Elections and the Electoral College

Next Step = National Convention!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1fSvSbOEpM&list=PLA8BD7BD0B5456D37

Caucus

PRIMARY

NATIONAL CONVENTION

GENERAL ELECTION

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

White House

After the Primaries/Caucuses… Role of Political Parties at the National Level:

▪National Convention: Summer before November Election. Meets every 4 years - -Selects presidential and vice presidential candidates, establishes platforms, endorses all party nominees for other offices.

▪Candidate needs to get the support of enough delegates (chosen a Primary/Caucus) at the national convention to win the nomination.

▪Get the support of “Super delegates” = Party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the National Convention without being selected at primaries or caucuses.

2012 Republican National Convention

http://w 2 min video -

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Next Step: Campaign

• Choose a Theme – repeat several proven lines• Ex: Change or Change you can believe in (Obama), A Leader, For a

Change (Carter) Who do you Trust? (Bush, Sr) Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago? (Reagan)

• Media coverage is key!• Paid Advertisements (spots = short T.V. ads) –sell the candidate

(very expensive!) –gives more information• Coverage of a campaign activity by news media = Visuals (Free!)

• Debates – benefits opponents (free publicity) Risky for all!• Internet and Social Media

• Ex: Twitter has 232 million monthly active users – Free coverage!

Obama stops at a grocery store to buy lunch!

Obama on Twitter 2012…This seat’s taken.

Election Day – November –1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in Nov. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFqln0eyyHM WHY do we vote on Tuesday?

• Voters cast their ballot for Electors (not the candidates!)

• Electoral College meets in December to cast their ballots for President.

• Electors use the popular vote to make their decision.

MN Elector casting a vote for Obama

Reading: The Pros and Cons of the Electoral CollegeRead the whole article. Decide which view you favor (for or against)

Unit 3 Writing Prompt:  Topic = Electoral College

After weighing the pros and cons of the Electoral College system, do you think it should stay or go?  Give at least 3 well explained reasons that support your view on this topic.  Answers should be written in complete sentences and in paragraph form.  (5-6 sentences at least!)

Paragraph will be typed and submitted on turnitin.com as part of the portfolio at the end of Unit Three.  4 Current Events articles also needed.  2 Summary/Opinion, 2 Summary/Bias.  Topics include: Political Parties, Campaigning and Elections, Interest Groups, PACS or the media.  

Due Oct. 21, 2014

• The original intent of the Constitution was to have the Electors choose a President based on their own judgment.

• Electors chose the Presidential Candidate based on the most popular votes in their state. (winner take all – except Nebraska and Maine)

• Electors are chosen by popular vote in every state but don’t appear on the ballot.

What were the Founding Fathers thinking?

538 Electoral Votes –Each state gets as many as number of Representatives to House and Senate combined.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9H3gvnN468 Ted Talk on Electoral College 5 min.

• Presidential Candidates must win a majority of electoral votes.

• 270 out of 538.

http://www.270towin.com/

• No majority?

• The House of Representatives decides.

• Each state delegation (MN 8) has one vote.

• 26 out of 50 to win.

• Has happened twice: 1800 (Thomas Jefferson)

• 1824 (John Q. Adams)

What is the problem with letting the House decide?

1) The popular vote winner is not guaranteed the Presidency.

• Has happened four times: 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000.

2) A President can be elected without a majority of popular vote.

• Has happened 15 times.

• Most recently 2000. (Gore vs. Bush, Jr,) • Even Kids Know – video clip 6 minutes

3) Electors are not required to vote with their state's popular vote. Called “Faithless Electors.”

• Has happened 85 (plus 2 abstentions) times.

4) Elections can be decided by the House of Representatives.

Problems with the Electoral College:

1) Proportional Plan: A Presidential Candidate receives the same share of electoral votes as popular votes per state.

• Criticisms: third parties gain power, and a plurality, not

majority would determine most elections.

2) Direct Popular Election: simple.

• Criticisms: weaken the federal system of government,

create campaign stresses.

3) Direct Popular Election with Instant Run-Off Voting (IRV):

Proposed Electoral College Reforms