Picking Our President: How It Works
Here's a simple guide to how we choose the leader of our country. We'll explain the process of electing a U.S. President in a way that's easy to understand. From the first steps to the final decision, we'll cover everything you need to know about this important event.
Bios
Jenny GK teams up with Caitlin (a former social studies teacher) to break down the confusing world of U.S. elections. Jenny's knack for explaining how we choose our president in a simple way will make you wish you'd had her as your Civics teacher.
What You Get From This Episode
Unravel the Election Timeline: We'll break down the entire election process, from primaries to the inauguration.
Demystify the Electoral College: Learn how this complex system can sometimes lead to surprising election results.
The Power of Your Vote: Understand the importance of voter registration and why every vote counts.
Think Local, Act Global: Discover how local elections can have a significant impact on national policies.
Listen Here
How We Choose Our President
The Election timeline
The presidential election is a long and winding road. A year before Election Day, candidates start jockeying for position. From primaries to the general election, every step matters. Understanding this timeline helps us see the big picture and appreciate the intricacies of the process. Listen to the episode for a full breakdown of the timeline.
What is The Electoral College?
The Electoral College: America's quirky way of picking a president. While it might seem outdated, it's crucial to understanding how our elections work. So, let's dive into the details and demystify this complex system.
The Electoral College is a process, not a physical place. America's Founding Fathers established it in the Constitution as a compromise. It balances two methods of electing the President: a vote in Congress and a popular vote by qualified citizens.
The Electoral College process involves three key steps:
Selecting the electors
Convening the electors to vote for President and Vice President
Congress counting the electoral votes
The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. To elect the President, a candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes. Each state has as many electors as it has members in its Congressional delegation—one for each Representative in the House, plus two for its Senators. DC, or the District of Columbia, has three electors and is considered a state for purposes of the Electoral College (under the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution).
Each presidential candidate in your state has their own group of electors (called a slate). These slates are typically chosen by the candidate's political party in your state. However, state laws differ on how electors are selected and what their duties entail.
What happens in the General Election? Why should I vote?
The general election occurs every four years on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. When you cast your vote for a presidential candidate, you're actually voting for that candidate's chosen electors. Most states use a "winner-take-all" system, awarding all their electors to the presidential candidate who wins the state's popular vote. However, Maine and Nebraska use a variation of "proportional representation."
Okay, so how do we get a President?
The Electoral College meets on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December following the general election. In a joint session of Congress on January 6th of the next year, each state's electoral votes are counted. The House and Senate gather in the House Chamber for this official tally. As President of the Senate, the Vice President oversees the count in a purely administrative role and announces the results. The President of the Senate then officially declares who, if anyone, has been elected President and Vice President of the United States.
On January 20th of the year following the general election, the President-elect takes the oath of office and is sworn in as the new President of the United States.
*Takes a deep breath* Ta-daaaa!
Want to make a real impact? Vote in your local elections
Think local, vote local! Local elections might not get as much attention as presidential races, but they have a huge impact on our daily lives. From schools to taxes, these elections shape our communities. So, let's get informed and make our voices heard.
Sources for this episode
The National Archives | https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/about
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Make good choices,
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