ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND ELECTORAL PROCESS WHO ELECTS OUR

ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND ELECTORAL PROCESS

WHO ELECTS OUR LEADERS? � House = directly elected by US citizens ALWAYS � Senate = directly elected by US citizens NOW (17 th Amendment) � President = Electoral College (12 th Amendment) � � Founding Fathers weren’t sure a democracy would work and created Electoral College so states could “choose” Regular chance to replace leaders (accountability)

ELECTORAL COLLEGE � Each state receives electoral votes based on population � 270 magic number for candidates - if no one reaches 270, vote taken in House of Representatives � Twelfth Amendment � outlines the purpose of the Electoral College and electoral process for President and Vice President � essentially 51 different elections telling state electors how they will cast their vote � 700 proposed changes to the Electoral College (more than any other subject)

Proportional Plan - candidate would receive same share of State’s electoral vote as his share of popular vote Direct Popular Plan – allow candidate who won the popular vote to become President; hurts small states or least populated states National Bonus Plan - would keep much of current system intact but weight the winner-take-all feature toward winner of popular vote

WHO ARE THE ELECTORS? � People elected by their state political parties � Can’t be an elector if you currently hold a federal office at time of election � Faithless Electors - Electors who vote against the will of the people in the state election - 24 states have laws punishing faithless electors

THE ROAD TO THE PRESIDENCY � “Test the waters” Visit talk shows � make appearances in first two primary states IA and NH � Form an exploratory committee to assess verbal and monetary support � � Create a campaign organization without the aid of the major political parties Fundraising, grassroots (especially in early primary states) � Once candidate becomes the nominee, then the party rallies behind the candidate with money and other forms of support �

WINNING THE NOMINATION: PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES � Most common way for a candidate to gain a nomination in the party primaries and held before the general election Primaries - (1/3 to ½ of voters in general election) � Progressive Era reform to give citizens more of a voice in nominating candidates for President � � Open Primary - voters don’t have to declare their party to vote � Closed Primary - voters do have to declare their party to vote (Missouri)

WINNING THE NOMINATION: PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES � Caucus “gathering of tribal chiefs” � Party members meet to discuss & choose nominee (delegates) � Local Regional State � Delegates go to national convention to cast “vote” representing will of the people � � Caucuses have low voter turnout because you have to stay throughout the whole process to get your voice heard; in a primary, you just have to turn in a filled out ballot and your done! Iowa Caucus explained https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=6 u. Fo. Cc. IGd. Xg

NATIONAL CONVENTION � National Convention is used to select the party’s Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates Held in late summer after primaries and caucuses � Speeches given to unify the party and adopt the party’s platform � Official vote taken to nominate a candidate from the party for the office of President � � Party platform - ideas and principles (planks) that each party writes out to define the major issues of their party and unite the party

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION � After the National Convention, candidates promote the platform of each party in an attempt to win the general election � Campaign � attempt by candidates to convince you to vote for them � Citizens United v. FEC (2010) - Supreme Court case which equated campaign spending to protected 1 st Amendment right of free speech; allows for unlimited expenditures by a candidate if the money comes from political action committees, unions, corporations and interest groups � Vote on the first Tuesday in November � winner take all system; 270 electoral votes needed to

2012 CAMPAIGN SPENDING PRESIDENTIAL