Election Process:
Primary
• Is not a nominating device
• An election that is held as part of a process by which candidates are chosen
• A preference election
• Different in every state
o Democratizes the election process
o Force would-be nominees to test their candidacies in actual political combat
o Narrows the field
• Caucus
o A group of like-minded individuals who meet to select the candidates they will support in an upcoming election (Iowa)
• Convention
o In the early nineteenth century, a party’s presidential candidate was nominated by a congressional caucus
o Members of Congress from the same party would meet and recommend a nominee
o They chose a nominee and discussed issues that would be a part of their campaign
o Today, conventions perform the following functions:
1. Formally nominate the president and vice president
2. Serve as the party’s highest policy making organ
3. Adopt a party platform
o While the nomination of the president is virtually sewn up by the time the convention is held, the choice for vice president is usually made known at the convention or shortly before
o Delaying the choice of running mate is a commonly used strategy to build public excitement and anticipation for the convention
Electoral College
• The Framers of the Constitution were fearful of direct democracy and the “tyranny of the majority” it might produce
• They truly believed the people were not informed enough to be trusted with electing the president
• They created a complex filtering system known as the electoral college, which was intended to insulate the selection of the president from the whims of the people
• The Electoral College is comprised of “electors”—individuals who cast their vote for their states. Electors are free to cast their vote as they choose.
• The procedure for electing the president is outlined in Article II Section I of the Constitution
• Each state has a number of electoral votes equal to the number of Senators and House members it is eligible to send to Congress
o PA-20
o NY-29
o CA-55
o TX-38
o OH-18
o FL-29
• The total number of electoral votes in the Electoral College is 538—one for each of the 100 Senators and 435 House members plus the 3 allotted for the District of Columbia
• Electors are chosen by the political parties in each state
o When votes cast their ballots in favor of a presidential candidate they are actually voting for the electors of the same party as the candidate
o When a candidate wins the popular vote in a state, he or she wins that state’s electoral votes
o Those votes are formally cast by the electors chosen to represent the winning candidate’s party in each state
o WE DO NOT VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT…WE VOTE FOR THE ELECTORS WHO IN TURN HOPEFULLY VOTE THE WAY WE WANT THEM TO
o Our vote is called the popular vote
Flaws in the Electoral College
• Ever present threat that the winner of the popular will not win the presidency
• There is no requirement that the electors have to vote for the candidate favored by the popular vote
• Is the distribution of electoral votes fair
• The popular vote winner has failed to win the Presidency 4 times:
o Jackson won but John Adams became pres
o Tilden won but Rutherford Hayes became pres
o Grover Cleveland won, but Harrison became pres
o Al Gore won, but George W. Bush became pres
• It is possible that the race be decided in the House of Representatives
• This happens when neither candidate wins the majority
• This is likely to happen when there is three strong candidates vying for the presidency
The president and his powers assigned to him by the Constitution:
• Commander in Chief of the Armed forces
• Makes treaties
• Receives representatives from foreign countries
• Appoints ambassadors, supreme court justices
• Gives annual state of the union address
• Recommends legislation to Congress
• Convene Congress on extraordinary occasions
• Take care that all laws be faithfully executed
• Fill in administrative vacancies during recesses
• Grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against US
Two Party System
• The United States has almost always had a two party system
• Most Americans support one of the two major parties
There are 4 main reasons for two party system
1. History the fight over ratification of the Constitution led to our first two parties
-Federalists vs Anti-Federalists
2. Tradition our nation started with two parties so people accept system as way that “it has always been”
3. Elections our electoral system helps keep two party system in place. Nearly all elections are in single member districts where voters choose only one winner. Most Americans want their vote to count. So they might ignore a third party candidate for that reason.
4. Consensus The United States is a pluralistic society—one with many different groups. Yet Americans can share a broad consensus or agreement on important matters. Small parties that disagree with major parties do not get much support
The Cabinet
• The president receives advice and assistance in carrying out the responsibilities of the office from his cabinet
• A cabinet is made up of individuals from the executive departments, the vice president, and other important officials
• The purpose of the cabinet is to advise the president on matters relating to the duties of their respective offices
• As the president’s closest and most trusted advisors, members of the cabinet attend weekly meetings with the president
• There are secretaries of
o Agriculture Tom Vilsack
o CommerceGary Locke
o Defense Robert Gates
o EducationArne Duncan
o Energy Steven Chu
o Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius
o Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
o Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan
o Interior Ken Salazar
o Labor Hilda Solis
o State Hillary Clinton
o Transportation Ray LaHood
o Treasury Tim Geithner
o Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki
o Attorney General Eric Holder
1. Plans and carries out nations foreign policy state
2. Collects, borrows, and spends money Treasury
3. Manages the armed forces Defense
4. Manages and protects the nations public lands and natural resources Interior
5. Assists farmers and consumers of farm products Agriculture
6. Supervises trade and promotes US tourism and business Commerce
7. Is concerned with working conditions and wages of US workers Labor
8. Works for health and well being of all Americans HHS
9. Deals with special needs and problems of cities HUD
10. Manages the nations highways, railroads, airlines, and sea traffic Transportation
11. Provides advice and funding for schools Education
12. Directs services for veterans Veterans Affairs
13. Directs overall energy plan Energy
14. Has all responsibilities of law enforcement Attorney General
15. Protects US from all internal and external terrorists Homeland Security
