U.S. Presidential Powers and Qualifications

Presidential Powers

• The president can sign bills into law after they are voted on by the House and Senate.
• The president can pardon people who have been found guilty of federal crimes, letting them go free or reducing their punishment.
• The president can use emergency powers to take action in times of crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress and the courts ensure these actions comply with the Constitution.

Qualifications for President

• To be president, an individual must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, over 35 years old, and a U.S. resident for at least 14 years.

The Last 10 U.S. Presidents

• Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden are the last 10 U.S. presidents.

Political Parties

• Political parties are groups of individuals with shared ideas about how the government should operate.
• While party members share some views, they may differ on specific policies.
• The United States has a two-party system, with the Republican and Democratic Parties dominating.
• Smaller parties, or third parties, exist but face difficulty winning elections.

The Two-Party System

• U.S. elections favor a two-party system because candidates only need a plurality of votes (more than any other candidate) to win, not a majority.
• The large size of the Democratic and Republican Parties often results in their candidates securing the most votes, making it challenging for smaller parties to succeed.
• Supporters of smaller parties might vote for Democratic or Republican candidates, believing they have a better chance of impacting the election outcome.

The Republican Party

• The Republican Party, also known as the GOP (Grand Old Party), uses an elephant as its symbol and is often associated with conservative ideas.
• Republicans believe a large national government threatens individual freedom and favor decisions being made at state and local levels.
• They support free markets, believing American companies should solve problems instead of the government.
• Republicans typically advocate for lower taxes, less government spending, and a strong military.
• Many Republicans prioritize traditional family values and religious beliefs and support gun ownership rights.

The Democratic Party

• The Democratic Party uses a donkey as its symbol and is often associated with liberal or progressive ideas.
• Democrats believe a large national government can address social problems and promote equality.
• They are critical of free markets, arguing they do not benefit everyone equally and favor government intervention to help those with less power and money.
• Democrats support a strong federal government that regulates businesses and provides public services like healthcare and childcare.
• Many Democrats believe wealthier individuals should pay higher taxes and support policies promoting equal opportunities for everyone.
• Like Republicans, Democrats support religious freedom but argue for keeping religion separate from schools and the government. They often support stricter gun control measures.

The Presidential Election Process

• Presidential candidates campaign to gain support from their party and the American people through advertisements, speeches, interviews, and travel.
• Each party holds a national convention to announce its presidential and vice-presidential nominees.
• On Election Day, citizens vote for President and Vice President, but they actually select electors for their state who will formally vote for the president.
• States have a specific number of electors based on population size, and a candidate needs more than half of the 538 total electors (at least 270) to win.
• The newly elected President and Vice President take office in January after being sworn in.

Campaigns Begin

• Presidential candidates begin campaigning about a year before the election, aiming to win support from their party and the American people.
• Campaigns involve advertising, speeches, interviews, and traveling to meet people and raise money.

Primaries and Caucuses

• Primaries and caucuses are the processes each party uses to choose their best candidate for the general election.