I Want You!... For President

Terms of Office Must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and been a resident for at least 14 years Must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and been a resident for at least 14 years Four-year terms, two term limit Four-year terms, two term limit Prior to the 22 nd Amendment, the “no-third term tradition” was the unwritten rule, from Washington all the way up to Herbert Hoover. Prior to the 22 nd Amendment, the “no-third term tradition” was the unwritten rule, from Washington all the way up to Herbert Hoover. FDR is the only President to hold office for a third term. He was elected for a fourth, but died early into his term. FDR is the only President to hold office for a third term. He was elected for a fourth, but died early into his term. May serve up to 10 years in office. How? May serve up to 10 years in office. How?

How a Presidential Candidate is Chosen President is Elected! Democratic Party Candidate (National Election) Democratic Party Nominee (Primary/Caucus) Democratic Party Nominee (Primary/Caucus) Republican Party Candidate (National Election) Republican Party Nominee (Primary/Caucus) Republican Party Nominee (Primary/Caucus)

The National Convention Goals: Goals: 1. Select the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates 2. Bring the major players within the party together 3. Determine a the party platform – the formal statement of the party’s principles, policies, and objectives (e.g. stance on education)

We’re Going To College! The Electoral College

The year: 1800

The Electoral College When you cast your vote for President, you are not directly voting for the candidate, but rather electing presidential electors. Voters Electors Presidential Candidate DD D D D D R R DD R

How the President Really Gets Elected Voters choose members of the electoral college by popular vote in each State on Election Day. These members are chosen “at-large,” AKA: a winner-take-all basis.

How the President Really Gets Elected Electorates cast two votes, one for President, one for Vice President. They are expected to automatically vote for their party’s candidates. Generally, candidates who win the popular vote in a state win all the electoral votes. CA RI TX MT TN

How the President Really Gets Elected Electors meet at their State capitols to cast their electoral vote the Monday after the second Wednesday in December, which is then mailed to the president of the Senate

How the President Really Gets Elected January: President of the Senate reads the electoral votes at a joint session of Congress for the “formal election” January: President of the Senate reads the electoral votes at a joint session of Congress for the “formal election” House of Representatives Senate

And the winner is….? If no candidate has won the majority, the election goes to the House of Representatives who choose from the top three candidates. Each State receives one vote.

Flaws  The winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency.  Electors don’t have to vote along the popular vote  Any election can be decided by the House of Representatives

Now you’re the Head Honcho …and you just fell off your bike.

Everybody Hurts Presidential Disability The 25 th Amendment closely details the arrangement for presidential succession. 1. The President may inform Congress in writing that he is unable to perform the duties of his office 2. The VP and a majority of the Cabinet inform Congress in writing that the President is incapacitated.

Presidential Succession 1. Vice President 2. Speaker of the House 3. President pro tempore 4. Secretary of State Continue in the order that the cabinet position was created, ending with the Secretary of _______?

WHAT ABOUT THE “FIRST LADY”?.... OR “FIRST HUSBAND”?

The “First Spouse” Traditionally each “first lady” has shaped her own definition of what role she should play. Traditionally each “first lady” has shaped her own definition of what role she should play. Bess Truman and Pat Nixon stayed relatively in the background Bess Truman and Pat Nixon stayed relatively in the background Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, and Rosalynn Carter devoted themselves to projects of special interest to them. Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, and Rosalynn Carter devoted themselves to projects of special interest to them. Former first ladies, such as Dolley Madison, Edith Wilson, and Eleanor Roosevelt, were highly visible first wives, and significantly influenced the actions their husband took in office. Former first ladies, such as Dolley Madison, Edith Wilson, and Eleanor Roosevelt, were highly visible first wives, and significantly influenced the actions their husband took in office.

Eleanor and the Tuskegee Airmen Due to racial discrimination, African American servicemen were not allowed to learn to fly until 1941, when African American college graduates were selected for what the Army called "an experiment"— the creation of the segregated 99th Fighter Squadron, which trained at an airfield adjacent to Alabama's Tuskegee Institute. When Eleanor Roosevelt visited Tuskegee Army Air Field in 1941, she insisted on taking a ride in an airplane with a black pilot at the controls. ER then insisted that her flight with the pilot be photographed and the film developed immediately so that she could take the photographs back to Washington when she left the field. ER used this photograph as part of her campaign to convince FDR to activate the participation of the Tuskegee Airmen in North Africa and in the European Theater.

Second Banana The Office of the Vice President “I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything” -- John Adams, 1 st Vice President of the United States

VeeP’s To-Do List: 1. Preside over the Senate 2. Succeed the Presidency if the current President dies or resigns. 3. Help decide the question of presidential disability if the situation arises. Umm… that’s about it. Just hang out till we need you.

VPs Who Succeeded to the Presidency SUCCESORREASON FOR SUCCESSION John Tyler Death of William Henry Harrison (pneumonia) Millard FillmoreDeath of Zachary Taylor (gestroenteritis) Andrew JohnsonDeath of Abraham Lincoln (assassination) Chester A. ArthurDeath of James A Garfield (assassination) Theodore RooseveltDeath of William McKinley (assassination) Calvin Coolidge Death of Warren G. Harding (undisclosed illness) Harry S. TrumanDeath of FDR (cerebral hemorrhage) Lyndon B. JohnsonDeath of JFK (assassination) Gerald R. Ford Resignation of Richard M. Nixon (Watergate Scandal)

Vice President’s Role The Vice Presidential candidate is generally picked by a Presidential candidate to “balance the ticket.” May balance by their ideological views, geographical, ethnic, gender, or religious characteristics.

Another One Bites The Dust What if the Vice President dies or resigns? The President appoints a new VP, with the approval of a majority of both Houses of Congress.

The Vice President is the only member of the Executive Cabinet that cannot be fired by the President. “You’re Fired.”