gov executive branch Flashcards
I can describe the framers original provisions for choosing the president
Originally these electors each cast two electoral votes
Candidate with most= president
Candidate with second highest= VP
why did the method of voting in a president change?
Added due to election in 1800 between jefferson and adams in which H.O.R decided
12th amendment
Added in 1804
Provided that electors must cast separate ballots for president and vice president to prevent a tie
I can contrast a primary and a caucus which differ based on how they are organized and who participates
Candidates often begin by forming a political action community for fundraising before primaries and caucuses begin
what is a primary
A voting process in which voters and indicate their preference for their party’s candidate or aa candidate in general in an upcoming election
Usually multiple names on the ballot
First one is generally held in Feb in new Hampshire
Separate ones for each party
what is a caucus
A meeting of supporters o members of a specific political party
Participants divide into groups according to the candidates they support
At the end of the meeting the number of votes determine how many delegates each candidate receives for the national convention
First one is generally held in jan in Iowa
I can describe what occurs at a national convention
Party national convention arrange time and place for party convention
Parties apportion the number of delegates each state will receive to attend the national conventions and state numbers very sice no federal law to regulate
i can describe how the electoral process works in federal elections
According to the constitution, the president and vice president are chosen by a special body of presidential electors
1. Electorate person who casts their states vote for president
2. Electoral college are that who collectively formal elect the president
what are electoral votes
Each state receives “electoral votes/electors” based on their representation in congress
Cast one vote for president and one for VP based on the popular vote of their state
South carolina has 9 electoral votes
12th amendment
what is step 4 of deciding the president
December
Monday after the second Wednesday, electors meet in state capital and cast votes for Pres and VP
US Constitution
what is step 5 of deciding the president
January 6th
Congress counts the electoral vote and the winner of 270 electoral votes out of 538 total is announced
what is step 6 of deciding a president
Jan 20th- INAUGURATION
The new president takes office at noon on january 20 in the year following the presidential election
The chief justice administers the oath of office
The new president gives an inaugural address
I can describe how the electoral process impacts presidential elections
How many electors are needed to win
There are 538 presidential electors. Victory requires one over half, So, a great deal of importance is placed on the concept of 270
What is the importance of winner take all
Electoral college gets full
I can describe 3 flaws of the electoral college
It is possible to win the popular vote in the presidential election, but lose the electoral college vote
Nothing in the constitution, nor in any federal statute requires the electors to vote for the candidate favored by the popular vote in their state
If no candidate gains a majority in the electoral college, the election is thrown into the house. A situation that has happened twice. In the process, each state is given one vote, meaning that states with smaller populations wield the same power as those with larger populations
I can explain each of the four proposed reforms to the electoral college and identify one advantage and one disadvantage of each reform
National bonus plan
Direct Plan
Proportional Plan
District Plan
what is the national bonus plan advantage and disadvantage
Whoever wins popular vote gets electoral
Advantage
Encourage voters
Disadvantage
Does not eliminate the spoiler dynamic
