Electing a Pesident in the USA Lecture 2. The Presidential Seal

Electing a Pesident in the USAElecting a Pesident in the USA

Lecture 2Lecture 2

The Presidential SealThe Presidential Seal

President: The Executive BranchPresident: The Executive Branch

Elected to a Elected to a four-year term four-year term by the people by the people who choose who choose electorselectors. .

The The Electoral CollegeElectoral College: 538.: 538.

The 22nd Amendment (1951): President The 22nd Amendment (1951): President may serve may serve only two termsonly two terms..

The next US presidential electionThe next US presidential election

The first The first TuesdayTuesday after after the first Monday ofthe first Monday of NovemberNovember..

The The 44th44th president of president of the United States will be the United States will be elected on elected on 4 November 4 November 20082008..

How to become a president?How to become a president?

A very long and complex system.A very long and complex system.

Step one:Step one:

There are two main political parties, the There are two main political parties, the DemocratsDemocrats and the and the RepublicansRepublicans..

To become the President first you must To become the President first you must get party’s get party’s nominationnomination..

How does a candidate win his or How does a candidate win his or her party's nomination?her party's nomination?

Most states hold state-wide votes, called Most states hold state-wide votes, called primariesprimaries, to determine their preferred , to determine their preferred candidates from the two main parties. candidates from the two main parties.

Others use a slightly different procedure Others use a slightly different procedure involving public meetings, called involving public meetings, called caucusescaucuses..

After you win a primaryAfter you win a primary

As a result the state will send a certain As a result the state will send a certain number of delegates committed to number of delegates committed to supporting a particular candidate, to the supporting a particular candidate, to the party convention party convention in August or September in August or September 2008. 2008.

Bigger states have more delegates. Bigger states have more delegates.

At the party conventionAt the party convention

The candidate with the The candidate with the most delegates wins most delegates wins the nomination. the nomination.

Usually this becomes Usually this becomes clear early on in the clear early on in the primary season. primary season.

The ConventionsThe Conventions

The Democrats will hold their convention The Democrats will hold their convention in in ColoradoColorado in late August. in late August.

The Republicans will hold theirs in The Republicans will hold theirs in MinneapolisMinneapolis in early September. in early September.

The presidential candidates will take part The presidential candidates will take part in TV debates on 26 September, and 7 in TV debates on 26 September, and 7 and 15 October.and 15 October.

Democratic ContendersDemocratic Contenders

Hillary Clinton, New York senator and Hillary Clinton, New York senator and former First Lady, former First Lady,

Barack Obama, a black senator from Barack Obama, a black senator from Illinois.Illinois.

Clinton vs. Obama debateClinton vs. Obama debate

Republican contendersRepublican contenders

John McCainJohn McCain, the Arizona senator (almost , the Arizona senator (almost certain to be the candidate)certain to be the candidate)

Mike Huckabee, a former governor of Mike Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas.Arkansas.

Campaigning: celebrity Campaigning: celebrity endorsementsendorsements

Obama campaign – appealing Obama campaign – appealing to the youngto the young

The VoteThe Vote

Voters do not, technically, participate in Voters do not, technically, participate in a direct election of the president. a direct election of the president.

They choose "electors" pledged to They choose "electors" pledged to support a particular candidate - these support a particular candidate - these are the people who actually elect the are the people who actually elect the president.president.

There are 538 of them, and big states There are 538 of them, and big states have more of them than small states.have more of them than small states.

Electoral collegeElectoral college

After electionAfter election

The job of the presidentThe job of the president

The president’s constitutional duties

Chief formulator of national policy. Chief formulator of national policy.

Commander-in-chiefCommander-in-chief of the armed forces. of the armed forces.

Diplomat.

Legislator.

Roles defined by the Article II of the Constitution.

PresidentsPresidents

George Washington, George Washington, the first president of the first president of the United States the United States (1789-97).(1789-97).

George W. BushGeorge W. Bush: the : the 4343rdrd President of the President of the United States.United States.

Other famous presidentsOther famous presidents

The PresidentThe President

Must be: Must be: – at least 35.at least 35.– 14 year resident. 14 year resident. – Natural born American citizen.Natural born American citizen.

Salary: $400,000 per year.Salary: $400,000 per year.

Chief duty: protect the Constitution Chief duty: protect the Constitution enforce the laws passed by the enforce the laws passed by the Congress.Congress.

President: InaugurationPresident: Inauguration

Elections: Elections: first Tuesday first Tuesday after the first after the first Monday ofMonday of November November..

The term begins on January 20.The term begins on January 20.

I do solemnly swear that I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute I will faithfully execute the Office of the the Office of the President of the United President of the United States and will to the States and will to the best of my ability protect best of my ability protect and defend the United and defend the United States.States.

Inauguration: President is sworn in.US Chief Justice

The BibleThe Bible

The White House: Official The White House: Official ResidenceResidence

Mountain retreat of the President: Mountain retreat of the President: Camp DavidCamp David

In Maryland, Outside In Maryland, Outside Washington.Washington.

The Oval OfficeThe Oval Office

Presidential limousinePresidential limousine

Air Force OneAir Force One

Mount Rushmore (South Dakota)Mount Rushmore (South Dakota)Presidents George Washington, Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln

Security: “the Football”Security: “the Football”

The President is The President is always followed by always followed by the Emergency War the Emergency War Officer.Officer.

He holds the so-He holds the so-called football: a case called football: a case with codes and radio with codes and radio needed to order the needed to order the use of nuclear use of nuclear weapons.weapons.

Vice-PresidentVice-President

Serves together with Serves together with the president.the president.

Head of the Senate.Head of the Senate.

When something is When something is wrong with the wrong with the president he (or she) president he (or she) takes over.takes over.

Vice President: Dick Cheney

The CabinetThe Cabinet

People working under President.People working under President.

Organised into 14 different departments.Organised into 14 different departments.

President can appoint and dismiss the President can appoint and dismiss the people working in the departments.people working in the departments.

The President’s CabinetThe President’s Cabinet

+ Department of Homeland Security (created after 9/11)+ Department of Homeland Security (created after 9/11)

Important Agencies: Department of JusticeImportant Agencies: Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Investigation (FBI)

Drug Enforcement Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Administration (DEA)

Important Independent AgenciesImportant Independent Agencies

Central Intelligence Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).Agency (CIA).

The National The National Aeronautics and Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Administration (NASA).(NASA).