The Executive Branch.

Similar presentations

3 What is presidential succession?The plan by which a vacancy in the presidency is filled

4 25th Amendment (1967) The vice president takes over if the presidentDiesResignsIs removed from officeBecomes disabled

5 Presidential DisabilityThe VP takes over ifPresident tells Congress he can’t do his jobVP and Cabinet tell Congress Pres. Can’t do jobThe disability provision has been used twice:Reagan transferred power to VP George Bush for 8 hours after assassination attempt while in surgeryGeorge W. Bush transferred power to VP Dick Cheney for 2 hours during a minor surgical procedure.

6 Presidential Succession Act 1947Congress sets the order of succession if the VP is unable to serveVPSpeaker of the HousePresident Pro Tempore of the SenateSecretary of StateSecretary of the TreasuryThe rest of the cabinet heads in order of creation of the cabinet (15 cabinets or departments in all)

8 Original PlanAt the Constitutional Convention, delegates debated how the president would be chosenCongressPeoplePolitical Experts (electors)Decided to let people vote for electors who then choose the presidentIndirect election of the president

9 Original Plan Why did the delegates decide on this method?Congress choosing would give them too much powerPeople were not smart enoughElectors serve as a “check” on the people

10 Testing the WatersWhen: 1 to 2 years prior to the presidential election!!Purpose: To test the appeal of the candidate among votersGet your name and face out there!!Begin to raise money2008 Presidential Election raised and spent over $1 billion

11 Primaries and CaucusesWhenJanuary – June of election yearPurposeCandidates complete against members of their own party for their party’s nominationPick the best candidate to defeat the other party

12 PrimariesVoters go to polling place and cast a ballot for a candidate

13 CaucusesPeople get together at a meeting and decide who they want to support as their party’s candidate

22 The General Election When:1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November, every four yearsWhat:People vote for electorsMust be registered to vote!Called the popular vote

23 Electoral CollegeThe group that selects the winner of the presidential electionIt is made up of 538 presidential electorsA presidential candidate must win the majority of electoral votes to become president (magic # is 270)2012: Obama 332 to Romney 2062008: Obama 365 to McCain 1732000: Bush 271 to Gore 267

24 Electoral College “Winner Take All” SystemThe winner of a state’s popular votes gets ALL of the state’s electoral votes.Even if you win by 1 vote!!!!Electors for the losing candidate do nothing.How is the number of electoral votes per state determined?# of senators + # of representativesWashington DC gets 3 electoral votes(Amendment 23 – 1961)

27 Electors Cast BallotsElectors did not always have to cast a ballot for their pledged candidateThis was the check on the popular vote (people’s vote)Today, most electors DO cast a ballot for their pledged candidateSome states require electors to do this BY LAWSO it is fairly safe to say that today, the winner in November will be president

28 Counting Electoral VotesWhen: January 3rdHowThe President of the Senate (VP) counts the votesNo one with 270 electoral votes??House picks presidentSenate picks VP

29 Step 9: InaugurationBoth the President and VP take the oath of office on January 20th at noon.

30 Indirect ElectionThe American people do not directly elect the president and vice presidentVoters elect electors who then choose the president and VPWe have and indirect process for selecting the president and VP

33 All electors are not required to vote as pledgedA third party candidate won’t win but could affect outcome

34 The winner of the popular vote is not always guaranteedthe presidency2000Bush defeats Gore and becomes presidentBush lost the popular election by 500,0o0 votes but beat Gore in the electoral votes 271 to 267Florida: Bush wins by 543 votes

35 Electoral College GameDivide into pairs; decide who will be the Republican candidate and the Democratic candidateIf there is an odd number, someone can be a third partyFor each state, take turns rolling the dice; the person who rolls the highest number wins the stateIf you tie, roll again until there is a winnerColor in each state you win; keep a running total on the side of the map as to the number of electoral votes each candidate hasFirst candidate to gain 270 electoral votes is the winner!