Chapter 13, Section 3 Presidential Selection
Chapter 13, Section 3 Presidential Selection
Original Plan
-President & VP chosen by a body of presidential electors (select the wisest & best man from whom they knew)
-each elector cast 2 votes, each for a different candidate
-most votes-Pres, 2nd place V.P.
1796-rise of political parties
John Adams (Federalist)-President
Thomas Jefferson (Democratic Republican) lost by 3 votes & became VP
12th amendment-electors vote for Pres & VP separately
Electoral college-the electors chosen from each state & DC
Chapter 13, Section 4 Presidential Nominations
2 campaigns for presidency
-1 between Democrats & Republicans in the fall and
-1 within the party for delegates-presidential primary –election in which the party members vote
-Primaries were used for both delegate selection & preference exercises
-Most primaries are now preference primaries & delegates are chosen later at the party conventions
Several primaries were also winner take all-candidates who won got all the delegates
Now we have proportional representation rule-mandatory in the Democratic party
Only candidates with at least 15% get that share of delegates
Primaries are usually knock down drag out battles within the party out of power.
Not common in party in power because
1) Pres is seeking reelection or
2) has given his backing to someone
National Conventions-meeting at which the delegates vote to pick their Pres/VP candidates
-a lot of time the leading contender already has enough delegate votes
-National committee makes the arrangements for the convention-date, location
Usually party out of power holds theirs first-July
Pres party usually in early Aug
2000-R-Philadelphia-2067 delegates
2000-D-Los Angeles-4337 delegates
2004-R-NYC
2004-D-Boston
3 main goals at the convention
1) to officially name the candidates
2) bring various factions together for a common purpose
3) adopt the party’s platform-formal statement of basic principles, stands on major policy matters, etc
Usually 4 days
1st day-keynote address-high-ranking party member
2nd day-committee reports
3rd day-nominating speeches & convention vote-States called in alpha order-chairman of States delegation announces their votes
4th day-nomination of VP candidate-usually has been hand picked by the presidential candidate-Presidential candidate acceptance speech
Chapter 13, Section 5 The Election
Electoral College
Electors are expected to vote automatically for their party’s candidate for Pres & VP
Electors are chosen by popular vote in every state on the Tues after the 1st Monday in Nov (Nov 2, 2004)
On the ballot are the candidates names which is shorthand for the slate of electors
Counting electoral votes
12th amendment
Electors shall meet in their respective state capitols on a date set by Congress-Mon after the 2nd Wednesday in December. They each cast 2 votes; on for President and a separate one for VP
Ballots are signed, sealed & sent by registered mail to Pres of Senate
Formal election is Jan 6th-Pres of Senate opens the votes and counts them before a joint session of Congress.
If no candidate wins 270 electoral votes the election is thrown into the House
Each State has 1 vote; need a majority (26)
Electoral College flaws
3 major defects
1) winner of popular vote may not win presidency (result of winner take all feature)
2) electors do not have to vote in accord with the popular vote
3) any election might have to be decided in the House
9 times have had “faithless electors”
can win 11 largest states and win the election
2000 Election
Bush v Gore
Decided in the Supreme Court; 5-4 decision to stop the recount.
Based on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment- the differing ways the votes were being recounted in the various counties violated the 14th amendment