Transcript Chapter 9 - Presidential Elections

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
NOMINATION
• The first step in electing a president is
the Nomination process.
• This is where the voters in each party
select a candidate.
• This process begins in January of the
election year & goes until June.
PRIMARIES
• Most States hold
primaries. 20-30%
of voters participate
in the primaries.
• These are one day
intraparty elections.
CLOSED PRIMARIES
• A primary is a
contest within a
party to select a
candidate.
• Some States hold
Closed Primaries.
• This means that
only registered party
members may vote.
OPEN PRIMARIES
• Open primaries allow all qualified voters
to participate.
• This is what Texas has.
• The day of the election, voters must
decide whether to voter in the
Democratic Primary or the Republican
Primary.
CAUCUS
• A few States still
hold Caucuses.
• Only 5-10% of the
voters in these
States participate in
these Caucuses.
CAUCUS
• The Caucus method is a multi-step
process.
• Voters begin at a local caucus in their
neighborhood.
• All Democrats or Republicans meet at
the neighborhood school one evening.
LOCAL CAUCUS
• For two hours, supporters of different
candidates go to one area of the room.
• Undecided voters stand in the middle of the
room. Supports of the other candidates try to
persuade the undecideds to support their
candidate.
• At a certain time, supporters of the
candidates are counted.
• Delegates are chosen to attend the District
Convention to support their candidates.
DISTRICT and STATE
CONVENTIONS
• The process is repeated and delegates
are chosen to attend the State
Convention.
• The process is repeated at the State
Convention and delegates are chosen
to attend the National Convention.
WHAT CANDIDATES GET
FROM THE PRIMARIES AND
CAUCUSES
• Candidates want to
win often and early.
• By winning the early
primaries and
caucuses, the
candidates get
media attention and
donations to their
campaigns.
SUPER TUESDAY
• The States that have their primaries &
caucuses early, have an advantage.
– They receive a lot of attention from the
candidates.
– Most of the candidates are still in the race.
• Several southern States, including
Texas, moved their primaries/caucuses
to the second week in March-Super
Tues.
STEP 2--THE
NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
• Each party holds their national
conventions in August or Sept.
THE NATIONAL
CONVENTIONS
• Three important things happen at the
national conventions:
– The presidential & vice-presidential
candidates are officially nominated
– The party platform is written
– This is the party’s stand on the issues.
– The party is united behind one candidate.
STEP THREE
THE CAMPAIGN
• This is when the
Democratic
Candidate and
Republican
Candidate campaign
against each other-– LET THE FUN
BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!
THE MEDIA
• Most Americans get all of their info.
from television
• Media slant
• Polls
– Can be used by the candidates to find out
how they’re doing with the voters
– Can say anything.
PROPAGANDA
• Plain folks- candidates want the voters
to think that they are just like us!!
MORE PROPAGANDA
• Bandwagon--everyone’s supporting me
& you should too!!!!
• Glittering Generalities--slogans that
sound good & mean nothing-– VOTE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW!!
– THE EDUCATION PRESIDENT!!
MORE PROPAGANDA
• Cardstacking-- telling only one side of
the story--”I’m great, my opponent is a
crook!!”
• Namecalling
• Testimonial--have someone famous
campaign for you
MORE PROPAGANDA
• Transfer--hoping the symbol will “rub
off” on the candidate
STEP FOUR--THE GENERAL
ELECTION!!
• This is when we go vote!!!
• It is always held on the Tuesday
following the first Monday in Nov.
THE GENERAL ELECTION!!
• We now use the Australian ballot.
–
–
–
–
Printed by the State
Private
Lists all candidates
Handed out only at voting precincts
• Our vote decides WHO gets to cast the
electoral college votes!!!
STEP FIVE--THE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
• Winner take all--in most States, the
candidate that wins more of the popular
vote, wins ALL of the electoral votes!!!!
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
• Each State decides how the electors for
their State will be chosen.
• In Texas, our electors are chosen at the
State Party conventions, the summer
before the election.
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
• Electors meet at their State capitals on
the Monday following the second
Wednesday in December.
• They cast one vote for President & one
vote for Vice-President-– 12th Amendment
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
• Their ballots are sealed & sent to
Washington, D.C. and counted in front
of a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6,
with the President of the Senate (VP)
presiding.
• A candidate must receive a majority of
electoral votes--or at least 270 of the
538 votes cast.
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
• If there is a tie, or no one receives a
majority of electoral vote
– The House of Representatives selects the
President from among the top 3 vote
getters.
– The Senate selects the Vice-President.
THE PRESIDENTIAL
INAUGURATION
• The President and Vice-President are
sworn in to office on Jan. 20, at noon
– 20th Amendment