BALLOT BREAKDOWN STATE & FEDERAL ELECTION tuesday, november 3 VOTE HOW YOU PLEASE, BUT PLEASE VOTE 8/3: First Day to Register an Absentee Ballot 10/14: Early Voting Starts 10/27: Absentee Ballot Request Deadline 10/29: Early Voting Ends 11/3: Election Day TABLE OF CONTENTS 2......................................PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT 13......................................................................US SENATE 18................................US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 19..........................................................TN STATE SENATE 23................................TN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 30............................................................SCHOOL BOARD 33..........................BELLE MEADE CITY COMMISSIONER 35...........................FOREST HILLS CITY COMMISSIONER 36....................GOODLETTSVILLE CITY COMMISSIONER 38..........................................................................CREDITS 39/40............................................................CUT OUT ART 41.............EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE AND LOCATIONS The President of The United States of America The President is the chief public representative and the head of gov- ernment of the United States of America and Commander-in-Chief of all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. According to the U.S Constitution, the President’s ultimate responsibility is to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” In contrast to many countries with similar forms of government where presidents or heads of states are more ceremo- nial, the President of the United States has significant authority and power. The President has the power to either sign legislation into law or veto bills enacted by Congress, although Congress may override a veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses. Article 2, Section 2 of The United States Constitution states that the president “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for...”. The Supreme Court appointment is of significance, as it is a lifetime appointment. One area that grants presidential power is the issuance of executive orders, a directive from the President that has much of the same power as a federal law. Executive orders influence the internal functioning of govern- ment, determining how laws are enforced, and are often used to deal with emergency situations like war, and in the implementation of policies and broad statutes. All presidents have issued executive orders, some more than others, although there is no direct definition, right or limitations for the use of executive orders in the US Constitution. Executive orders are subject to judicial review and may be overturned if the order is not supported by statute or the Constitution; some require 2 approval by the legislative branch. Once issued, executive orders remain in force until they are canceled, revoked, deemed unlawful, or expire on their terms. The president has the power to cancel, modify, or make exceptions for any previously issued executive order, even those issued by a predeces- sor. During the first few weeks of office a president will typically review all executive orders currently in force. The President also serves as Chief Diplomat, which shapes American Foriegn Policy. Along with Chief Citizen, with the expectation that they will provide an example of moral character and integrity while representing all citizens of the United States. The Vice President of The United States of America The vice president acts as second in command to the president. Vice presidential candidates campaign alongside their presidential running mates, serve a term of four years if elected, and must meet the same requirements as those of potential presidents. The vice president must be a natural born U.S citizen, at least 35 years of age, and must have lived in the United States for a minimum of 14 years. The first and arguably most vital role of the vice president is that the position ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The 25th Amend- ment to The United States Constitution clearly dictates that, if the president becomes incapacitated, dies, resigns or is removed from office, the vice president assumes the office of the president. The second vital role of the vice president is to preside over the US Senate. The vice president is expected to maintain order and decency, recognize members to speak, and interpret the Senate’s rules, practices, and precedents. As president of the Senate, the vice president may only vote to cast a tie-breaking vote. In the modern day, the vice presidential role also functions as an important presidential advisor. Additionally, presidents in recent years have delegated authority to vice presidents in order to handle significant issues independently. During Barack Obama’s administration, then vice president Joe Biden was assigned directly by the president to oversee Iraq policy. In 2020, Donald Trump assigned current vice president Mike Pence the duty of overseeing the COVID-19 task force. 3 PRESIDENT / VICE The incumbent President of the United States of Amer- ica, Donald J. Trump, is a 74-year-old businessman, real-estate de- veloper and reality TV show host originally from New York, NY. He was elected in 2016 by winning the electoral college vote, despite losing the popular vote by three million. Trump has been married to his wife, Slovene model Melania Trump, since 2005, with whom he shares one son, Barron. His first marriage was with the Czech model, Ivana Zelníčková Winklmayr from 1977 until 1992. They have three children together, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric. After his divorce in 1993, he married American actress, Marla Maple, after she gave birth to his fourth child, Tiffany. They divorced in 1999. Trump holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the DONALD TRUMP Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Upon gradu- President ation, he began working for his father’s real-estate business. In Republican 1974, he became president of a conglomeration of Trump-owned corporations and partnerships, which he later named the Trump Organization. He expanded the family business by investing in luxury hotels, residential properties, and casinos. Trump built his reputation as a shrewd businessman and self-made billionaire. However, Trump has also been part of numerous lawsuits and financial struggles throughout his career, including declaring bankruptcy on multiple businesses. In 1991, 1992 and 2009 his former online educa- tion company, Trump University, was the target of a class action lawsuit by former students and the New York attorney general. The lawsuit was settled in 2016 for $25 million. In 2019, two years into his presidency, Trump settled another lawsuit charging him of illegally using assets from his charity, the Trump Foundation, to fund his 2016 presidential campaign. This case was also settled for $25 million. In December of 2019, Trump became the third American President to be formally im- peached by the House of Representatives, and the first President to be impeached during his first term. He was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but remained in office when he was acquitted by the Senate. Trump’s campaign and presidency have been centered around his “America First” platform, with goals to “lower taxes for the American people, repeal and replace Obamacare, end stifling regulations, protect our borders, keep jobs in our country, strengthen military and law enforcement, renegotiate bad trade deals, and creating a government of, by, and for the people.” Since he took office in 2016, Trump has strongly expressed anti-immigration and an- ti-refugee stances. In 2017, he implemented multiple executive orders banning nationals from the countries of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and North Korea from entering the US. He was ultimately forced to revise these bans as they faced legal challenges of their constitution- ality in lower courts. In June 2018, the Supreme Court upheld a revised version of the ban in a five to four ruling. Trump has also implemented a “zero tolerance policy” regarding the illegal immigration process. The result of this policy has led to the separation of some children and parents who have either entered the U.S. illegally, or who are attempting to cross the border. The crisis surrounding the treatment of these children, including the decision to separate them from their parents and place them in detention centers without adequate hygiene, cloth- ing, and food has gone largely unaddressed by Trump’s administration. Trump’s campaign goal of “protecting unborn life through every means available” has resulted in legislation that allows states to restrict funding to Planned Parenthood, and also expands the Mexico City Policy, which bans U.S. aid to any worldwide organization that performs abortions. Through the Education Innovation and Research Program, Trump has in- creased funding to promote school choice. Supporters of school choice want their education tax dollars routed away from public schools into private and parochial schools of their choice. During his 2016 campaign, Trump promised to appoint conservative judges. As of April 2020, Trump has installed 51 judges at the circuit court level — about 30 percent of all active judgeships — who sit at one level below the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump