1. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
THE PRESIDENCY

2. Qualifications, Terms and Benefits
At least 35 years old
14 year resident
Natural born citizen
Terms
Four Year Terms
22nd Amendment limits to two terms
Possible to serve 10 years if you take office after the midpoint of a term
Benefits
$400,000 salary
$50,000 spending allowance
White House-132 rooms
Motorcade and Air Force One
Camp David-Resort in Maryland
Health Benefits and Pension
Travel and Entertainment Funds
Secret Service Protection

3. What are the President’s Roles?
Chief of State
Symbolic leader of the country and represents the nation
Chief Executive
Holds Executive power and is responsible for running the bureaucracy and enforcing laws
Chief Administrator
Directs 2.7 million civilians and spends nearly 2 trillion a year
Chief Diplomat
Nations spokesperson and carries out foreign policy
Commander in Chief
Control of 1.4 million service men and women and the nations arsenal
Chief Legislator
Helps set the legislative agenda
State of the Union
Super Politician
Leader of the party
Fundraises, campaigns and generates support for candidates
Chief Citizen
Expected to represent the will of the people

4. Campaigning Parties select their nominee at their national convention
Candidates compete for delegates in state primaries and caucuses
Democratic party also has superdelegates-796 high ranking officials that vote at the convention
The battle for Independent and undecided voters
The impact of the media
Debates
Advertisements
Approval Ratings
Scrutiny

5. Electoral College
The Constitution clearly states that the candidate who receives a majority of votes in the Electoral College becomes President, there is no mention of a popular vote
Each state gets a number of electors equal to its total number of members in Congress
The popular vote is important because voters are actually voting for Presidential Electors
48 States have winner take all structures
Main and Nebraska have a proportional system
12th Amendment-Electoral College chooses the President and Vice President on separate ballots
Many states have laws that punish faithless electors
Electors meet on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December to cast their votes
The formal election takes place in January when the votes are counted in Congress to make sure that there is a majority
A candidate must receive 270 electoral votes to become President
Electoral College has a track record of success and the winner is known quickly

6. Problems with the Electoral College
Winner of the Popular Vote may not win
1824-Adams and Jackson
1876-Hayes and Tilden
1888-Harrison and Cleveland
2000-Bush and Gore
Faithless Electors
Never has had an impact on an election
Possibility of a Tie
If a candidate does not receive 270 then the House of Representatives breaks the tie
Each State gets 1 vote
If delegates cannot agree then state loses their vote
Need a majority of states so 3rd party could come into play

7. How can the Electoral College be Reformed?
District Plan
Electors chosen the same way as Congress
2 at large-state wide popular vote
Congressional Districts
Could still win popular vote and lose
Gerrymandering would increase
Proportional Plan
Candidates would receive the same share of electoral votes as they got in the popular vote
Eliminates faithless electors and winner take all system
Tie’s would be more prevalent
Threatens the two party system

8. How can the Electoral College be Reformed?
Direct Popular Election
No more Electoral College
Popular but hard
Amendment Process is long
Small States would fight
Weakens Federal System
Increase in voter fraud
National Bonus Plan
Keeps winner take all and Electoral College
Pool of 102 Electoral votes would go to candidate who wins the popular vote
These votes would be added to whatever they won in the election
Need 321 electoral votes to win
If no majority then there would be run-off election of the top two by popular vote
Ensures that the winner would have won the popular vote