1. The Presidency

2. Presidential Selection: The Framers’ Plan
Section 3
Presidential Selection: The Framers’ Plan

3. How is the President Selected?
Many different rules govern the selection process.
The Constitution
State and Federal Laws
Political Parties

4. Original Provisions
Framers did not want President elected by Congress or a direct vote by the people.
Presidential Electors and Electoral College
Electors are chosen in each state in a manner the state legislature directed.
Each state would have as many electors as it had members of Congress
Electors would each cast two electoral votes

5. The Electors
Framers intended Electors would be “the most enlightened and responsible citizens” from each state.
They were to act as “free agents” in choosing the people best qualified to fill the Presidency and Vice Presidency

6. The Rise of Parties Federalists v. Democratic-Republicans
The Election of 1800
Each party nominates Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates
Each party gets electors chosen to the electoral college
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr ties as each elector chose their party’s nominees.

8. Reforms to the Electoral System
Party politics demonstrated the weakness of the system.
Led to the passage of the 12th Amendment to the Constitution in 1804
Made it so there would be separate elections for the President and the Vice President in the Electoral College.