THE UNITED STATES.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

Under how many heads may this topic be treated?

Two: the first being the manner pursued by the political parties for nominating candidates; the second, the constitutional provisions for electing them.

Preliminary action of political parties.

I. Calling of a National Convention.
II. Calling of State Conventions.

III. Calling of County or Assembly District
Conventions.

IV. Calling of Town Caucuses.

By whom is the National Convention called?

By a National Committee appointed at the last National Convention, or the one held four years before. By whom is the State Convention called?

By a State Committee, appointed at the State Convention held the year before.

By whom is the County or Assembly District Convention called? By a County or District Committee, appointed at a previous convention.

By whom is a Town Caucus called?

By a Town Committee, appointed at a previous meeting.

Which meeting is held first?

The Town Caucus, where delegates are elected to attend a County or Assembly District Convention.

Which Convention is next held?

The County or Assembly District Convention, where delegates are elected to attend the State Convention.

Which Convention is next held?

The State Convention, where delegates are elected to attend the National Convention.

What Convention is next held?

The National Convention. The delegates then and there assembled nominate candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President; and adopt their political platform.

When do these conventions just named take place?

Once in four years, in the months of April, May, June, preceding preceding the presidential election.

Further action by political parties.

1. State Convention for nominating the Electors for President and Vice-President.

II. Voting for these Electors at the annual elections.

When does the State Convention for nominating the Electors meet?

At a time when it is convenient to nominate State officers: usually in August or September.

To how many Electors is each State entitled?

To as many as it has Representatives and Senators. For instance, New York has 34 Representatives in the House, and 2 Senators; therefore New York is entitled to 36 electoral votes Colorado has 1 Representative, and 2 Senators, and is entitled to 3 electoral votes.

How are these Electors distributed about the State?

One Elector is elected for each Congressional District; the two others are called Electors at Large, and are selected from any part of the State.

What must each political party do that it may get its candidates before the people?

It must have its conventions and nominate the required number of electors.

What are these Electors intended to represent?

The views of the party nominating them.

How frequently, and when, is a Presidential election held? Once in four years, on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November, throughout all the States.

What must each voter do, in the State of New York, that he may cast a ballot for President and Vice-President?

He must hand to the inspectors of election a ballot upon which is printed the names of the 36 electors. By whom are these votes to be Canvassed (or counted)?

By the same officers that canvass other votes. In New York State the inspectors of election canvass for their respective election districts, and certify the same to the Board of County Canvassers; the County Canvassers canvass for counties, and certify to the State Canthe State Canvassers canvass for the State; and the Executive authority of each State causes three lists of the Electors of such State to be made and certified and delivered to the said Electors, on or before the second Monday in January.

vassers;

MEETING OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

What must the Electors that have been declared elected then do?

I. They must meet on the second Monday in January succeeding their election, at such place in each

State as the Legislature thereof shall designate (usually the capital), and must vote for President and Vice-President, one of whom shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves.

II. The Electors must make and sign three certificates of all the votes by them given for President and VicePresident, annexing to each a certificate of the Electors furnished by the authority of the Executive.

III. These certificates must be sealed, certifying, on the outside of each, that there is contained therein a list of the votes of such State for President and Vice-President.

IV. A person duly appointed by the Electors, or a majority of them, must take charge of and deliver one of these certificates to the President of the Senate, at the seat of government.

V. The second certificate must be forwarded through the mails to the President of the Senate, at the seat of government.

VI. The third certificate must be delivered to the Judge of the District Court in which the electors assemble.

OPENING AND COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTES. When and by whom must these Certificates be opened? On the second Wednesday in February the President of the Senate, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, must open these certificates, and the votes must then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes, if that number be a majority, shall be the President; and the person having the greatest number of votes for Vice-President, if that number be a majority, shall be Vice-President.

Who must count the votes?

Tellers appointed for that purpose by the House and Senate.

In case neither candidate for the presidency has a Majority of all the electoral votes cast, what must be done?

The election goes to the House of Representatives.

ELECTION BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

How does this Election take place?

I. Two-thirds of the States must be represented to constitute a quorum.

II. The candidates must be those already voted for, and must be confined to those receiving the highest number, not exceeding three.

III. Each State is entitled to only one vote: and it will be cast according to the wishes of a majority of the members in the House from that State. If, for instance, a State has 15 members, 8 belonging to one party, and

to another, the 8, being a majority, will, if agreed, cast the one vote; the minority having no voice in the election. Should there be an even number of members from any State, and should they be equally divided between two candidates, there might be one-half vote for each candidate.

In case of a Failure on the part of the House of Representatives to elect a President before the 4th of March, what then?

The Vice-President must act as President.

ELECTION OF VICE-PRESIDENT BY THE SENATE.

Can the Senate ever elect a Vice President?

Yes, when the people have failed to elect a Vice-President, then the Senate must elect.