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Presidential Elections

Political Studies: Edexcel A Level, topic 16.1.1

General Features of Presidential Elections

Presidential Elections must follow strict rules.

Timeline

Timeline

  • Presidential elections take place every four years.
  • Each party selects a candidate in the party’s primary process.
  • An election campaign follows this and the public vote for the president based on the electoral college system.
Constitutional requirements

Constitutional requirements

  • The Constitution states that candidates must be natural-born US citizen.
  • Presidential candidates must have lived in the USA for over 14 years.
  • Candidates must be over the age of 35.
  • The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution limits the president to two four year terms.

Invisible Primaries

The invisible primary is the period before the first primaries take place when candidates prepare for the primary.

Candidate announcement

Candidate announcement

  • In the invisible primary, candidates announce they will run for president.
  • These announcements can often come months before the primary election.
  • E.g. Ted Cruz announced his campaign for president 10 months before the Republican primary started.
Media exposure

Media exposure

  • In the invisible primary candidates aim to increase their recognition by appearing in the media and visiting important states for the primary election.
TV debates

TV debates

  • Televised debates take place between candidates standing in the primary election.
  • TV debates offer candidates the chance to speak to voters before the primary voting starts.
  • In the 2015-16 invisible primary, Republican candidates had seven tv debates and Democrat candidates had ten.
Campaigning

Campaigning

  • Candidates put together their campaign team during the invisible primary.
  • Candidates start fundraising to fund their election campaign, and need enough money to campaign and advertise.

Test yourself on Presidential Elections

  • Which Amendment of the Constitution limits the president to two four year terms?

  • Which of these statements are true about requirements for presidential candidates?

  • Which of the following does NOT happen during the invisible primaries?

  • What happens during an invisible primary?

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