Choosing the President

I. The process : 1. On choosing the president

2. The political framework: the political parties : The role of political parties ; Political party structure ; Auxiliary political groups

3. The political framework: the voters : The expansion of the suffrage ; Voting turnout and procedural problems ; Voting behavior

4. Phase one: the preliminaries : In-party preliminaries ; Out-party preliminaries ; The media in the preliminaries

5. Phase two: delegate selection and preference primaries : Methods of presidential nomination ; Delegate selection and party reform ; Delegate selection and presidential preference ; Delegate selection and non-primary states

6. Phase three: the national conventions : The functions of national conventions ; The gathering of the delegates ; Convention size ; Officers, credentials, rulers, and platforms ; The nomination of the president ; The final tasks of the convention ; Television at the national conventions

7. Phase four: the campaign : Campaign organization ; Campaign strategy ; Campaign tactics ; The media in campaigning ; Campaign finance

8. Phase five: the election : The electoral college system ; The electoral college pro and con ; Proposals for change ; Election day ; Reporting the results ; The final stages

II. Facts and figures : 1. On choosing the president : Constitutional provisions related to the presidency ; The presidential office in the constitution : Qualifications for office ; Term of office ; Presidential oath of office ; Salary ; Duties and powers ; Succession to the presidency. Importance of the vice-presidency ; Vacancies in the vice-presidency

2. The political framework: the political parties : A closer look at third parties

The national committee of the major parties : Membership ; Powers and duties ; Role of national chairman ; National committees and party policy

3. The political framework: the voters : Constitutional amendments expanding the suffrage ; The voting rights act amendments of 1970

4. Phase one: the preliminaries : In-party losses in mid-term elections ; Positions held by presidential nominees since 1900

5. Phase two: delegate selection and preference primaries : Evolution of the presidential nominating process ; Democratic party reform ; Republican party reform ; State presidential primaries ; Method of delegate selection

6. Phase three: the national conventions : Convention size: distribution of delegate votes in 1972 ; State-by-state allocation of delegates to 1972 national conventions ; Convention committees: a closer look

7. Phase four: the campaign : Television campaigning: a closer evaluation ; Presidential campaign spending by party since 1952 (chart) ; Spending by party for television in general elections (chart)

8. Phase five: the election : Significant presidential elections ; Results of all presidential elections ; Electoral vote by state, 1968 and 1972.