1. The US Constitution and The Presidential Election

2. Three Branches of Government
Executive Legislative Judicial
- Enforces Laws - Writes Laws Interprets Laws

3. How the Branches are Elected
Executive – President – Electoral College; Cabinet – Presidential Appointment
Legislative – Popular election
Judicial – Presidential Appointment that is then confirmed by Legislative Branch

4. Length of Terms President – 4 years Senator – 6 years
Representative – 2 Years
Supreme Court Justice - Life

5. Presidential and Election Amendments
22nd – “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”
2 Terms (8 years)
- This became the unofficial limit to presidencies because of tradition
Ulysses S. Grant
- 2 terms but seriously considered a 3rd
FDR
4 Terms (13 years)
After FDR, this amendment was passed

6. 23rd Amendment
Grants Washington D.C. 3 electoral votes in a presidential election.

7. 24th Amendment There shall be no poll tax levied in order to vote
Essentially you needed to pay a fee to vote

8. 25th Amendment Presidential Succession
Section 1 – President dies or resigns, VP is now pres.
Section 2 – If the VP becomes pres, they shall nominate a new VP that needs to be confirmed by the Congress
Section 3 – If the president is writes a declaration that they cannot be pres, the VP of Speaker is pres until a declaration is written saying the former pres can return
Section 4 – If the pres is incapacitated for any reason, illness etc…, the VP becomes acting president .

9. 26th Amendment
No citizen under the age of 18 can be prohibited from voting, because of their age.

10. Down Ballots

11. Down Ballots
The election of the president is the first option on a ballot.
Therefore, down ballots are elections for offices lesser than the president.
Because they are down the ballot from the presidential election
Federal Senator, State Senator, House of Representative at State and Federal level, etc…….

12. Illinois Election Requirements
You'll need your Illinois driver's license or state ID card number, the last 4 digits of your Social Security number, and the date your driver’s license or state ID card was issued
Registration requirements
Be a US citizen
Live in the district in Illinois in which you want to vote by Oct 9
Be 18 years old by Election Day, Nov 8
Not be convicted and in jail for a felony
Not claim the right to vote in another state

13. Notable Illinois Elections
18 Illinois Congressional Districts
Illinois 8th Congressional District Election, 2016
Tammy Duckworth has vacated to run for Senate
Illinois' 10th Congressional District election, 2016
Illinois' 12th Congressional District election, 2016
United States Senate election in Illinois, 2016
Illinois U.S. Senate
(Nov. 8, 2016)
Tammy Duckworth
U.S. Senate (IL)
(Running)
Democratic
Mark Kirk (Incumbent)
Republican

14. Local Political Ads Political Ads spike near election time
Used to spread a candidates message or attack an opponent
Attacking ads have been popular this year