Government Chapter 13
Both of the major parties apportion delegates to each State based on
its electoral votes and its record in recent elections
The aim of the reforms of the Democratic party since 1968 has been to
promote greater grassroots involvement in the convention process
As of January 2001, what is the President's yearly salary?
$400,000
What are the formal qualifications of the President?
*Be born in USA *Be at least 35 years old *Be a resident of the US for at least 14 years
What are the 8 roles of the President?
*Chief of State - ceremonial head *Chief Executive - executive power *Chief Administrator - director of US *Chief Diplomat - foreign policy *Commander in Chief - control of army *Chief Legislator - public policies *Chief of Party - leader of party *Chief Citizen - representative of the people
What forms have been proposed to fix the Electoral College?
*District Plan - two electors would be chosen from the State at large, and they would cast their electoral votes in line with the result of the Statewide popular vote. Would do away with winner-take-all problem and would make the electoral vote a more accurate reflection of the popular returns. Against - would not eliminate the possibility that the loser of the popular vote could still win the electoral vote. *Proportional plan - Each presidential candidate would receive the same share of a state's electoral vote as he or she received in the State's popular vote. Would cure winner-take-all problem and eliminate faithless electors. Against - bring an increase in number and vigor of minor parties. *Direct popular election - Would support the democratic ideal: each vote would count equally in the national result. Winer would always be the majority. Against - weaken the federal system because the States would lose their role in the choice of a President. Put too great a lot on the election process. *National bonus plan - Would keep much of the electoral college system intact, especially winner-take=all; weights that feature in favor of the winner of the popular vote. National pool of 102 electoral votes would be awarded to the winner of the national popular vote. Has not been noticed much.
What are the flaws in the Electoral College?
1. The winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency. 2. Electors are not required to vote in accord with the popular vote. 3. Any election might have to be decided in the House of Representatives.
Defects in the electoral college system?
1. Winner of the electoral vote is not automatically the same as the winner of the popular vote. 2. Electors are not legally bound to vote for the candidate who wins their State's popular vote. 3. There is always the possibility of a tie.
The ___ separated presidential and vice presidential and vice presidential elections.
12th Amendment
Which amendment deals with presidential disability?
25th
What did the 25th Amendment & Presidential Succession Act of 1947 do?
25th Amendment - When President dies/resigns/gets removed from office, the VP takes over Presidential Succession Act of 1947 - Fixes the order of succession following VP
What is the least number of presidential electors a State can have?
3
For 1996, some form of the presidential primary was in place in
42 of the states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Direct popular election is unlikely to be adopted because
A constitutional amendment would be required, small States oppose direct election, a truly national campaign would cost even more than the present system.
The reason some VP candidates are chosen
Balance the ticket
Winner-take-all
Candidate who wins preference vote wins support of all delegates chosen at primary
States that do not hold primaries hold
Caucuses
Most of the Framers were opposed to the proposal that the President be selected by
Congress
If the President is temporarily disabled, the VP may take over if
Congress approves the action by a majority vote.
The most widely supported plan for reform of the electoral college
Direct popular election plan
Today, each State's presidential electors are chosen by
Direct popular vote
A system in which presidential electors would be chosen b each of a State's congressional districts
District plan
When deciding how a President should be elected, the Framers considered all except
Election by State governors
The Framers envisioned the _____ as a group of well-informed citizens who could choose the best person for the presidency.
Electoral college
The name of the group that makes the formal selection of the president.
Electoral college
The mass of people who actually cast votes in an election.
Electorate
District plan
Electors are chosen in each State in the same way as members of Congress
Balance the ticket
Elects someone who can strengthen President's chance of winning election
True or False: If the office of VP becomes vacant, Congress appoints a new one.
False
Platform
Formal statement of basic principles
Critics of the current primary system say that
It is expensive and exhausting and should be simplified.
The speech given by an important party member at the first session of the national convention.
Keynote address
A system that would weight the current winner-take-all system in favor of the winner of the popular vote
National bonus plan
At what stage of the presidential election process is the presidential candidate selected, the party unified, and the party platform adopted?
National convention
The major importance of the 12th Amendment.
No tie for president
During the nominating process, where do most political battles occur
Party not in power
The formal statement of a political party's basic principles
Platform
Every four years, the ____ hold national conventions
Political parties
In 1800, presidential electors were chosen by their
Political party
How are presidential electors chosen?
Popular vote
What are the formal duties of the VP?
Preside over senate; help decide cases of presidential disability
In the election of 1800, the newly formed political parties nominated not only ___, but ___, who were pledged to vote for their party's candidates.
Presidential and vice-presidential candidates, presidential electors
Before 1804, each ____ cast two votes for President.
Presidential elector
They must cast their State's formal votes for president
Presidential electors
A process to select delegates to the convention and an election to determine voters' choice among candidates.
Presidential primary
The plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled
Presidential succession
Since 1968, the Democrats have restructured their rules, requiring that convention delegates be chosen on a ____ basis.
Proportional
Most States had to change their primary laws to account for the Democrats' _____ rule
Proportional representation
What caused the electoral system to break down in the election of 1800.
Rise of political parties
The procedures for choosing convention delegates are set by
State legislatures
If the presidential vote in the electoral college results in a tie,
The H of R votes to decide
The election of 1800 resulted in
a tie between Jefferson and Burr
Who can challenge the President's decision to resume his duties after an illness?
VP
How is presidential disability determined?
VP and majority of the cabinet inform Congress in writing
Why has the VP never been made a true assistant to the President?
VP is only given job to preside over Senate and help decide the question of presidential stability. *Of all the President's official family, only the VP is not able to be fired by the President*
The Republican party prefers to hold ___ primaries.
Winner-take-all
Under this system, a candidate who wins the preference vote in a primary automatically wins the support of all the delegates chosen in the primary
Winner-take-all
Keynote address
delivered by party's most accomplished orates; predict election
Most of the Framers opposed choosing the President by popular vote because they
did not think voters in such a large country would be able to learn enough about the candidates to make an informed decision
A President whose duties have been temporarily assumed by the VP may reclaim his or her office by
informing Congress vote he or she is no longer disabled, provided the VP and a majority of the Cabinet do not challenge his or her decision.
If there is a tie in the electoral vote for President,
the House of Reps chooses among the top three candidates
Most of the rules governing the national conventions of the two major political parties are set by
the parties themselves
The major criticism of the proportional plan is that it would
weaken the two-party system