Steps to Becoming Steps to Becoming PresidentPresident

Choosing a candidateChoosing a candidate

Should have the Should have the qualifications for president qualifications for president listed in the Constitutionlisted in the Constitution

Formal Rules to be Formal Rules to be PresidentPresident

Born in the United States Born in the United States

At least 35 years old At least 35 years old

Must live in U.S. at least 14 yearsMust live in U.S. at least 14 years

Informal RulesInformal Rules - - TraditionsTraditions

MaleMale White (?)White (?) ProtestantProtestant Upper-Middle Class / RichUpper-Middle Class / Rich

FinancingFinancing

Raise moneyRaise money Have moneyHave money

Or…Or… Have friends with moneyHave friends with money

Starting the CampaignStarting the Campaign

Develop a campaign team – Develop a campaign team – Nationally, organize workers, Nationally, organize workers, create strategies and obtain create strategies and obtain polling information from voterspolling information from voters..

Starting the CampaignStarting the Campaign

Get on the Ballot in every Get on the Ballot in every state – Signatures of state – Signatures of registered voters on petitionsregistered voters on petitions

CampaigningCampaigning

Help the state and local campaign Help the state and local campaign workers to organize political rallies.workers to organize political rallies.

At campaign appearances, make At campaign appearances, make “crowd appropriate” speeches“crowd appropriate” speeches

PrimariesPrimaries

Presidential Primaries – Presidential Primaries – “Pre-Election Election” held “Pre-Election Election” held in 37 statesin 37 states

(Note – Only run against (Note – Only run against people in your own party)people in your own party)

Open PrimaryOpen Primary

Any registered voter can vote for Any registered voter can vote for either partyeither party

Closed PrimaryClosed Primary

Only vote for people in your own Only vote for people in your own partyparty

Caucus Caucus

Non – binding selection of candidate Non – binding selection of candidate delegates by registered voters.delegates by registered voters.

Vote is by paper ballot (single Vote is by paper ballot (single delegates) or show of hands.delegates) or show of hands.

Caucuses and PrimariesCaucuses and Primaries

First caucus is in Iowa (January)First caucus is in Iowa (January)

First primary is in New First primary is in New Hampshire (January)Hampshire (January)

National Party Convention National Party Convention (July / August)(July / August)

Attended by Attended by Grassroots peopleGrassroots people – – Average citizens who work in Average citizens who work in political campaigns in their political campaigns in their hometownshometowns

Political party chooses their Political party chooses their candidate – voting state by state, candidate – voting state by state, until someone has a majority.until someone has a majority.

CampaigningCampaigning

Appearances in “swing” states – Appearances in “swing” states – States that might vote for either States that might vote for either candidatecandidate

Little or no personal appearances in Little or no personal appearances in states that are traditionally for the states that are traditionally for the other party other party oror have few electoral have few electoral votesvotes

DebatesDebates

Since 1976, Presidential candidates Since 1976, Presidential candidates have taken part in televised debateshave taken part in televised debates

Sponsored by the League of Women Sponsored by the League of Women VotersVoters

Candidates must be prepared to Candidates must be prepared to answer any questions and practice answer any questions and practice prior to the debatesprior to the debates

Election DayElection Day

Get out the vote – first Tuesday after Get out the vote – first Tuesday after first Monday in November.first Monday in November.

Candidate with Candidate with 270 270 Electoral votes Electoral votes wins election.wins election.

However, the election is However, the election is not not official.official.

DecemberDecember

Electoral voters meet in every state Electoral voters meet in every state capital to secretly vote for President.capital to secretly vote for President.

Each secret ballot is placed in a Fed-Each secret ballot is placed in a Fed-Ex envelope and mailed to Ex envelope and mailed to Washington D.C., where it will remain Washington D.C., where it will remain under lock and key under lock and key

UntilUntil……

First Monday in JanuaryFirst Monday in January

The President of the Senate (the The President of the Senate (the Vice-President) opens the envelopes Vice-President) opens the envelopes before a joint session of Congress, before a joint session of Congress, counts the ballots and Congress counts the ballots and Congress votes to certify the election.votes to certify the election.

And thenAnd then……

January 20thJanuary 20th

The newly-elected President is The newly-elected President is sworn into office at noon time.sworn into office at noon time.