390 likes | 469 Views
The President I. 2/9/2012. Clearly Stated Learning Objectives. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: understand and interpret the United States Constitution and apply it to the present (the sections on the presidency and Electoral College).
E N D
The President I 2/9/2012
Clearly Stated Learning Objectives • Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: • understand and interpret the United States Constitution and apply it to the present (the sections on the presidency and Electoral College). • assess the 2008 & 2012 Presidential Elections without resorting to partisan bickering. • identify and explain the role of formal and informal institutions and their effect on policy.
Office Hours and Readings • Readings- Chapter 9 on the President • Office Hours • Today 12-2 • Wednesday 10-2
Simple Requirements (Article II) • Natural Born Citizen • 35 Years Old • 14 years a resident
Our Presidents Historically • Most are in their 50’s at time of election • Most are Lawyers • Most are of English Ancestry • All but one has been Protestant
How many and how much power? The Debate on the executive
On an executive • The Articles Lacked one • We feared monarchy • We Feared Tyranny The Country Needed one
What the Debate centered on • How Many • A Singular executive vs. a plural executive • How Much Power • Tyranny vs impotence • What is the safe and effective combination?
Option I: A Monarch • Advantages • Disadvantages
Option II: A Plural executive • Advantages • Disadvantages
Option III: A Weak Executive • Advantages • Disadvantages
Option IV: A Strong Executive • Advantages • Disadvantages
The history of nominations Choosing a presidential Nominee
Congressional Caucus Method (1800-1828) • Parties in Congress picked the Nominees • Problems • What ends it
The Party Convention System • Lasts until the 1970’s • Party leaders picked nominees at national conventions
The End of the Party System • Problems with it • A Focusing Event • Who Loses
The Current system • Voter-centered, rather than party centered • Binding Primaries and Caucuses • A Race for Delegates
The Impact of The Current System • Advantages • Disadvantages
So You want to be president? Getting the nomination
Step 1 Don’t Sit back at wait • You have to participate in the invisible primary • If you wait, your window might close
When You can Run? • Never Take a candidate on their word • You can run whenever, but things can make it difficult • You have to Wait for your Window • GOP (as early as 2016, as late as 2024) • Democrats (as early as 2016, as late as 2028)
The Current GOP Field Presidential Jobs Non-Presidential Jobs House Members Gingrich Bachmann Paul Other Herman Cain • Governors • Perry • Romney • Huntsman • Senators • Santorum
Step 3: Be Prepared to Spend Money • Money Buys Organization • Money Buys Name Recognition • Money Converts itself
The Effect of Money on Campaigns • How it has changed the primary campaign • How important is it? • Where We stand
Step 4:Getting Delegates • Primaries • Caucuses • Which helped Obama?
Delegate Apportionment The Democrats The Republicans Fewer Delegates More winner-take-all states • More Delegates • Proportional Representation • Super Delegates
Frontloading and 2012 • The GOP is making more states use proportional representation • They do not want an early nominee. • Pro’s and Cons of a longer primary?
Step 5: Momentum • Looking like a winner and Actually winning • Media coverage goes to those who can win. • Be the last person standing (winnowing)
The First Four • Iowa • New Hampshire • South Carolina • Florida
The Clinton Strategy: 2008 • Deliver the Knock-out blow on super-tuesday • Reload • Watch the GOP fight it out all spring
How Mc Cain Wins Early: 2008 • Winner-take-all states • Romney and Huckabee go after each other • The Early win is A blessing and a curse for McCain