The Election of the President

1
The Election of the President

• The election of the president occurs in two
  phases
• 1 the nomination process
• 2 the general election
• Both of these phases are representative
  processes.

2
The Nomination Process

• This phase involves
• a series of state-by-state primaries and/or
  caucuses January - June
• The purpose of this stage is to select
  delegates from each state to each partys
  national convention. The process varies
  substantially from state-to-state depending on
  whether the state uses primaries, caucuses, or a
  combination of the two and on the rules of each
  political party. The two major parties use some
  combination of primaries and caucuses. Minor
  parties may use other means to select delegates
  to their national conventions depending on state
  laws.
• national conventions July - August
• Delegates to the major party conventions are
  flexibly committed to particular presidential
  candidates in proportion to the percentage of
  votes each candidate received in the
  primaries/caucuses. The primary purpose of the
  convention is to nominate the partys
  presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
  Additionally, the national conventions finalize
  and adopt their parties platforms.

3
The General Election

• This phase involves
• the campaign Labor Day to Election
• the popular vote 1st Tuesday in November
• Voters cast their ballots for their preferred
  presidential/vice-presidential ticket but are, in
  fact, voting for a slate of electors who are
  politically committed to cast their electoral
  votes in a fashion consistent with the popular
  vote.
• the Electoral College vote December
• Electors meet in their respective States to
  cast electoral votes. The votes are sealed and
  sent to the House of Representatives in
  Washington, D.C.
• canvassing the Elecetoral vote January
• The House of Representatives counts the
  electoral votes for President and verifies the
  winner. The Senate counts the votes for
  vice-president and verifies the winner.

4
More on the Electoral College Vote

• History of the Electoral College
• constitutional requirements
• framers intent
• -mechanical failure of the institution
• -the 12th Amendment
• -philosophical failure
• the development of the unit rule
• criticisms of the Electoral College
• -the faithless elector
• -one candidate wins the popular vote,
  another wins the electoral vote
• defense of the Electoral College
• -political controls on electors
• -the unit rule exaggerates or magnifies
  popular vote provides mandate

5
(No Transcript)
6
1996 Presidential Election Results
ELECTORAL STATE VOTES CLINTON DOLE
PEROT California 54
54 0 0 New York 33
33 0 0 Texas 32
0 32 0 Florida
25 25 0
0 Pennsylvania 23 23 0
0 Illinois 22 22 0 0 Ohio
21 21 0 0 Michigan 18 18
0 0 New Jersey 15 15 0 0 North
Carolina 14 0 14 0 Georgia 13 0
13 0 Virginia 13 0 13 0 Indiana
12 0 12 0 Massachusetts 12 12 0
0 Missouri 11 11 0 0 Tennessee
11 11 0 0 Washington 11 11 0
0 Wisconsin 11 11 0 0 Maryland
10 10 0 0 Minnesota 10 10 0
0 Alabama 9 0 9 0 Louisiana 9
9 0 0 Arizona 8 8 0
0 Colorado 8 0 8 0 Connecticut
8 8 0 0
7
ELECTORAL STATE VOTES CLINTON DOLE
PEROT Kentucky 8 8 0
0 Oklahoma 8 0 8
0 South Carolina 8 0 8
0 Iowa 7 7 0
0 Oregon 7 7 0
0 Mississippi 7 0 7
0 Arkansas 6 6 0
0 Kansas 6 0 6
0 Nebraska 5 0 5 0 New
Mexico 5 5 0 0 Utah
5 0 5 0 West Virginia
5 5 0 0 Hawaii 4
4 0 0 Idaho 4 0
4 0 Maine 4 4 0
0 Nevada 4 0 4 0 New
Hampshire 4 4 0 0 Rhode
Island 4 4 0 0 Alaska
3 0 3 0 Delaware
3 3 0 0 Montana 3
0 3 0 North Dakota 3
0 3 0 South Dakota 3
0 3 0 Vermont 3 3
0 0 Washington, DC 3 3
0 0 Wyoming 3 0 3
0 Electoral Vote Totals 538 375
163 0 Popular Vote Totals 49
42 8