2. Step 1. Meet Eligibility Guidelines Set by the US Constitution Step 2. Test the Water: Pre-Candidacy ProcessTest the Water: Pre-Candidacy Process Step 3. Declare Candidacy and File Applications with Federal Election CommissionDeclare Candidacy and File Applications with Federal Election Commission Step 4. Fundraise and CampaignFundraise and Campaign We Are Starting Here!!!! Step 5. Party Primaries, Caucuses, and DelegatesParty PrimariesCaucusesDelegates Step 6. Party ConventionsParty Conventions Step 7. General Election Campaign: The Final Candidates (Debates)General Election Campaign: The Final Candidates Step 8. Election Day: Winning the Popular and Electoral VotesElection Day: Winning the Popular and Electoral Votes How to become the president!

3. The Nominating Process

4. The Importance of Nominations The nominating process is important because the United States has a strong two- party system, The nominating process is important because the United States has a strong two- party system, there are usually only two viable candidates for any office there are usually only two viable candidates for any office There are other parties with nominations… do you hear about them? There are other parties with nominations… do you hear about them?

5. Selecting a President: Primaries & Caucuses

6. Stage 1: Primaries  Primary Season - January - June  Who Decides? - State party organizations for the most part decide the rules for the primaries in a particular state.  Types of Primaries: Closed Primaries Closed Primaries Open Primaries Open Primaries Presidential Primary Elections - special elections in which voters select candidates to be the party’s nominee for president in the general election. Mitt Romney campaigning in New Hampshire

7. Closed Primary Voters may vote in a party's primary only if they are registered members of that partyVoters may vote in a party's primary only if they are registered members of that party

8. Open Primary A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his or her own party affiliation.A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his or her own party affiliation.

9. Stage 1: Caucuses  Closed meeting of party members in each state  Delegates select the party’s choice for presidential candidate  Currently, six states offer party caucuses selecting presidential nominees.  Caucuses are held instead of primaries.  Iowa goes first to beat the other state and be relevant. Barrack Obama campaigns in Iowa

11. 2008 Open & Closed Primaries

12. The Convention Nominating conventions were first used in the 1830s and quickly caught on as the only way to select presidential candidates Nominating conventions were first used in the 1830s and quickly caught on as the only way to select presidential candidates In each local area, party members elect delegates to represent them at county conventions; county conventions elect delegates to State conventions; In each local area, party members elect delegates to represent them at county conventions; county conventions elect delegates to State conventions;

13. The Convention State conventions elect delegates to the national convention who select the party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees State conventions elect delegates to the national convention who select the party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees

14. Elections

15. The Administration of Elections Most election law is State law Most election law is State law Congress sets the time, place, and manner of congressional elections Congress sets the time, place, and manner of congressional elections It has also passed laws designed to protect the right to vote and prevent election fraud It has also passed laws designed to protect the right to vote and prevent election fraud

16. Precincts and Polling Places State law restricts the population size of voting districts, or precincts State law restricts the population size of voting districts, or precincts Precinct election boards ensure that elections are held in an orderly manner, and each political party sends poll watchers to watch for election fraud Precinct election boards ensure that elections are held in an orderly manner, and each political party sends poll watchers to watch for election fraud

17. The Ballot The Australian Ballot – this secret ballot, printed at public expense and given out only at polling places, was a reform introduced in the late 1800s The Australian Ballot – this secret ballot, printed at public expense and given out only at polling places, was a reform introduced in the late 1800s The Office-Group Ballot – this form of the Australian ballot groups candidates for each office together The Office-Group Ballot – this form of the Australian ballot groups candidates for each office together

18. The Ballot The Long and Short of It – traditionally, Americans prefer to elect, rather than appoint, The Long and Short of It – traditionally, Americans prefer to elect, rather than appoint, the greater the number of elected officials, the more democratic the government the greater the number of elected officials, the more democratic the government

19. General Elections and the Electoral College Yes you are taking notes… Get over it.

20. General Elections When voters make the final selection for office holders Ballots usually only list one candidate for each office This is done using an electoral college.

21. Why an Electoral College? The Founding Fathers felt an EC was necessary for a few reasons: The Founding Fathers felt an EC was necessary for a few reasons: First, they questioned whether the electorate was capable of selecting an adequate leader for the nation First, they questioned whether the electorate was capable of selecting an adequate leader for the nation

22. Why an Electoral College? Second, voters had very little knowledge of candidates outside of their local area or state Second, voters had very little knowledge of candidates outside of their local area or state

23. Step 1: Popular Vote On election day, voters choose who they want to be President & Vice President On election day, voters choose who they want to be President & Vice President What we’re actually choosing are ELECTORS who represent the political party of the candidate we like What we’re actually choosing are ELECTORS who represent the political party of the candidate we like These electors are then are supposed to vote for the candidate that wins the popular vote in a given state These electors are then are supposed to vote for the candidate that wins the popular vote in a given state

24. Step 2: “Winner Take All” The EC system is “winner take all.” The EC system is “winner take all.” That is, the candidate with the most popular votes gets ALL of the electoral votes (except in Maine and Nebraska where the electoral votes can be divided) That is, the candidate with the most popular votes gets ALL of the electoral votes (except in Maine and Nebraska where the electoral votes can be divided)

25. Step 3: Counting the Votes The electors then meet in the State capitol to cast votes for the candidate they represent (Monday after the 2 nd Wednesday in December). The electors then meet in the State capitol to cast votes for the candidate they represent (Monday after the 2 nd Wednesday in December). Those votes are then sent to the president of the Senate in DC Those votes are then sent to the president of the Senate in DC The president of the Senate counts the votes on January 6 (this is done before Congress) The president of the Senate counts the votes on January 6 (this is done before Congress)

26. Step 3a: What if There Is A Tie (or if no one wins)? If no Presidential candidate gets 270 electoral votes, the US House of Representatives takes a vote to determine the winner (this happened in 1800 & 1824) If no Presidential candidate gets 270 electoral votes, the US House of Representatives takes a vote to determine the winner (this happened in 1800 & 1824) If no Vice Presidential candidates receives enough votes to win, the Senate takes a vote to decide who the winner is (this happened in 1837). If no Vice Presidential candidates receives enough votes to win, the Senate takes a vote to decide who the winner is (this happened in 1837).

27. Flaws of the Electoral College

28. #1: It’s possible to win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote 1824  Andrew Jackson (41.3% of the popular votes, John Quincy Adams 30.9% of the popular vote) 1824  Andrew Jackson (41.3% of the popular votes, John Quincy Adams 30.9% of the popular vote) – Jackson received 99 of 261 electoral votes  more than any other candidate but not enough to win

29. 2000 Al Gore Al Gore – 50,992,335 popular votes – 266 electoral votes George W Bush George W Bush – 50,455,156 (537,179 votes less) – 271 electoral votes Florida was decided by only 537 votes! Florida was decided by only 537 votes!

31. #2: Electors Don’t Have to Do What We Tell Them To Electors have refused to vote for their party’s nominee Electors have refused to vote for their party’s nominee – 1796 – 1820 – 1948 – 1956 – 1960 – 1968 – 1972 – 1976 – 1988 – 2000 – 2004  an elector from MN voted for John Edwards (twice, Pres & VP)

32. #3: The contest could be decided by the House Problem: The voting is not done by members of the House but by state. Problem: The voting is not done by members of the House but by state. Why is that a problem? Why is that a problem? A state could lose its votes if no candidate received a majority A state could lose its votes if no candidate received a majority If a 3 rd party candidate were involved, the vote could be divided and no one would be declared winner by January 20 If a 3 rd party candidate were involved, the vote could be divided and no one would be declared winner by January 20