1. 3/26 Warm Up
During the President’s State of the Union address to the nation, a massive meteor hits the Capitol building killing the Pres., VP, & the presiding officers of the House and Senate.
Who do you think would take over in the line of presidential succession?

2. Answer
According to the 25th amendment to the Constitution if the Pres., VP, Speaker, & President Pro Tempore all die, next in line to become POTUS is the Secretary of State (John Kerry)
1st department set up in 1787

3. Presidential Line of SuccessionVP
Speaker of HofR
President pro tempore
Secretary of State
Secretary of Treasury
Secretary of Defense

4. Objectives List the steps in the presidential election process.
Define and describe the differences between primaries and caucuses.

5. From Campaign to Inauguration
Road to the White House

6. Step 1 Announce you want to run for president!
I want to run for POTUS!
Announce you want to run for president!

7. Vote for me!
Step 2
Campaign
Raise $$$
Hold rallies
Meet with voters

8. Narrowing Down the Candidates

9. Your Candidates Mario Pacman Donkey Kong Starfox Democrats Republicans
Sonic the Hedgehog
Link
Pikachu
Luigi
Mario
Pacman
Donkey Kong
Starfox
Democrats
Republicans

10. Caucus
A meeting of local members of a political party to nominate candidates
Process differs from state to state
Delegate - person chosen to represent one of the political parties at its national convention

11. Republican Caucus Raise your hand to vote for a candidate
Divide by the total number of caucus-goers to determine percentage
Candidate with the highest percentage wins

12. Democratic Caucus
All candidates must have at least 15% of the vote in a given caucus
For candidates with <15% of caucus, supporters must choose a different candidate

13. Primary Elections
An election in which party members select people to run in the general election
"closed primary” – only registered members of that political party can vote
"open primary” – people from any party - or none at all - can vote

14. Closed Primary

15. Closed Primary
Each side of the room will represent one political party.
You may only vote for the candidates from your party.

16. Open Primary

17. Open Primary
Vote for ANY candidate you want (does not have to be the same candidate you chose in the closed primary).
Both parties candidates are fair game!

18. Which type of nomination does Michigan use?

19. 2012 Primary and Caucus Schedule

20. Iowa & NH Iowa – first caucus New Hampshire – first primary
Massive media attention
Early indicators of which candidates might win the nomination
Candidates who do poorly frequently drop out after these events

21. Primary vs. Caucus
Which process would allow more registered voters in a state the opportunity to participate?
Which process best reflects the ideals of a direct democracy?
Which process provides the best information to political parties about a candidate’s chances of winning the presidential election?

22. Electoral Process Worksheet
Finish #3-8 on your
Electoral Process Worksheet

23. To select party’s nominees for Pres. & VP Formulate party’s platform
National Conventions
Held every 4 years by political parties
Main purpose
To select party’s nominees for Pres. & VP
Formulate party’s platform

24. Platform Statement of party principles & goals
Consists of a number of planks
Plank is a party’s position on a specific issue

25. What really happens in the General Election?

26. General Election
Every 4 years on the Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November
When registered voters vote for a presidential candidate they are really selecting an elector
In some states the electors are listed with the names of the candidates
These votes represent the popular vote

28. What’s up with the Electoral College

29. Which fast food restaurant do you prefer –Qdoba or Chipotle?

30. Debrief What happened? Is this fair? Are the results different? Why?
Who had the advantage in the second election?

31. 2008 Presidential Election
Obama: 67.8% of electoral votes.
McCain: 32.2% of electoral votes.
Barack Obama: 52.9% of popular vote.
John McCain: 45.6% of popular vote.

32. How does the Electoral College Work?
Number of electors per state?
# in HOR in state + # in Senate
Total # of electors = 538 (DC has 3)
Minimum number of electoral votes needed to win an election?
270

33. Summary
Why do you think the Framers created the Electoral College system?

34. Compromise The Framers of the Constitution
1st suggestion – Congress selects the President
2nd suggestion – People elect the President

35. Representation
Still a big vs. small state problem if Congress selects president
Decision – hold state elections, then have each state cast electoral votes for winning candidate
Winner takes all system

36. Why have electors?
Framers wondered – can we trust the public to make informed decisions?
Solution: have state electors cast official vote for Pres. & VP after the popular vote has occurred
Appointed electors would be knowledgeable about politics & could select candidates representing the interests of the majority

37. Assessment Formative What is wrong with this map of the United States?
Why are only a few states visible?
What is the artist implying about voters in the visible states?
Voters in the invisible states?
What is the overall message of this cartoon?
Assessment
Formative

38. Election Process review!