who can form a coalition in a minority government situation e.g. 143 Conservatives + any other 12 MPs (can be formal or case-by-case basis)

House of Commons

A person becomes the Prime Minister of Canada because in either case they will be able to maintain the “confidence” of the House of Commons (the principle of parliamentary responsible government).

Senate House of Commons 2008

House of Commons 2011 Senate