THE THE RACERACE FOR THE FOR THE PRESIDENCY 2016PRESIDENCY 2016

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROCESSEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROCESS … ….BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK.BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK

THE ROAD TO THE WHITE THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSEHOUSE

Who ARE these people?

THE PRESIDENCYTHE PRESIDENCY

Term of office: Term of office: four years four years

May serve two full May serve two full terms totaling terms totaling eight years* eight years*

A Vice President A Vice President may succeed a may succeed a President and President and serve a maximum serve a maximum of ten years (25of ten years (25thth Amendment)Amendment)

THE PRESIDENCYTHE PRESIDENCY

Presidential Qualifications:Presidential Qualifications: 35 years old, resident 14 years, natural born citizen.35 years old, resident 14 years, natural born citizen.

Elected by the Electoral College (which is elected by Elected by the Electoral College (which is elected by popular vote)popular vote) Authorized by Article II of the U.S. Constitution.Authorized by Article II of the U.S. Constitution.

Roles include:Roles include: Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief (leader of the armed services) (leader of the armed services) Chief LegislatorChief Legislator (recommends and acts on (recommends and acts on

legislation)legislation) Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat (treaties, executive agreements) (treaties, executive agreements) Chief AdministratorChief Administrator (leader of the bureaucracy) (leader of the bureaucracy) Head of StateHead of State (represents country, appointments, (represents country, appointments,

pardons)pardons)

DYNAMIC DUOSDYNAMIC DUOS

THE VP RUNNING MATETHE VP RUNNING MATE

Vice President:Vice President: Qualifications: same as President (35 years old, Qualifications: same as President (35 years old,

resident 14 years, natural born citizen) resident 14 years, natural born citizen) Elected by the Electoral College Elected by the Electoral College Authorized by Article II of the U.S. Constitution Authorized by Article II of the U.S. Constitution Role is undefined. Dependent on the President Role is undefined. Dependent on the President

for assignments. Typical duties include travel for assignments. Typical duties include travel abroad, working with Congress and advising the abroad, working with Congress and advising the President President

Steps in when President is unable to perform Steps in when President is unable to perform the duties of the office the duties of the office

Breaks tie votes in the Senate (as Breaks tie votes in the Senate (as Senate Senate PresidentPresident) )

2016 ELECTION 2016 ELECTION CALENDARCALENDAR

Jan-June: Caucuses and Primaries, Jan-June: Caucuses and Primaries, winning the party nominationwinning the party nomination

Aug-Sept: Party conventionsAug-Sept: Party conventions October: Debates (President / VP)October: Debates (President / VP) Nov 8, 2016: General election!Nov 8, 2016: General election! Dec, 2016: Electoral College voteDec, 2016: Electoral College vote Jan 20, 2017: Inauguration of 45Jan 20, 2017: Inauguration of 45thth

PresidentPresident

THE ROAD TO THE THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSEWHITE HOUSE

PrimaryPrimary:: State voters determine who they State voters determine who they want to represent their parties via secret want to represent their parties via secret ballot. Candidates earn proportional ballot. Candidates earn proportional delegates to the conventions. Most states delegates to the conventions. Most states employ the employ the ““primaryprimary”” system. The first system. The first Primary is in New Hampshire. Primary is in New Hampshire.

CaucusCaucus:: State voters determine who they State voters determine who they want to represent their parties in open want to represent their parties in open town hall type assemblies (no secret town hall type assemblies (no secret ballot). The first Caucus is in Iowa. Others ballot). The first Caucus is in Iowa. Others held in Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, held in Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, North Dakota, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Alaska and New Mexico.Alaska and New Mexico.

THE ROAD TO THE THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSEWHITE HOUSE

Iowa CaucusIowa Caucus:: February 1, 2016 February 1, 20161,774 separate caucuses 1,774 separate caucuses

throughout Iowathroughout Iowa

New Hampshire PrimaryNew Hampshire Primary:: February 9, February 9, 20162016

2016 PARTY CONVENTIONS2016 PARTY CONVENTIONS

Republicans: July 18 – 21Republicans: July 18 – 21 Cleveland, OHCleveland, OH

Democrats: July 25 - 28 Democrats: July 25 - 28 Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia, PA

Confirm nominating process and selection of Confirm nominating process and selection of candidates for President and Vice President candidates for President and Vice President (delegate voting).(delegate voting).

Develop Develop ““party platformparty platform”” and and ““planksplanks””:: Platform:Platform: general philosophy (list of principles) of general philosophy (list of principles) of

the respective parties the respective parties Planks:Planks: specific positions on political/social issues specific positions on political/social issues

such as war, immigration, health care, reproductive such as war, immigration, health care, reproductive rights, same sex marriage and capital punishment rights, same sex marriage and capital punishment that make up the platform.that make up the platform.

CONVENTION CONVENTION PARTICIPANTSPARTICIPANTS

Delegates:Delegates: Party members chosen at the state level Party members chosen at the state level through the primary/caucus process and awarded to through the primary/caucus process and awarded to

competing candidates according to state election competing candidates according to state election results. These individuals comprise roughly 80% of results. These individuals comprise roughly 80% of all convention voters.all convention voters.

Super Delegates*:Super Delegates*: Democratic National Committee Democratic National Committee members, all Democratic members of Congress, members, all Democratic members of Congress, Democratic governors, and certain former party Democratic governors, and certain former party leaders. This group makes up about 20% of all leaders. This group makes up about 20% of all convention delegates and are not pledged (committed convention delegates and are not pledged (committed to any candidate). They may change candidate to any candidate). They may change candidate endorsements as the they choose.endorsements as the they choose.

*Only within the Democratic Party*Only within the Democratic Party

PRESIDENTIALPRESIDENTIAL ““DEBATESDEBATES””

Usually feature 1 Usually feature 1 debate between debate between the VP nominees, the VP nominees, and 3 debates and 3 debates featuring the featuring the Presidential Presidential candidates.candidates.

Nixon/Kennedy Nixon/Kennedy (1960)(1960)

Romney/Obama Romney/Obama (2012)(2012)

POPULAR AND POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTESELECTORAL VOTES

Popular votePopular vote (November): all (November): all eligible voters cast eligible voters cast ballots to elect the ballots to elect the President and Vice President and Vice PresidentPresident

The totals in each state The totals in each state determines who will determines who will earn the Electoral votes earn the Electoral votes from that statefrom that state

Winner-take-all in 48 Winner-take-all in 48 states (Nebraska and states (Nebraska and Maine are proportional) Maine are proportional)

Electoral voteElectoral vote (December):(December):

Each state is allocated a Each state is allocated a predetermined number of predetermined number of electoral votes that is electoral votes that is equivalent to the total equivalent to the total number of members in number of members in the Senate and Housethe Senate and House

Washington State has 2 Washington State has 2 members in the Senate members in the Senate and 10 in the House for a and 10 in the House for a total of 12 Electoral votes total of 12 Electoral votes

ELECTORAL ELECTORAL COLLEGECOLLEGE 435435 votes based on the votes based on the

House of House of Representatives Representatives membershipmembership

100100 votes based on the votes based on the Senate membershipSenate membership

33 votes allocated to votes allocated to Washington D.C. (23rd Washington D.C. (23rd amendment) amendment)

538538 total, total, 270 270 needed to needed to win win presidencypresidency

Washington now has Washington now has 1212 votesvotes

Popular vote (the Popular vote (the people) the first Tuesday people) the first Tuesday of November.of November.

College votes the first College votes the first Monday after the second Monday after the second Wednesday in Wednesday in December.December.

Results announced Results announced before Congress by the before Congress by the sitting Vice President sitting Vice President

ELECTORAL COLLEGEELECTORAL COLLEGE What is it?What is it? ““Winner-take-allWinner-take-all”” -- except Maine and -- except Maine and

NebraskaNebraska The Electoral College selects the PresidentThe Electoral College selects the President Popular vote vs. electoral votePopular vote vs. electoral vote 1876-1876-HayesHayes vs. Tilden vs. Tilden 1888-1888-HarrisonHarrison vs. Cleveland vs. Cleveland 2000-2000-BushBush vs. Gore vs. Gore If no candidate earns a majority of electoral If no candidate earns a majority of electoral

votes: the House selects the President and votes: the House selects the President and the Senate selects the Vice President. the Senate selects the Vice President.

ELECTORAL OTE ELECTORAL OTE BREAKDOWNBREAKDOWN

100100 based on the based on the Senate membershipSenate membership

435435 based on the based on the House membershipHouse membership

33 allocated to allocated to Washington D.C.Washington D.C.

538538 total votes total votes possiblepossible

270270 needed to win the needed to win the Presidency/VP Presidency/VP 270= 538/2+1270= 538/2+1

Red states, blue Red states, blue states........huh?states........huh?

During elections politicos often refer to voting states During elections politicos often refer to voting states as as ““redred””, , ““blueblue”” or or ““purplepurple”” states. During the past states. During the past several presidential elections many states have several presidential elections many states have developed a pattern of voting for one party or the developed a pattern of voting for one party or the other and can often be predicted prior to the actual other and can often be predicted prior to the actual election.election.

Red Red states refer to Republican-leaning states such as states refer to Republican-leaning states such as South Dakota, Texas and Tennessee.South Dakota, Texas and Tennessee.

BlueBlue states refer to Democratic-leaning states and states refer to Democratic-leaning states and include California, Washington, New York and include California, Washington, New York and Illinois.Illinois.

Swing states or Swing states or ““battleground statesbattleground states”” are wide open are wide open

2016 BATTLEGROUND 2016 BATTLEGROUND STATESSTATESFlorida - 29, Pennsylvania - 20, Ohio – Florida - 29, Pennsylvania - 20, Ohio –

18, 18, North Carolina – 15North Carolina – 15, Virginia – 13, etc., Virginia – 13, etc.

BY THE NUMBERS,BY THE NUMBERS,ELECTORAL VS. POPULAR VOTES (major parties only) ELECTORAL VS. POPULAR VOTES (major parties only)

Year Year Candidate Candidate Elec.Elec. PopularPopular 1988 George H. Bush (R) 426 48,886,097 (53.4%)1988 George H. Bush (R) 426 48,886,097 (53.4%) Michael Dukakis (D) 111 41,809,074 (45.6%)Michael Dukakis (D) 111 41,809,074 (45.6%) 1992 Bill Clinton (D) 370 44,908,254 (43.3%)1992 Bill Clinton (D) 370 44,908,254 (43.3%) George H. Bush (R) 168 39,102,243 (37.7%)George H. Bush (R) 168 39,102,243 (37.7%) 1996 Bill Clinton (D) 379 45,590,703 (50%)1996 Bill Clinton (D) 379 45,590,703 (50%) Bob Dole (R) 159 37,816,307 (42%) Bob Dole (R) 159 37,816,307 (42%) 2000 George W. Bush (R) 2000 George W. Bush (R) 271 271 50,456,002 (47.9%) 50,456,002 (47.9%) Al Gore (D) 266 *50,999,897 (48.4%)Al Gore (D) 266 *50,999,897 (48.4%) 2004 George W. Bush (R) 286 59,459,765 (52%)2004 George W. Bush (R) 286 59,459,765 (52%) John Kerry (D) 251 55,949,407 (48%)John Kerry (D) 251 55,949,407 (48%) 2008 John McCain (R) 173 59,934,814 (45.7%)2008 John McCain (R) 173 59,934,814 (45.7%) Barack Obama (D) 365 69,456,897 (52.9%)Barack Obama (D) 365 69,456,897 (52.9%)

**Al Gore won the popular vote and lost the electoral Al Gore won the popular vote and lost the electoral vote. Fourth occurrence in U.S. presidential voting vote. Fourth occurrence in U.S. presidential voting history. 270 electoral votes are needed to win.history. 270 electoral votes are needed to win.

2012 Actual Electoral 2012 Actual Electoral VotesVotes