„ There are altogether 538 presidential electors, 535 from the states and 3 from the District of Columbia (without seats in Congress).
Presidential Election „ All the candidates of Presidential electors are party nominees. People will vote their party candidates for the presidency. As a result, a voter is actually choosing a President when he casts his vote for an elector.
„ The Presidential election (five stages):
‟ The first stage (the primaries): Several months before the national convention of each major party held in sum mer every 4 year, all the aspirants for nomination begin their personal campaign within their party.
Presidential Inauguration
„ The presidential term of four years begins on January 20 after the November election. The President starts his official duties with an inauguration ceremony, traditionally held on the steps of the US Capitol. He publicly takes an oath of office and then gives an inaugural address outlining the policies and plans of his administration.
„ “W inner-take-all” principle
(胜者得全票规则，即赢得一州的
简单多数选民票的获选人即赢得了该州的全部选举人票)
‟ If the candidates of a party for “electors” in a given state receive a majority of the total vote, then the party is entitled to have all the electoral votes for that state.
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Presidential Election ‟ The fourth stage is the time for voters of each state to choose the presidential electors for the state.
„ Presidential election is held every 4 year on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. „ The number of electors of each state is equal to that of its senators and representatives in Congress.
Presidential Election
„ Only the candidates nominated by the two major parties have the chance to win a Presidential election; „ The election process is complex;
Presidential Election
‟ The second stage (the nomination): Each of the major parties holds its national convention to choose candidates for President and Vice-President and to determine the party's platform.
Presidential Election „W hen the presidential electors are chosen out in the presidential election year, people have already known who is going to be the US president in the next four years. ‟ Although the result is already known, the electors still meet and cast their votes for President and vicePresident on the first Monday after the second W ednesday in December. To win, a presidential candidate must receive 270 of 538 votes. That is the fifth stage.
Presidential Election ‟ The third stage (the campaigning)
„ By early fall the presidential race is on. From that time until the election day, voters are bombarded from all sides†by radio, television, newspapers, and personal communications with political material. „ The candidates has to tour all over the country. They deliver countless speeches and shake countless hands. They have to face the rivals in debates on TV. This is a very important stage in the general election.