The Presidents Election
The Presidents Election
- office of President of the US is one of the most powerful in the world
- president, the Constitution says, must "take care that the laws be faithfully executed"
Qualification for Presidency
President must be:
- a native born American citizen
- at least 35 years of age
- a resident of the USA for at least 14 years
- in practice Presidents in USA usually have been white male Protestants
- Jesse Jackson - 1st black politician to candidate for Presidential position 1984 + 1988
- John F. Kennedy (1960) - 1st Roman Catholic to become President
- Candidates often Vice-Presidents (Johnson, Bush) or state governors (e.g. Carter, Reagan, Clinton)
Term of Office
- is elected every four years
- can hold office for 2 terms only
- is elected by voters through Electoral College - name given to group of 538 Presidential electors who cast the official votes for President
Powers of the President
- US is presidential democracy, i.e. President combines ceremonial functions of West German President or British Queen with political powers of Prime Minister
Chief functions:
1. head of state
2. head of government or Chief Executive
- proposes laws and government programs to Congress;
- appoints federal judges with the consent of Congress;
- keeps Congress informed about the state of the nation and the economy;
- prepares the federal government's budget;
- must approve of all bills passed by Congress ; but can veto legislation; presidential veto can only be overruled by a two-thirds majority of Congress;
- conducts American's foreign policy;
3. Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces:
- can send US forces into any part of the world, which sometimes involves the risk of war,
but only Congress has the Power to declare war;
4. Leader of his own party
- to grant pardons for offenses against the US
Main Features of Presidential Government
- US system offers special characteristics
- President: head of state + head of government
- Executive branch formed by the President alone;
US Cabinet not responsible to Congress, but individually to President
- President - only responsible to Constitution
- No possibility to dissolve Congress
- US President cannot count upon the automatic support of congress, even if his own party is in the majority
The Path to the US Presidency
Who can vote?
- any citizen at least 18 years of age
- each state - own voting laws and practices
What are primaries and caucuses?
- nominating processes, most of which take place between February and June of the election year
- Primaries - one-day statewide elections
- Caucuses - informal local meetings where party members choose delegates
- In both - voters are actually choosing delegates who will go on to the party's national convention and vote for a presidential candidate
What is a national convention?
- in July or August of election year Republican and Democratic Parties hold their national conventions
- conventions last four days,
- filled with speeches and other forms of political publicity
- during these conventions - presidential candidate for each party is officially announced
- around 1st Monday in September(Labor Day) - presidential candidates start an intensified campaigning tour around the country that will continue until the general election in November
What happens during the general election?
- election day is the Tuesday following the 1st Monday in November - this year: 07.11.2000
- voters taking part in an indirect process, as they are really selecting the members of the Electoral College, who are called electors
- voters expect that the chosen electors will vote for a certain candidate
What function does the Electoral College play?
- it is the electors who actually vote a president and vice president into office
- number of electoral votes each state has its equal to the total number of its Congress members
- December - each elector casts one vote for a presidential candidate
- Results are declared on January 6
- Presidential candidate who wins the majority of the total electoral votes (270 out of 538) becomes president
When does a president take office?
- newly elected president and vice president are always sworn into office on January 20 following November election
Salary:
- $200,000 plus $50,000 allowance for expenses, and ou to $100,000 tax-free for travel and official entertainment
George W. Bush
- successor of Bill Clinton as US-President could call like his predecessor : George Bush
- son of 41. President wants to move in white house
- for it give up job as governor of Texas
- in his state Texas: more people execute than in other confederations
- has a lack of federal- and world political experience
- wants to bring back "dignity" to Oval Office
- in young life: alcoholic, and get experience with drugs
- his opinion. Many years ago
- distribute successful near to the nation in his election campaign
- 1st 40 years of life he emulate his father
- fail on oil business of father, but took money and fame for partner of a basketball-club "Texas Rangers"
- like republican-idol he care little for details
- when he was young man, he didn't belonging to those, where others said, that he would move in the White House some day
Al Gore
- after 8 years in the same job he will could promote - or the leave from 1st rank of world policy
- it is not 1st attack of the former senator from Tennessee in the south of USA
- 1988 son of influential senator candidated for democratic president candidacy
- had to dismiss against Michael Dukakis
- private affairs he didn't have
- married since 1970 with wife Tipper
- 4 children
- model family life
- since 4. July 1999 - grandfather
- has all necessary conditions to be US-President, but has an image-problem
- is valid as clumsy, also perfect speaker , but could seldom taken away his audience
- today he looks more relaxed, more spontaneous and more funny
Topical events around the election
- 2 days before election in USA candidates George W. Bush, republican, and Al Gore, democratic, were nearly one the same position
- Bush 47% of votes, Gore 46% of votes
- Election this year valid as the most exiting since 1960 - same was 1960 democratic John F. Kennedy against Republican Richard Nixon
- Topical election - end was open in altogether 12 states
- After eddy around passing arrest of Bush because of driving with alcohol 1976 media had banners to write
- More than 1 week after election USA has no new President
- now courts responsible
- secretary of the Interior(Innenministerin) said: result will certain on Saturday
- after result in other states Gore got more than 255 , Bush more than 246 votes
- republican suspect, that hands count could be an advantage for Al Gore
Frequently Asked Questions About The Presidents Election
What are the qualifications to be President of the United States?
To be President, a person must be a native-born American citizen, at least 35 years of age, and a resident of the USA for at least 14 years. Historically, Presidents have typically been white male Protestants.
How long is a Presidential term?
A President is elected every four years and can hold office for a maximum of two terms.
How is the President elected?
The President is elected by voters through the Electoral College, a group of 538 Presidential electors who cast the official votes.
What are the main powers of the President?
The President is the head of state, head of government (or Chief Executive), Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and leader of their own party. As head of government, the President proposes laws, appoints federal judges, informs Congress about the state of the nation, prepares the federal budget, approves bills (with veto power), and conducts foreign policy. As Commander-in-Chief, the President can send US forces into any part of the world.
What are primaries and caucuses?
Primaries and caucuses are nominating processes that take place between February and June of the election year. Primaries are one-day statewide elections, while caucuses are informal local meetings where party members choose delegates. In both, voters are choosing delegates who will vote for a presidential candidate at the party's national convention.
What happens at a national convention?
The Republican and Democratic Parties hold their national conventions in July or August of the election year. During these conventions, the presidential candidate for each party is officially announced.
When is the general election?
Election day is the Tuesday following the 1st Monday in November. In the general election, voters are indirectly selecting the members of the Electoral College.
How does the Electoral College work?
The electors in the Electoral College cast the official votes for President and Vice President. The number of electoral votes each state has is equal to the total number of its Congress members. A presidential candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. The results are declared on January 6.
When does a President take office?
The newly elected President and Vice President are sworn into office on January 20 following the November election.
What is the President's salary?
The President's salary is $200,000, plus a $50,000 allowance for expenses and up to $100,000 tax-free for travel and official entertainment.
What was the political climate around the 2000 election?
The 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore was very close. The election was considered the most exciting since 1960. The outcome in several states remained uncertain for over a week, requiring court intervention and recounts.
- Citar trabajo
- Silva Koch (Autor), 2001, Presidential Election, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/99612
