Electing the President Chapter #8 Section 2

Original System Article II, Sec. 1: ELECTORAL COLLEGE Each state would choose electors according to a method the state sets up. Each state would have as many electors as it had senators & reps. In congress. Electors meet in their home state to vote. Vote would be counted at a joint session of congress Majority of votes became president. Second highest votes became V.P.

Impact of Parties Twelfth Amendment (1804) Required separate ballots for Pres. & V.P. If no candidate has majority of votes, the House will choose from top 3 vote getters. The Senate will choose the top 2 vote getters for V.P.

Today’s College Still the method of choosing the Pres. And V.P. Parties choose their nominees for Pres. in late summer at a convention. Voters are voting for their parties electors (state). Dec. elector cast their vote for Pres. and V.P.

College Cont. College includes 538 electors- total of House and Senate members plus 3 from DC. Each state has as many electors as it does members of Congress. College is a winner take all system except for Maine and Nebraska. Most states do not legally require electors to vote for the candidate that wins pop. Vote.

College Issues Winner Take All 3rd Parties: Bargain votes to a Major Party. Election by House: Each state casts 1 vote (26 is the winner). 1. each state is equal. 2. If state can not agree they lose vote. 3. If 3rd party is strong, 26 votes may be hard to get. IDEALS for REFORM? (pg. 224) DIRECT POPULAR ELECTION? (pg.224)

President-elect until noon on Jan. 20th. Oath by Chief Justice. The Inauguration President-elect until noon on Jan. 20th. Oath by Chief Justice. Inauguration Speeches.

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