1. Essential Question How do we elect the president?

2. The Presidential Election

3. The Road to The Election Direct primary In each state party members select people to run in the general election

4. State Primaries The candidate with the most votes wins that state First primary held in February, last in June

5. Nominating Conventions States elect delegates to attend the convention where the official nomination occurs

6. The General Election Democrats Republicans Third Parties

7. How Do We Elect the President? Is it a direct, popular vote?

8. When Do We Vote? The Tuesday after the first Monday in November

9. The Electoral College Created in Article I, Section 2 Each state will choose electors

10. How Many Electors? Number of senators plus number of members of the House in Congress Plus 3 from the District of Columbia 538 total

12. Electoral College Winner take all system The winner of the popular vote in a state gets all electors

13. Exceptions? Maine and Nebraska

14. Electoral College Meets on the Monday following the second Wednesday of December Ballots cast, official count taken

15. Weakness #1 Winner Take All Unfair to those who voted for a losing candidate? A candidate may win the popular vote but lose the electoral college vote

16. Weakness #2 Third Party Candidates Could prevent a majority voting win by either major party candidate

17. No Winner? If the election does not give a majority of electoral college votes to one candidate, what happens?

18. No Winner? The House of Representatives chooses the president Each state has one vote

19. The Inauguration The new president takes office at noon on January 20 th of the following year

20. Oath of Office I do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

21. The Inauguration Held outside in Washington D.C. The new president rides with the outgoing from the White House to the Capitol for the ceremony