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