Adapted from http://www.rcsdk8.org/ourpages/auto/2013/3/13/52247803/Electoral%20College.ppt

True or False?

The Presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes is

elected President.

Answer: Not necessarily.

Historical Background

• The framers of the Constitution disagreed on how to elect a president.– Congressional selection – direct popular election

• The Electoral College was a compromise.– combining features of both approaches

United States Constitution

• The United States Constitution outlines how the President is to be elected.

• The two main sections that deal with electing the President are:

a. Article I Section II: Census

b. Article II Section I: Electoral College

The Electoral College and Federalism

• The electoral college also reflects the federal nature of the Constitution.– ensures the states have a role in

selecting the president

When you vote for the President you are actually voting for an ELECTOR to

vote for you.

Each state has a determined number of

electors.

A state’s number of electors is the total number of that state’s Senators and Representatives

in the House.

California 2 senators+ 53 representatives

Total 55 electors

North Carolina

2 Senators+ 13 Representatives

Total 15 Electors

There are a total of 538 electoral votes

(the District of Columbia is not a state but is given 3 electoral votes).

Who are the Electors?• Electors are individuals selected in each state to

officially cast that state’s electoral votes.

• The Framers anticipated that electors would be state leaders who would exercise good judgment.

• Today, party leaders select electors who are typically long-time party activists.

• Electors almost always vote for their party’s candidates.

48 out of the 50 states have a “winner takes all” method.

In order for a Presidential candidate to win all the

electoral votes of a state, a candidate must win a

majority of the popular vote!

2 states are different and can divide up their votes based on congressional district - Nebraska and

Maine.

The Election Timeline• In November of a Presidential election year, the general election is held

and the popular vote is determined.

• In December, electors gather in their respective state capitols to cast ballots for President and Vice President.

• In January, Congress comes into session and they open the ballots received from each state. At this time, they announce the official outcome.

A candidate must have 270 electoral votes to win the Presidential election.

If no single candidate gets the required 270 electoral votes

then the U.S. House of Representatives votes to

decide the President.

What if no one receives a majority?

To win, a candidate needs a majority – 270 electoral votes

If no candidate has a majority the House of Representatives selects the President from

among the three presidential candidates with the most electoral votes

If this happens, each state has one vote. Happened only once! 1824: Congress chose John Quincy

Adams over Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay

The Senate selects the Vice President from the top two vice-presidential candidates.

It is possible to get more votes overall in the

election from the entire country and NOT be elected President!

Total Popular Vote in 2000 Election:

Bush 50,461,092 total votes(47.9%)271 Electoral Votes

Gore 50,994,086 total votes(48.4%)266 Electoral Votes

Nader 2,882,728 total votes(2.7%)0 Electoral College Votes

2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

1984 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

– the system requires a distribution of popular support (not just sufficient support) and thus contributes to national unity

– enhancement/protection of minority interests– encourages a two-party system and thus national stability

within the government; – maintains a federal system (gives the states a role)

Thus, smaller/less populous states, the two major parties, and minorities should favor the Electoral

College system.

Benefits of the Electoral College System

Criticisms of the Electoral College

• The popular vote winner may lose the presidency.

• Electors may vote for persons other than their party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates.

• If no candidate receives a majority, Congress will pick the president and vice president.

Proposals for Reform

• Eliminate electors but still count electoral votes.

• Choose the president by direct popular election.