1. How to Become the President

2. Electoral College System
Formal Qualifications (Constitutional Requirements):
A natural born US Citizen
35 Years Old
Living in US for 14 years before taking office
Informal Qualifications
Money!!
Political Experience
Political Beliefs

3. Electoral College System
Steps to Become President: THE Electoral College
Declare Candidacy
Chosen by Party
Caucuses
Primaries
in late summer

4. Primaries
Open Primary- Open to all people regardless of party affiliation
Closed Primary- Restricted to party members only.
People cast vote to select the candidate. Candidate with the most votes is chosen to run in general election.
Each state can choose own method for running primary but must follow party rules.

5. Open vs. Closed Primaries
Supporters of Closed
Prevents raiding from other party
Keeps candidate responsive to party
Forces voters to consider party choices.
Opponents of Closed
Forces people to publicly show political preference
Excludes independent voters

6. Caucuses Closed meeting of party members
Local members of a political party register their preference among candidates running for office or select delegates to attend a convention
Each state can choose own methods but must follow party rules

7. Convention Party’s formal nomination of a candidate
Each party has their own
Delegates from each state cast votes
Party’s platform is adopted

8. Electoral College System
Placed on the Ballot
Voted on by Americans in November
Not a direct vote for Candidate
ELECTORS Vote for president in December
Electors are not legally obligated to vote in line!
Win the Electoral College
Wait…What??

9. Electoral College System
Each state has a certain number of “Electoral Votes”
Based on Population
Total US Electoral Votes = 538
435 members of the House
100 members of the Senate
3 for District of Columbia
First to “270” Wins!!

12. 2012 Electoral Map Obama (332) vs. Romney (206)

13. Why the Electoral College was used
Communication was slow and unreliable
People were ill informed about candidates
Did not want people to directly choose
Did not want congress to choose

14. Electoral College System
Possible Flaws??
Winner Take all System
Winner of Popular vote in State receives all Electoral Votes
(Exceptions are Maine and Nebraska)
You can lose National Popular Vote and still win electoral vote
3rd Party Candidates
Take electoral votes from other Candidates?
Bargain off Electoral Votes
Election by the House
If no Candidate receives 270, House votes (50 votes)
What if a State can’t decide??
Trump : 62,984,825
Clinton: 65,853,516

15. Arguments for the Electoral College
Gives smaller states a voice
Requires widespread popular support to win
Reduces impact of regional popularity
Encourages stability through the two- party system
Neutralizes turnout disparities between states

16. Arguments against the Electoral College
Popular vote winner could lose election
Unequal weight of voters
Focus on large swing states
Favors less populous states
Disadvantage for third parties