Presidential Election Process

Steps and Procedures

Step #1

Nomination

- political parties nominate candidates for president

Primary Election

- political parties select ONE party candidate to run for president

National Conventions

- declaration/celebration of chosen candidate for each political party

Republican Primaries

Primary Tracker

Mitt Romney Rick Santorum Newt Gingrich Ron Paul

Republican and Freshman Class President Debate Responses

Do you support or are you against the SOPA bill in congress?

Republican and Freshman Class President Debate Responses

Veteran Unemployment: what should the government specifically do about the veterans who make up 22% of the unemployment rate?

Republican and Freshman Class President Debate

Responses Should amnesty be granted to the 10-12 million

illegal immigrants living in the Unites States?

Republican and Freshman Class President Debate

Responses Does the 4th amendment protect the right to privacy? Does this extend to abortion? Should the government repeal Roe v. Wade? Do you think states should be able to ban contraception products?

Step #2

CAMPAIGNING!

- candidates visit states and use campaign strategies to attract voters attention/support

- How do candidates choose which states to visit?

- What is the overall objective in this stage of the process?

- What methods of campaigning would you use, OR which do you think are the most effective? WHY?

Step #3

General Election

- ELECTION DAY = voters cast their votes for the candidate of their choice

- “electors” in each state receive peoples’ votes and cast their electoral votes for the state

Step #4 Casting of State Electoral Votes

- “WINNER TAKE ALL” casting of state electoral votes to the candidate receiving the majority of electoral votes in the state

- Nebraska and Maine = divide electoral votes

* Electoral votes per state = # of reps + 2 senators for each state

Step #5

Electoral College Total = 270 to win!!

- 538 total electoral votes possible

435 = House 100 = Senate3 = D.C.

Inauguration in January – swearing in of new president