Reading Assignment for this lesson is Chapter 12- 12.2
Today's Questions: How does the electoral college affect presidential campaign strategies?
Vocabulary:
blue states
critical election
electoral college
plurality election
red states
safe state
swing state
winner-take-all system
Introduction:
What makes presidential elections different from similar elections in other countries is that it is not a plurality election, meaning the candidate who wins the most votes - but not necessarily the majority of votes - automatically wins the top job. Instead, the electoral college ultimately decides the outcome. This means that while the people directly elect everyone from their mayor and governor up to their representatives and senators, their choice for president is not necessarily guaranteed by even the majority of votes. In other words, the candidate who wins the popular vote can still lose the election. It's not common, but this has happened (see "Elections that Broke the Rules" handout below). And it's because of the electoral college.
A few pertinent Constitutional and federal legal mandates:
ELECTION DAY: The first Tuesday after the first Monday of November.
WHEN THE ELECTORS MEET IN EACH STATE: The first Monday after the second Wednesday of December.
WHEN CONGRESS COUNTS THE ELECTORAL VOTES: January 6.
Part One: Background/Information on Electoral College
For the first part of the assignment on the Electoral College, let's make sure understand the basic background and information of it. Please use the following links/videos/etc. to gain a basic understanding of the Electoral College. CLICK HERE for the SafeShare.TV Link that should get around YouTube.com. Or you can watch this from your phone and you will see the video below.
blue states
critical election
electoral college
plurality election
red states
safe state
swing state
winner-take-all system
Introduction:
What makes presidential elections different from similar elections in other countries is that it is not a plurality election, meaning the candidate who wins the most votes - but not necessarily the majority of votes - automatically wins the top job. Instead, the electoral college ultimately decides the outcome. This means that while the people directly elect everyone from their mayor and governor up to their representatives and senators, their choice for president is not necessarily guaranteed by even the majority of votes. In other words, the candidate who wins the popular vote can still lose the election. It's not common, but this has happened (see "Elections that Broke the Rules" handout below). And it's because of the electoral college.
A few pertinent Constitutional and federal legal mandates:
ELECTION DAY: The first Tuesday after the first Monday of November.
WHEN THE ELECTORS MEET IN EACH STATE: The first Monday after the second Wednesday of December.
WHEN CONGRESS COUNTS THE ELECTORAL VOTES: January 6.
Part One: Background/Information on Electoral College
For the first part of the assignment on the Electoral College, let's make sure understand the basic background and information of it. Please use the following links/videos/etc. to gain a basic understanding of the Electoral College. CLICK HERE for the SafeShare.TV Link that should get around YouTube.com. Or you can watch this from your phone and you will see the video below.
2. USHistory.org - "Selecting a President"
3. U.S. National Archives & Records Administration - "What is the Electoral College?"
4. How the Electoral College Works video. Click here for the SafeShare.TV link. Or watch below.
3. U.S. National Archives & Records Administration - "What is the Electoral College?"
4. How the Electoral College Works video. Click here for the SafeShare.TV link. Or watch below.
5. Electoral College Reading
6. For further understanding of the electoral college and its relevance, see Wilson and DiIulio (textbook) pages 371-372, "How Things Work."
Now, with your partner or small group, please complete STEP 1 the worksheet "3.5 Guided Worksheet" (below).
Part Two: Influence of Electoral College & Swing States
Now look at the map below from the 2012 presidential election. Note that the red states were won by the Republican, Mitt Romney, and the blue states by Barack Obama, the Democrat.
*Remember, the numbers reflect how many electoral votes each state was worth in 2008. Those numbers have since changed due to the 2010 census. There are 538 electoral votes (435 for House representation, 100 for the Senate, and DC gets 3). To win, a candidate needs 270 electoral votes, a majority from the electoral college.
**Note that a number of these states predictably have voted the same way nearly every election cycle in the recent past.
Please visit the website 270towin.com. The Electoral College vote dictates campaign strategies among Presidential candidates.
On the 270towin site, pay particular attention to the 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 Presiential Elections.
Compare these maps - what states would you consider swing states? Why?
Take a look at the 2012 Electoral College map on 270towin.com. Compare that to the actual Electoral College strength map below:
On the 270towin site, pay particular attention to the 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 Presiential Elections.
Compare these maps - what states would you consider swing states? Why?
Take a look at the 2012 Electoral College map on 270towin.com. Compare that to the actual Electoral College strength map below:
Compare the 2012 Electoral College results with the 2012 Electoral College Strength map. How are the different?
Then, look at how different counties can vote differently than the actual state in an election. See the 2012 Electoral County map below:
Compare the 2012 Electoral College results with the 2012 County by County map above. How are the different? Why?
Part Three: Should the Electoral College system be changed?
Read through the file "Elections that Broke the Rules" below. It is good background into the elections where the candidate lost the popular vote but won the election.
Many have expressed concerns over the use of the Electoral College system:
1. The Trouble with the Electoral College video. Click here for the SaveShare Link
2. Problems of the Electoral College Prezi:
3. Electoral College: Not all Votes are Equal
There has been debate among some that the Electoral College system should be abolished & new plans put into place. Here are the arguments:
1. Electoral College Pros & Cons
2. College Exam: Should the Electoral College be abolished?
So, if we are to change the Electoral College, what is the best proposed method? Check out this reading "Electoral College Reform Proposals." Think about if you agree with any of the given proposals or whether you think we should keep the election of the President exactly as the Founding Fathers wanted it: with the Electoral College.
There has been debate among some that the Electoral College system should be abolished & new plans put into place. Here are the arguments:
1. Electoral College Pros & Cons
2. College Exam: Should the Electoral College be abolished?
So, if we are to change the Electoral College, what is the best proposed method? Check out this reading "Electoral College Reform Proposals." Think about if you agree with any of the given proposals or whether you think we should keep the election of the President exactly as the Founding Fathers wanted it: with the Electoral College.
Files & Links
Notes and Worksheet
Electoral College
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USElections.org
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