How to Become President of the United States of America

The President of the United States of America is elected every four years by a democratic process defined in the American constitution.  Americans learn about the civic process in high school Civics classes, and many often take for granted that the process is well understood.  How does one actually become the president of the United States?

The election process begins with primary elections, caucuses, and nominating conventions for over a year and a half prior to the actual Election Day – the first Tuesday of the first Monday in November. 

This diagram published and available by Kids.gov on the USA government web page depicts the path to presidency. View a larger version of the infographic. 

Step 1: Primaries and Caucuses - Candidates from each political party campaign throughout the country to win the party nomination.

Step 2: National Conventions – While there are several political parties (i.e. Liberal, Green, Independent) represented in the U.S., the country primarily puts forth a Democrat candidate and a Republican candidate. The National Convention is the official forum where the parties nominate their president and vice president candidates.

Step 3: General Election – This is the single day, where the country’s general population votes for the president. This day is the culmination all the campaigning, debates, rallies and events, as Americans head to the polls to vote for their new leader.

Step 4: Electoral College – America has an Electoral College system, where each state has a designated number of electors based on its total number of Congress representatives.  There are a total of 538 electoral votes. It is the Electoral College that actually votes for the president based on the general election. The founding fathers believed that this process was a compromise between the general population and their Congressional representation.  The electors are not required to vote in accordance with the general population, and in 48 states plus Washington DC, the winner takes all of the electoral votes regardless of the proportion of the general population. The electors cast their votes in December.

Inauguration Day – January 20 – the President and Vice-President of the United States of America are sworn in.

Four more years until the fun begins again!

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