how to elect US president美国总统选举

HowtoelectaUSpresident?

RepublicanParty(共和党)

Democraticparty(民主党)JohnMcCain（约翰·麦凯恩）AbrahamLincoln（亚伯拉罕·林肯）GeorgeBush（乔治·布什）BarackObama（贝拉克·奥巴马）WilliamJeffersonClinton（威廉·杰弗逊·克林顿）HillaryClinton（希拉里·克林顿）TheUSConstitutionspecifiesthatapresidentmustbeelectedeveryfouryears.Candidateswantingtogoforthemostpowerfuljobintheworldmustbeatleast35yearsoldandaUScitizenbornintheUSA.Potentialcandidatesforman"exploratorycommittee"togarnersupportfromsympatheticpartyfollowersandlobbydonorsforthevitalcampaigncontributions.Iftheybelievetheyhaveenoughsupport,theyinformfederalauthoritiesthattheyareintheraceandgetonwithseriousfundraisingandstate-to-statecampaigningfortheirparty'snomination.TherulesAmericanpoliticianssaythewaytheyelecttheirpresidentisoneofthemostopenanddemocraticprocessesintheworld.Buttooutsidersitcanalsobeoneofthemostbaffling.★IntroductionTheelectionraceinsomecountriestakesjustafewweeks,butUSpresidentialcandidatesundergoapoliticalmarathon,negotiatingprimaries,partyconventionsandanelectoralcollegesystemalongtheway.Step1ThePrimaries

Theprimaryisthefirststepinchoosingaparty'spresidentialcandidate.TheprimaryseasonbeginsintheJanuarybeforetheelectionandlastsuntilaboutJune.Thisiswherecandidatesfightwithinthetwomainparties,RepublicanandDemocratic,fortheirparty'snomination.Inmostcountries,thepartypicksthecandidate.ButintheUS,voterswhodeclaresupportforonepartyoranothergettochoosefromthelistofcandidates.Thecandidates,campaigningagainstothermembersofthesameparty,mustwinenoughstateprimariestogivethemamajorityofdelegatesatthepartyconventioninthesummer.Step2TheConvention

ThepartyconventionsareoneofthegreatsetpiecesofAmericanpolitics.Eachstatearrivesatthehallwithitsowndelegatesandbannersdeclaringwhichpresidentialcandidateitsupports.Bythisstage,thepartynormallyknowswhohaswon.Thedelegatesfromeachstateformallychoosetheirchampiontogoforwardaspresidentialcandidate.Thecandidatewiththemostdelegateswins-andnormallysecuresthesupportofpartyrivals.Thewinningcandidatealsonamesavice-presidentialrunningmate.Step3TheCampaign

Therivalcandidatessquareupforthepresidentialcampaignproper.Policiesarerefined,oftentotakeintoaccountthesupportersofthecandidateswhohavebeeneliminated.Thisstageofthecampaignisshorterthantheslogthroughthestateprimaries.Thereisheavyspendingonnationwidetelevisionpublicity,andthereareusuallyteleviseddebatesbetweenthecandidates.Inthefinalweeks,thecontenderstypicallyconcentratetheirattentiononthebigso-called"swingstates"astheybattleitoutforthecriticalelectoralcollegevotes.Step4ElectionDay

Everyfouryears,onElectionDay,(TuesdayafterthefirstMondayinNovember),registeredvotersintheUnitedStatescasttheirvotesforpresidentialelectors.Collectively,theseelectorsformtheElectoralCollege(选举团).ThenumberofelectorsperstateisequaltothenumberinitsCongressionaldelegation.Thus,eachstatehasatleastthreeelectors.KansashassixelectorsandMissourihaseleven.TheseelectorsmeetonthefirstTuesdayafterthesecondWednesdayinDecembertoelectthePresidentandVice-President.Fullname:BarackHusseinObamaBirth:OnAugust4,1961Graduation:ColumbiaUniversity(哥伦比亚大学)andHarvardLawSchool(哈佛法学院)Election:OnFebruary10,2007,ObamaannouncedhiscandidacyforPresidentoftheUnitedStatesinfrontoftheOldStateCapitolbuildinginSpringfield,Illinois.Throughoutthecampaign,ObamahasemphasizedtheissuesofrapidlyendingtheIraqWar,increasingenergyindependence,andprovidinguniversalhealthcare.Andhepromised“change”intheca