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PRESIDENT: The Executive Branch. LESSON 9. Who can be the President of the United States?. Selecting a Candidate Requirements 35 years of age Native-born citizen of United States Resident for at least 14 years. How do we nominate candidates?. Traditional Nominating Procedure
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PRESIDENT:The Executive Branch LESSON 9
Who can be the President of the United States? • Selecting a Candidate • Requirements • 35 years of age • Native-born citizen of United States • Resident for at least 14 years
How do we nominate candidates? • Traditional Nominating Procedure • Caucus System • “KING CAUCUS”:Small group of party leaders selected candidates • Used until 1828 • Nominating Convention • Used since 1828 • Large groups of party members • More democratic
How do we nominate candidates? • Nominating Procedures Today • State Conventions • Not used due to cost and time concerns • Worry that state party “bosses” would have considerable control over selecting nominees
How do we nominate candidates? • Presidential Primaries & Caucuses • All states now use this procedure • Delegates chosen by primaries • Most democratic, but… • Low voter turnout • Expensive to run
How do we nominate candidates? • National Conventions • Held summer before the election • “Political circus” • Purposes • Unite the party • Introduce the party platform • Nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates
How do candidates get their message out to the people? • The Election Campaign • The candidate must appeal to the voters“go to the people” • Travel, dinners, speeches, TV, etc. • Campaigns cost millions of dollars • Campaign finance laws • 1972: People’s donations must be made public • 1974: Government will provide matching funds
Why doesn’t the popular vote end the election? • Electoral College System • Electoral votes = • People vote for “electors for…”
Why doesn’t the popular vote end the election? • The winning candidate is the one that receives the majority (plurality) of the popular votes in a state; the winner of the state receives all of the state’s electoral votes. • A candidate needs 270electoral votes to win a Presidential election. “WINNER-TAKE-ALL” SYSTEM
How does the Electoral College affect Presidential elections? • Effects of the Electoral College System • Distorts the popular vote • 1980:Reagan v. Carter • 2000:Bush v. Gore • Candidate could lose small states overwhelmingly in popular vote, but carry large states by small margins • 1888:Cleveland v. Harrison • 2000:Bush v. Gore
How does the Electoral College affect Presidential elections? • Discourages minor parties only Democrats and Republicans have legitimate chance to win • Affects the way candidates campaign focus on large states with many electoral votes and ignore small states
When does the President-elect actually start their new job? • Presidential Inauguration January 20th (following Election Day) formerly March 4th when travel was harder…
How long does the President serve? • Presidential Term of Office • PRECEDENT: Two-term tradition until 1940 • 1940:Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) broke the two-term precedent elected 4 times, but only served 3 full terms! • 1951:22nd Amendmentpassed after FDR’s death limits President to 2 full terms or 10 years total Who set the precedent? GEORGE WASHINGTON: He refused to run for a third term in 1796…
If something happens to the President, then… • Presidential Succession • Original Constitution:Vice President assumes the powers of the President for any reason (death, removal, resignation, etc.) • Presidential Succession Act (1947) • Vice President • Speaker of the House • President Pro Tempore (Senate) • Cabinet Members (starts with Secretary of State)
If something happens to the President, then… • 25th Amendment (1967)Presidential Disabilities and Succession Act • Vice Presidency vacant? President nominates new VP to be approved by majority of Congress (both houses) • President disabled?Vice President shall serve as President
What’s the need for the President’s “right-hand man”? • The Vice Presidency • Requirements: Same as Presidency (35/native/14) • Powers • Presides over the Senate • Votes on Senate deadlocks (50-50 ties) • Takes over for President under following conditions • Resignation • Removal • Death
Who helps the President? • Presidential Advisors and Assistants • EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS: The President’s Cabinethas grown from 3 positions to 15 today
Who helps the President? • PRESIDENT’S CABINET:George Washington began practice of having department heads and advisors meet with President developed through precedent • THOMAS JEFFERSON: Secretary of State • ALEXANDER HAMILTON: Secretary of Treasury • HENRY KNOX:Secretary of War • EDMUND RANDOLPH: Attorney General
How has the President expanded his power throughout history? • The Unwritten Constitution UNWRITTEN CONSTITUTION: Concepts not specifically written in the Constitution, but developed through precedent and time • The President’s “elastic clause”:Events and laws that result from Presidential action (ex: Louisiana Purchase) • Cabinet • Political parties