The Path to the Presidency

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The Path to the Presidency

• 1st Step
• The Primary Process
• A candidate must win the nomination of the PARTY

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Democratic candidates
Sen. Hillary Clinton
Barack Obama
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Other Democrats
Senator Joe Biden
Senator Chris Dodd
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Another Democrat
Former Senator John Edwards
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Republican Candidates
Sen. John McCain
Gov. Mitt Romney
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Other Republicans
Senator Fred Thompson
Governor Mike Huckabee
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Another Republican
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Luckily, not a candidate
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Primary Elections

• Early elections held in each state for candidate
  for the PARTY
• Begin in January and last until June
• State voters are actually picking delegates to go
  to the National Party Convention

• Delegates are the voice of the state at the
  National Party Convention
• Each state has a specific number of delegates
  based on the population of the state
• The delegates vote at the Convention for the
  candidate

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Early Elections run from Jan-June
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Two types of Primary

• Primary
• Any registered voter may vote
• About 30 participate
• Less exclusive

• Caucus
• Only party members may vote
• Only about 10 of voters participate
• More exclusive

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Who votes in a primary?
Any registered voter!!
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Who votes in a caucus?
Members Only
Dean Scream
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Road to the ConventionImportant dates during
primary season

• Iowa Caucus January 1st important caucus
• N.H. Primary January 1st important primary
• S.C. Primary January 1st important southern
  primary

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Iowa Caucus
Dean Scream contest
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Super Tuesday

• 1st Tuesday in February when lots of states have
  their primaries or caucuses
• Many candidates drop out of the race when they do
  not do well on Super Tuesday

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National Party Convention

• Delegates from all the states gather to make the
  final selection for their partys Presidential
  Candidate

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Republican National Convention 2004 in New York
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National Party Conventionsmeet in July and
August (usually)

• Democrats convention in Denver, CO (Sept 1-4)
• Republicans convention in St. Paul, MN (Aug
  25-28)
• Delegates hear speeches, vote on the (1)candidate
  for president and (2)VP candidate (3)decide on
  party platform issues that the party stands
  on.

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When conventions are over the 2 candidates
campaign until General Election Day Tuesday
after the 1st Monday in November
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Step 2The Electoral Process What happens on
Election Day until Inauguration Day
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On Election Day

• 1. The people in each state go vote General
  Election Day (the peoples vote)
• 1st Tuesday following 1st Monday in November
• 2. Votes are tallied up in each state
• 3. Whichever candidate wins in that state gets
• all of that states Electoral Votes

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Electoral Votes

• Each state has a specific of Electoral votes.
• Each states electoral votes equals its of
  senators and representatives.
• Total nationwide is 538.
• The least a state can have is 3.
• California has the most with 55.
• South Carolina has 8.

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States with largest number of Electoral Votes

• California - 55
• Texas - 34
• New York - 31
• Florida - 27
• Pennsylvania - 21
• Illinois - 21
• Ohio - 20

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270 is the number of Electoral Votes needed to Win

• 270 is a majority of 538
• A candidate must have a majority to win
• If no one has a majority, the election process is
  turned over to the House of Representatives.

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How it all works

• On General Election Day (T. after 1st M. in Nov.)
  registered voters in each state go vote.
• Votes are counted w/i each state.
• The candidate that wins in that state gets all
  that states E-Votes.
• The E-Votes from all the states for each
  candidate are tallied up.
• Whichever candidate wins 270 E-votes becomes
  Prez.

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Cont

• The Electors go vote in their states the 2nd week
  in December (Wed. after the 2nd Mon.)
• Those votes are officially counted on Jan. 6th
  by the President of the Senate
• The new President is inaugurated on Jan. 20th.

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The outgoing President is called Lame Duck from
Election Day until Inauguration
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or

• The incoming President is called President-Elect
  from Election Day until Inauguration

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Comparing the Primary Process to the Electoral
Process
Primary Process
Electoral Process
Selects a candidate for the PARTY
Selects the PRESIDENT
States voters vote in each states
primary/caucus (Jan. June)
States voters vote in the General Election (NOV)
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Primary Process
Electoral Process
Voters choose delegates to go to the National
Party Convention (July August)
Voters choose Electors who vote in mid-December
President-Elect is Inaugurated on January 20th
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Why dont we change the system?
It would take an Amendment, and its
to pass an amendment.
HARD