11/3/08 BR- 1. What subject do people study in the electoral college? 2. What is the difference between direct and indirect? Today: Understanding How We Elect the President of the United States (for real..)

Today’s Goal: G To understand how the electoral college works in electing the president -Get out a piece of paper and turn on your brain… G To understand how the electoral college works in electing the president -Get out a piece of paper and turn on your brain…

Do “We” elect the President? G The U.S. Presidential election is an indirect election. G We cast our votes for electors in the electoral college, who then officially elect the president G The U.S. Presidential election is an indirect election. G We cast our votes for electors in the electoral college, who then officially elect the president

- What 4 states have the highest population? - What is the population of Illinois? - What 4 states have the highest population? - What is the population of Illinois?

The Electoral Map of the United States. - What 4 states have the biggest electoral value? The Electoral Map of the United States. - What 4 states have the biggest electoral value?

The Electoral College popularly elected officials (or appointed) - The number of electors or electoral votes of a state is equal to its number of senators plus representatives in the house. How many senators and representatives does Illinois have? popularly elected officials (or appointed) - The number of electors or electoral votes of a state is equal to its number of senators plus representatives in the house. How many senators and representatives does Illinois have?

The Electoral College-2 (So my vote doesn’t count? Great!) - People vote in state elections to tell the electors how to vote. (That’s why this is an indirect election) - In most states, electors are bound by law to vote the way the people tell them to. - Not all states have laws to force electors to cast their electoral vote in line with the people (IL for example.) Going against the vote of the people is known as being a “faithless elector” and has happened 158 times in history. - People vote in state elections to tell the electors how to vote. (That’s why this is an indirect election) - In most states, electors are bound by law to vote the way the people tell them to. - Not all states have laws to force electors to cast their electoral vote in line with the people (IL for example.) Going against the vote of the people is known as being a “faithless elector” and has happened 158 times in history.

The Electoral College-3 (How it works) - November 4 - People vote in the states (See, I told you your vote counts..) - December 15 - Electors from states meet to officially vote for the candidates. They must officially sign, seal and deliver their votes by December January 6 - Congress (House and Senate) meet to count the votes. A candidate must get 270 electoral votes. If there is no majority, the House picks the President and the Senate picks the Vice President! - November 4 - People vote in the states (See, I told you your vote counts..) - December 15 - Electors from states meet to officially vote for the candidates. They must officially sign, seal and deliver their votes by December January 6 - Congress (House and Senate) meet to count the votes. A candidate must get 270 electoral votes. If there is no majority, the House picks the President and the Senate picks the Vice President!

The Electoral College (how the game works) - A candidate has to win enough states to get him or her 270 electoral votes. It’s as simple as that. - A candidate can win the “popular vote” but lose the electoral vote (see 2000 election). - A candidate has to win enough states to get him or her 270 electoral votes. It’s as simple as that. - A candidate can win the “popular vote” but lose the electoral vote (see 2000 election).

2004 Results NomineeGeorge W. Bush John Kerry PartyRepublicanDemocratic Home stateTexasMassachusetts Running mateDick Cheney John Edwards Electoral vote States carried3119+DCDC Popular vote62,040,61059,028,444 Percentage50.7%48.3%

2004 Electoral Results

2004 Election by County

2000 Results NomineeGeorge W. Bush Al Gore PartyRepublicanDemocratic Home state TexasTennessee Running mate Dick CheneyJoe Lieberman Electoral vote States carried 3020+DCDC Popular vote 50,456,00250,999,897 Percentage47.9%48.4%

2000 Electoral Map

2000 Election by County

The President of the whole country? This map shows presidential appearances and money spent in the last 5 weeks of the 2004 election

Exit Slip 1. Describe how the president is elected using the electoral college? 2. Why do you think we use this system of electing the president by the electoral college instead of just a straight popular vote? 3. Do you think this system is fair or should we change it? 1. Describe how the president is elected using the electoral college? 2. Why do you think we use this system of electing the president by the electoral college instead of just a straight popular vote? 3. Do you think this system is fair or should we change it?

5. List the fewest number of states needed to get a majority (270). 6. List the biggest number of states to get a majority. 7. What states are the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates from? What are the electoral votes from those states? 5. List the fewest number of states needed to get a majority (270). 6. List the biggest number of states to get a majority. 7. What states are the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates from? What are the electoral votes from those states?

Additional Resources G G G college/links2.html#maps college/links2.html#maps college/links2.html#maps G egations_from_Illinois (IL Reps) egations_from_Illinois egations_from_Illinois G college/laws.html (electors) college/laws.html college/laws.html G college/faq.html#top (FAQ) college/faq.html#top college/faq.html#top G (faithless electors) G (general) G G G college/links2.html#maps college/links2.html#maps college/links2.html#maps G egations_from_Illinois (IL Reps) egations_from_Illinois egations_from_Illinois G college/laws.html (electors) college/laws.html college/laws.html G college/faq.html#top (FAQ) college/faq.html#top college/faq.html#top G (faithless electors) G (general)