Electing the Electing the President of the United President of the United

StatesStates

2005 TIMAC Project2005 TIMAC Project

This project was created byThis project was created by Tammy PughTammy Pugh Sigrun UtashSigrun Utash Simi Valley Adult School ESL Simi Valley Adult School ESL

DepartmentDepartment

How do we elect the How do we elect the President President of the of the

United States?United States?

The United States The United States ConstitutionConstitution

Start with the Constitution-Start with the Constitution- The basic The basic process of selecting the President of the process of selecting the President of the United States is spelled out in the U.S. United States is spelled out in the U.S. Constitution, and it has been modified by Constitution, and it has been modified by the 12th, 22nd, and 23rd amendments. the 12th, 22nd, and 23rd amendments. Many additional steps have been added Many additional steps have been added over the years, by custom and by state law over the years, by custom and by state law -- the process has changed quite a bit over -- the process has changed quite a bit over time. time.

Look At The Amendments

Primaries and Primaries and CaucusesCaucuses There are many people who would like to There are many people who would like to

become President. become President. Some of these people can belong to the Some of these people can belong to the

same political party. same political party. Each party must vote for one representative.Each party must vote for one representative. In these elections, party members get to In these elections, party members get to

vote for the one candidate that will vote for the one candidate that will represent their party in the upcoming represent their party in the upcoming general election.general election.

Learn more about this subject.Learn more about this subject.

What are the major political What are the major political parties in the United States?parties in the United States?The two major political parties in the U.S are

The Republican Party

Political Parties

the Democratic Partyand

National ConventionNational Convention During this time, During this time,

each Presidential each Presidential candidate chooses candidate chooses a running-mate (or a running-mate (or Vice-Presidential Vice-Presidential candidate).candidate).

Now that each Now that each party is party is represented by represented by one candidate, the one candidate, the general election general election process begins. process begins.

General ElectionGeneral Election Candidates Candidates

campaign campaign throughout the throughout the country in an country in an attempt to win attempt to win the support of the support of voters. Finally in voters. Finally in November, the November, the people vote for people vote for one candidate.one candidate.

.

Electoral CollegeElectoral College When a person casts a vote in the When a person casts a vote in the

general election, they are general election, they are not not voting voting directly for an individual Presidential directly for an individual Presidential candidate. candidate.

Instead, voters in each state actually cast Instead, voters in each state actually cast their vote for a group of people, known as their vote for a group of people, known as electors. electors.

These electors are part of the Electoral These electors are part of the Electoral College and are supposed to vote for College and are supposed to vote for their state’s preferred candidate.their state’s preferred candidate. More information on the Electoral College

We vote for an elector…the We vote for an elector…the elector votes for the states elector votes for the states

preferred choice.preferred choice. In the Electoral College system, each state In the Electoral College system, each state

gets a certain number of electors, based gets a certain number of electors, based on each state's total number of on each state's total number of representation in Congress. representation in Congress.

Each elector gets one electoral vote. Each elector gets one electoral vote. For example, a large state like California For example, a large state like California

gets 54 electoral votes, while Rhode gets 54 electoral votes, while Rhode Island gets only four. Island gets only four.

All together, there are 538 Electoral votes. All together, there are 538 Electoral votes.

When is election When is election day? day?

The Presidential The Presidential election is held election is held every four years.every four years.

Election Day is the Election Day is the Tuesday on or Tuesday on or after November after November 2nd.2nd.

Election Day Facts

Who is eligible to vote?Who is eligible to vote? To be eligible to vote you To be eligible to vote you

must must register to vote.register to vote. To register to vote you To register to vote you

must:must: Be a United States citizen. Be a United States citizen. Be a resident of California .Be a resident of California . Be at least 18 years of age (or Be at least 18 years of age (or

will be by the date of the next will be by the date of the next election) election)

Not be in prison or on parole for Not be in prison or on parole for conviction of a felony. conviction of a felony.

Not have been judged by a court Not have been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent to to be mentally incompetent to register and vote. register and vote.

More about eligibility to vote.

What is the What is the inauguration?inauguration?

The day when the President and Vice President elect The day when the President and Vice President elect take the oath of office and officially begin their 4 year take the oath of office and officially begin their 4 year term.term.

It is always on January 20It is always on January 20thth following the Presidential following the Presidential election in November.election in November.

The Oath of OfficeThe Oath of Office "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully

execute the Office of President of the United States, execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Where does the Where does the PresidentPresident

live and work?live and work?

The The citycity where the where the President President lives is lives is Washington, Washington, D.C.D.C.

Where does the Where does the PresidentPresident

live and work?live and work? In Washington, In Washington,

D.C. the D.C. the President lives President lives and works in and works in the the White HouseWhite House

Famous PresidentsFamous Presidents

George WashingtonGeorge Washington

He was the first President ofHe was the first President of the United States.the United States. He is known as “The Father of He is known as “The Father of our Country”.our Country”. He was President from He was President from 1789-1797.1789-1797.

History of Washington Complete a picture of George Washington

Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln

He was the 16He was the 16thth President of the United President of the United States. States.

He kept the country together during the He kept the country together during the Civil War.Civil War.

He is known for freeing the slaves.He is known for freeing the slaves. He was assassinated shortly after the He was assassinated shortly after the

end of the war. end of the war. See the Lincoln Memorial

Presidents DayPresidents Day

The day that we remember the The day that we remember the birthdays of George Washington and birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.Abraham Lincoln.

OVERVIEW OFOVERVIEW OFTHE U. S. GOVERNMENTTHE U. S. GOVERNMENT

Levels of GovernmentLevels of Government

The United States Government

National (or Federal) Level

State Level

Local Level(can be county or city)

Branches of Branches of GovernmentGovernment

TheUnited StatesGovernment

TheJudicialBranch

TheLegislative

Branch

TheExecutive

Branch

THE EXECUTIVE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCHBRANCH

What does the Executive What does the Executive Branch do? Branch do?

What is its job?What is its job?

It enforces the laws It enforces the laws written and passed by written and passed by

Congress.Congress.

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

The President is the head ofthe executive branch

The Vice President

The Cabinetand the Departments headed by the Cabinet members

Presidential SuccessionFollows this course:

The President

The Vice President

The Speaker ofThe House of Representatives

What are the What are the requirements for requirements for

becoming becoming presidentpresident??

has to be at least 35 years has to be at least 35 years oldold

Age

What are the What are the requirements for requirements for

becoming becoming presidentpresident??

has to be at least 35 years has to be at least 35 years oldold

has to be a natural bornhas to be a natural born citizen of the United Statescitizen of the United States

Age

Citizenship

What are the What are the requirements for requirements for

becoming becoming presidentpresident??

has to be at least 35 years has to be at least 35 years oldold

has to be a natural bornhas to be a natural born citizen of the United Statescitizen of the United States

has to have lived in the has to have lived in the United States for at least United States for at least

14 years14 years

Age

Citizenship

Residency

What What titlestitles does the does the President have?President have?

What What titlestitles does the does the President have?President have?

The President is known as the The President is known as the Commander Commander In ChiefIn Chief of the United States armed forces of the United States armed forces

What What titlestitles does the does the President have?President have?

The President is known as the The President is known as the Commander Commander In ChiefIn Chief of the United States armed forces of the United States armed forces

The President serves as the The President serves as the American American Head of StateHead of State

What What titlestitles does the does the President have?President have?

The President is known as the The President is known as the Commander Commander In ChiefIn Chief of the United States armed forces of the United States armed forces

The President serves as the The President serves as the American American Head of StateHead of State

This means he meets with the leaders of This means he meets with the leaders of otherother

countries and can make treaties with countries and can make treaties with themthem

What What titlestitles does the does the President have?President have?

The President is known as the The President is known as the Commander In Commander In ChiefChief of the United States armed forces of the United States armed forces

The President serves as the The President serves as the American Head of American Head of StateState

This means he meets with the leaders of This means he meets with the leaders of otherother

countries and can make treaties with themcountries and can make treaties with them

The President is also the The President is also the Chief of GovernmentChief of Government

What What titlestitles does the does the President have?President have?

The President is known as the The President is known as the Commander In Commander In ChiefChief of the United States armed forces of the United States armed forces

The President serves as the The President serves as the American Head of American Head of StateState

This means he meets with the leaders of otherThis means he meets with the leaders of other countries and can make treaties with themcountries and can make treaties with them

The President is also the The President is also the Chief of GovernmentChief of Government This means that he is technically the boss ofThis means that he is technically the boss of every government worker—including theevery government worker—including the Secretary of DefenseSecretary of Defense

What What powerspowers does doesthe President the President

have?have?

What What powerspowers does doesthe President the President

have?have? National Security PowersNational Security Powers

What What powerspowers does doesthe President the President

have?have? National Security PowersNational Security Powers

Legislative PowersLegislative Powers

What What powerspowers does doesthe President the President

have?have? National Security PowersNational Security Powers

Legislative PowersLegislative Powers

Administrative PowersAdministrative Powers

What What powerspowers does doesthe President the President

have?have? National Security PowersNational Security Powers

Legislative PowersLegislative Powers

Administrative PowersAdministrative Powers

Judicial PowersJudicial Powers

National Security PowersNational Security Powers

Serves as the Commander-In-Chief Serves as the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces of the armed forces

National Security PowersNational Security Powers

Serves as the Commander-In-Chief Serves as the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces of the armed forces The President can authorize the use of The President can authorize the use of

troops overseas troops overseas withoutwithout declaring war declaring war

National Security PowersNational Security Powers

Serves as the Commander-In-Chief Serves as the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces of the armed forces The President can authorize the use of The President can authorize the use of

troops overseas troops overseas withoutwithout declaring war declaring war

Makes treaties with other nationsMakes treaties with other nations

National Security PowersNational Security Powers

Serves as the Commander-In-Chief Serves as the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces of the armed forces The President can authorize the use of The President can authorize the use of

troops overseas troops overseas withoutwithout declaring war declaring war

Makes treaties with other nationsMakes treaties with other nations

Nominates ambassadorsNominates ambassadors

National Security PowersNational Security Powers

Serves as the Commander-In-Chief of Serves as the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces the armed forces The President can authorize the use of The President can authorize the use of

troops overseas troops overseas withoutwithout declaring war declaring war

Makes treaties with other nationsMakes treaties with other nations

Nominates ambassadorsNominates ambassadors

Receives ambassadors of other Receives ambassadors of other nationsnations

Legislative PowersLegislative Powers

Legislative PowersLegislative PowersPresents information on the state of Presents information on the state of

the union to Congressthe union to Congress

Legislative PowersLegislative PowersPresents information on the state of Presents information on the state of

the union to Congressthe union to Congress

Recommends legislation to CongressRecommends legislation to CongressThe President can The President can proposepropose bills bills

Legislative PowersLegislative PowersPresents information on the state of Presents information on the state of

the union to Congressthe union to Congress

Recommends legislation to CongressRecommends legislation to CongressThe President can The President can proposepropose bills bills

Approves or rejects laws passed by Approves or rejects laws passed by CongressCongressVetoVeto power power

Legislative PowersLegislative PowersPresents information on the state of the Presents information on the state of the

union to Congressunion to Congress

Recommends legislation to CongressRecommends legislation to CongressThe President can The President can proposepropose bills bills

Approves or rejects laws passed by Approves or rejects laws passed by CongressCongressVetoVeto power power

Convenes both houses of Congress in Convenes both houses of Congress in special sessionsspecial sessions

How does the President How does the President affect laws that are affect laws that are

made?made?

The President plays a large roleThe President plays a large role

in making America’s lawsin making America’s laws

Before a law becomes official it is known as a bill

Before a law becomes official it is known as a bill

Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) creates bills

Before a law becomes official it is known as a bill

Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) creates bills

Congress approves bills after they are created

Before a law becomes official it is known as a bill

Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) creates bills

Congress approves bills after they are created

After they do this, they send it to the President for his approval

Before a law becomes official it is known as a bill

Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) creates bills

Congress approves bills after they are created

After they do this, they send it to the President for his approval

If the President agrees with the law, he signs it and the law goes into effect

Before a law becomes official it is known as a bill

Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) creates bills

Congress approves bills after they are created

After they do this, they send it to the President for his approval

If the President agrees with the law, he signs it and the law goes into effect

If the President does not like a bill, he can refuse to sign it. When he does this it is called a veto.

Administrative PowersAdministrative Powers

Administrative PowersAdministrative PowersThe U.S. Constitution says “Take careThe U.S. Constitution says “Take care

that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3 that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3

Administrative PowersAdministrative PowersThe U.S. Constitution says “Take careThe U.S. Constitution says “Take care

that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3 that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3

Because he is the Chief of Because he is the Chief of government he appoints, with government he appoints, with Senate approval:Senate approval:

Administrative PowersAdministrative PowersThe U.S. Constitution says “Take careThe U.S. Constitution says “Take care

that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3 that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3

Because he is the Chief of Because he is the Chief of government he appoints, with government he appoints, with Senate approval:Senate approval:

His His CabinetCabinet

Administrative PowersAdministrative PowersThe U.S. Constitution says “Take careThe U.S. Constitution says “Take care

that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3 that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3

Because he is the Chief of Because he is the Chief of government he appoints, with government he appoints, with Senate approval:Senate approval:

His His CabinetCabinet

AmbassadorsAmbassadors

Administrative PowersAdministrative PowersThe U.S. Constitution says “Take careThe U.S. Constitution says “Take care

that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3 that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3

Because he is the Chief of government Because he is the Chief of government he appoints, with Senate approval:he appoints, with Senate approval:

His His CabinetCabinet

AmbassadorsAmbassadors

Supreme Court justicesSupreme Court justices

Administrative PowersAdministrative PowersThe U.S. Constitution says “Take careThe U.S. Constitution says “Take care

that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3 that the laws be faithfully executed”—Article II, Section 3

Because he is the Chief of government Because he is the Chief of government he appoints, with Senate approval:he appoints, with Senate approval:

His His CabinetCabinet

AmbassadorsAmbassadors

Supreme Court justicesSupreme Court justices

Other officialsOther officials

The President’s CabinetThe President’s Cabinet

The President’s Cabinet is the Vice The President’s Cabinet is the Vice President and a group of 15 people President and a group of 15 people who help the President do his jobwho help the President do his job

Their purpose?Their purpose? They They adviseadvise the the PresidentPresident

Who are they?Who are they? They are the They are the President’sPresident’s

most trusted advisorsmost trusted advisors

The President’s CabinetThe President’s Cabinet The Vice PresidentThe Vice President

andand

The heads of 15 executive branch The heads of 15 executive branch departments:departments:

1) Secretary of State1) Secretary of State

2) Secretary of the Treasury2) Secretary of the Treasury

3) Secretary of Defense—oversees the armed 3) Secretary of Defense—oversees the armed forcesforces

See the President's CabinetAnd other government officials chosen by the And other government officials chosen by the

PresidentPresident

Judicial PowersJudicial Powers

Grants reprieves and pardons for Grants reprieves and pardons for Federal crimes (except impeachment)Federal crimes (except impeachment)

Appoints federal judges, with the Appoints federal judges, with the agreement of the majority of the agreement of the majority of the SenateSenate

What CAN’T the President What CAN’T the President do?do?

The President can’t The President can’t writewrite (or (or make)make) laws, but he can laws, but he can proposepropose bills billsA member of Congress must submit the A member of Congress must submit the

bill for himbill for him

The President can’t declare war

He needs the approval of Congress to do this