How to Become President of the United States

Summary

The video explains the process of becoming the President of the United States, outlining the basic requirements: being a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident for 14 years. It also details the steps of running for office, including party primaries, caucuses, national conventions, and selecting a Vice President. The general election involves voters selecting electors who cast votes in the Electoral College. The candidate who receives 270 or more electoral votes becomes President, with the inauguration taking place on January 20th.

Takeaways

• 🇺🇸 To run for U.S. President, a person must meet three requirements: be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident for at least 14 years.
• 👥 People with similar beliefs usually join the same political party, with the two major U.S. parties being Republican and Democrat.
• 🎖 Many candidates want to be President and campaign across the country to gain support and win their party’s nomination.
• 🗳 In caucuses, party members meet, discuss, and vote for their preferred candidate.
• 📩 In primaries, party members vote in state elections for the candidate they want to represent them.
• 🏛 Each major party holds a national convention to officially select a Presidential nominee after the primaries and caucuses.
• 🤝 The Presidential nominee announces their choice for Vice President at the convention.
• 🚀 Presidential candidates then campaign nationwide to win public support ahead of the general election.
• 📥 On election day, voters cast their ballots, actually voting for a group of electors representing their state.
• 🎓 The Electoral College, made up of 538 electors, casts the final votes; the candidate with 270 or more votes wins the Presidency.
• 📅 The new President and Vice President are inaugurated on January 20th.

Q & A

What are the basic requirements to run for President of the United States?

A Presidential candidate must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and have been a U.S. resident for at least 14 years.

What are the two main political parties in the U.S.?

The two main political parties in the U.S. are the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.

What is the purpose of caucuses during the election process?

In caucuses, party members meet, discuss, and vote for who they think would be the best party candidate for the general election.

How does a primary election differ from a caucus?

In primary elections, party members vote directly in a state election for the candidate they want to represent them in the general election, whereas caucuses involve discussions and voting by party members in meetings.

What happens after the primaries and caucuses?

After the primaries and caucuses, each major party (Democrat and Republican) holds a national convention to select a Presidential nominee.

When do Presidential candidates announce their choice for Vice President?

Presidential candidates announce their choice for Vice President after being selected as the party’s Presidential nominee.

What is the role of electors in the U.S. election process?

Electors are individuals chosen by voters in each state who cast their vote for President and Vice President. The number of electors in each state equals its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress.

How many electors make up the Electoral College?

The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors.

How many electoral votes are needed to win the U.S. Presidency?

A candidate needs 270 or more electoral votes to win the U.S. Presidency.

When are the newly elected President and Vice President inaugurated?

The newly elected President and Vice President are inaugurated on January 20th following the election.