Electoral College Check For Understanding 2-3 4-5 Name ___________________________________ Date __________ Period 1-2 3-4 8-9 Electoral College Check For Understanding 2-3 4-5 Shade in the 12 most populated states…the minimum # Electoral Votes needed to win a Presidential Election California, Texas, New York, Florida, etc… in 2016 + 2020

Historical Context: Controversial Elections have created doubt about the Electoral College system’s legitimacy for promoting national unity. Presidential Election 2000 Presidential Election Outside Knowledge = Irony Florida was the deciding state in both elections. Democrats won the popular vote in the USA in both elections. Republican Presidents were chosen by the Electoral College in both elections.

House of Representatives + 2 US Senators New York State has 27 Representatives in the House of Representatives + 2 US Senators Based on this information…New York has this many Electoral College votes ? _______ HR + 2 S = __?__ NY votes _______ Vermont has 1 member the House of Representatives + 2 US Senators = __?__ EC votes HR + 2 S = _______ Vermont EC votes 538/2 = 269 …therefore 270 Votes are needed to Win

Electoral College Map 2004 + 2008 2012 + 2016 + 2020 Based on the 2010 US Census count of the USA population …changes in State populations required reapportionment in the House of Representatives … some increased more than others …therefore the Electoral College representation for States was impacted accordingly… Texas increased 34 to 38…Florida increased 27 to 29 … but New York decreased from 31 to ________ due to the Census and reapportionment

_____________________ ______________________ ______________________ The Electoral College 1940 Examining The Electoral College from 1940 – 2012 shows state population gains in the South and West have most greatly benefited these States (identify 3) _____________________ ______________________ ______________________ While other states in the Northeast and Midwest have lost political power (identify 3) Choose from these states: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas

Make your educated guess for the 2020 changes due to the Census + reapportionment in the House Impacting the next Electoral College map of the 21st century. Apply these numbers to the map for these 6 states based on your knowledge of demographic trends… 56 40 31 28 19 NY Pa Ill California Texas Florida

These states are often referred to as “swing states” because they are very evenly divided when voting for US Presidents in recent years. Therefore the major parties and candidates put more of their campaign resources into winning the popular vote in these states. Because Democrat candidates usually win NY State… both major parties generally ignore New York to concentrate on the “swing states”. Source: John Sharp | Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Geographyfaculty.newpaltz.edu Rank the top 3 most populated “swing states” according your 2012 electoral map found back on page #1 #1 ________________________ #2 __________________________ #3 ___________________________

What is an accurate point of view expressed in both of these political cartoons regarding the influence of the Electoral College system on Presidential elections? ____________________________________________________________________

The Electoral College encourages more person-to-person campaigning by candidates, as they spend time in both the big cities and smaller cities in battleground states ( aka “swing states” ).   In close, contested elections, recounts will usually be confined to a state or two, rather than an across-the-country recount that might be required if we had direct election of the president.   The Electoral College, with its typical winner-take-all allocation of votes, often turns a small percentage margin of victory into one that appears much larger, thus making the victory seem more conclusive and adding to the winner’s perceived legitimacy. source: “The Electoral College” http://www.thirty-thousand.org/pages/section_IX.htm ____1. Based on these statements… why do many citizens and political scientists desire to keep the current Electoral College system? A) It promotes more intense personal campaigning by the candidates B) It can make a close popular vote in the election “appear” to produce a more legitimate margin of victory in the Electoral College count C) It promotes national unity…a major goal of the US Constitution ____2. Identify the 2 political parties most in favor of keeping the current Electoral College system from the following choices a) Conservative b) Democrat c) Libertarian d) Republican e) Working Family

What is cartoonist Dave Granlund’s point of view regarding the Electoral College system? _______________________________________________________________________

Electoral College Bias Favoring “small states” The smaller states are over-represented in the Electoral College. The 22 smallest states have a total of 100 Electoral votes, though their combined population was roughly equal to that of California which had only 55 Electoral votes. ____1. Based on this statement … why do small population states desire to keep the current Electoral College system? A) Major political party candidates will need the votes from the small states in a close Presidential election. B) If the popular vote or a more proportional electoral college system were used, small states would possibly lose the attention of the major parties. ___2. Rank in order the best reasons not to change the current Electoral College system (winner take all … state by state) for choosing a US President. Best #1 ______________ 2nd Best ________________ 3rd Best _______________ It keeps the 2 party system strong c) It keeps the small states satisfied It makes the “swing states” important d) It limits the power of larger states

1912 Presidential Campaign 2012 Presidential Campaign What is an accurate point of view expressed in both of these political cartoons regarding the influence of the Electoral College system on Presidential elections? ____________________________________________________________________

Write a paragraph supporting or opposing a Constitutional Amendment (#28) to abolish the US Electoral College system and replace it with a nationwide popular vote for the US President. (3-5 sentences minimum…refer to at least 2 documents) TS: _______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ SS: _______________________________________________________________