1. The Executive Branch

2. Qualifications Natural Born Citizen of the U.S. 35 Years old
Resident for 14 years
Informal Qualifications – things generally brought out during campaign; such as intelligence and character

3. The Constitution & Succession
Presidential Succession is the plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled.
The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 set the order of succession following the Vice President.
If the Vice President dies, resigns or is impeached the President appoints a new V.P. with Senate consent

5. The President’s Term 4 year term Only Federal office with Term Limits
The 22nd Amendment placed limits on Presidential terms.
Presidents may be elected only 2 times (8 years)
If the VP => Prez for whatever reason
With less than 2 years of that term remaining => run 2 more times for a total of up to 10 years
With more than 2 years of that term remaining => run 1 more time

6. Pay and Benefits
Congress determines the President’s salary, and this salary cannot be changed during a presidential term.
The President’s pay was first set at $25,000 a year. Currently, the President is paid $400,000 a year.
Congress has also approved an expense allowance for the President, which is currently $50,000 a year.

7. Political Parties
Political party is a group of people with similar views on political policy.
Party Platform – the position that the party takes on various political/social/legal issues, as well as general approach to economic and constitutional interpretation

8. Presidential Election Process

9. Terms Electorate – people eligible to vote
Political Party– group of people who have similar views on issues
Partisan – having to do with one party
Bipartisan – having to do with two parties
Incumbent – current office holder – seeking reelection
Majority – 1 more than ½
Plurality –the most votes

10. Presidential Selection
According to the Constitution, the President and Vice President are chosen by a special body of Presidential Electors.

11. Presidential Election Process
Choosing Candidates – in modern times this is a very lengthy and long process (specifically with the 2 major political parties) which we will now examine.
Much of the process is not outlined in the Constitution with the exception of the electoral college aspect.

12. Presidential Election Process
Presidential Elections are “indirect elections” people don’t vote directly for the President.
The Constitution sets up an electoral college to elect the President.
Each state has the same number of electoral votes as Congressmen (Reps + Senators)

13. The Road to the Presidency
A person that desires to run for U.S. President must follow a long series of events if they hope to be successful.
We will pick up the process at the point which a person declares their intention to seek a place on the National Presidential ballot (specifically for the 2 major parties)

14. Presidential Electoral Process Primaries
Primary Elections – preliminary contests which are designed to determine which member of each party will be the candidate for that party.
Depending on the State, a Presidential Primary is an election in which voters
(1) Use a private ballot – just called a primary election Or
(2) Have an open meeting – called a caucus

15. Presidential Electoral Process The Caucus
A Caucus is an open meeting, where people gather in groups to show support, people try to convince each other to support their candidate, can be a long process.
2nd Caucus
Primary Elections (primaries & caucus)
Determine which candidate is likely to win
Establish Platform

16. Types Primaries/Caucuses
Closed Primary
Only declared party members can vote.
Open Primary
Any qualified voter can take part.
have to choose which party

17. Open & Closed Primaries
Closed Primary
Pro
Can NOT be manipulated by opposition
Gain Party Faithful opinion
Con
Only registered party members may participate => do not get an idea of independent voters
Open Primary
Pro
All registered voters may participate => do get an idea of independent voters
Con
Can be manipulated by opposition
Do Not get “Party Faithful” opinion

18. Nominations – Each State is designated so many delegates to the national convention by each party.
Both Parties
Candidates win pledged delegates from each state proportionately to the % of vote won by each candidate.
Super delegates from each state are not required to vote w/ popular vote in state.
Republicans
The same ~ no Super Delegates and some winner take all states

19. Primaries ~ January to June National Conventions are late August or 1st week of September.

20. The Role of Conventions
Convention Arrangements
The convention system has been mainly built by the two major parties in American politics.
The national committees for each party arrange the time and place for their party’s nominating convention.
The Apportionment and Selection of Delegates
Parties apportion the number of delegates each State will receive based on electoral votes and other factors.
Delegates are selected through both presidential primaries and the caucus’.

21. National Conventions in Late August or Early September
State delegates officially vote for the candidate for their party
Party Nominations official and Party Candidates Selected

22. The General Election
Typically the actual General Election begins after the party conventions.
The National Election is always the
Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November.
The candidate achieving a majority of the Electoral College will become the President

23. Electoral College/General Election
Majority – one more than half
Plurality – more than the other candidates
Each state has the same number of electoral votes as Congressmen (Reps + Senators)
= 538 ÷ 2 = 269 =>270 wins
All States, except two (Maine and Nebraska), select electors based on the winner of the popular vote in that State (winner take all).
Electors then meet in the State capitals on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December and cast their votes for President and Vice President.

24. Michigan Elector Policy
Michigan Policy
Electors that have crossed Electors Crossing Over

25. Electoral College
On January 6, the electoral votes cast are counted by the president of the Senate, and the President and Vice President are formally elected.
If no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes (270), the election goes to the House of Representatives. Each state has one vote
President and V.P. “elect” = winners of election that have not yet taken office
Inauguration – January Noon

26. Electoral College Issues
(1) It is possible to win the popular vote in the presidential election, but lose the electoral college vote. This has happened four times in U.S. history (1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000).
(2) Nothing in the Constitution, nor in any federal statute, requires the electors to vote for the candidate favored by the popular vote in their State.
a) Although each party carefully selects party loyalists to
this position who often are elected officials themselves
(3) If no candidate gains a majority in the electoral college, the election goes to the House, a situation that has happened twice (1800 and 1824). In this process, each State is given one vote, meaning that States with smaller populations wield the same power as those with larger populations.

27. Electoral College Proposals
Link the electors vote to the outcome of the district popular vote – similar to Democratic Party Primary Process
Eliminate the Electoral College and utilize popular vote
Requires a Constitutional Amendment
Majority or Plurality?

28. Roles of the President Chief of State.
This means he is the ceremonial head of the government of the United States, the symbol of all the people of the nation.
Chief Executive/Administrator.
The President is the leader of the executive branch
Make sure laws are enforced.
In charge of all the Executive branch departments

29. Roles of the President Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief,
the President is the main architect of American foreign policy and chief spokesperson to the rest of the world.
Commander in Chief,
giving him or her complete control of the nation’s armed forces.
Chief Legislator,
the main architect of the nation’s public policies.

30. Roles of the President Chief of the Party, Chief Citizen –
The acknowledged leader of the political party that controls the executive branch.
Chief Citizen –
The President is expected to be “the representative of all the people.” The model American citizen.

31. Presidential Powers Pardons & Reprieves
Pardon – forgiveness of crime/punishment
Reprieve – postpone punishment
Treaties - w/ Senate approval
Appoint Ambassadors & Supreme Court Justices- w/ Senate approval
Veto – cancel a bill
Call Special Session of Congress

32. Presidential Disability
Sections 3 and 4 of the 25th Amendment provide procedures to follow when the President is disabled.
The Vice President is to become acting President if
(1) the President informs Congress, in writing, “that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” or
(2) the Vice President and a majority of the members of the Cabinet inform Congress, in writing, that the President is thus incapacitated.