Good Afternoon and Happy Monday! Please grab your book and take a seat.

12/18 Do Now: Write the answers on your half-sheet 12/18 Do Now: Write the answers on your half-sheet. Start every answer on a new line. 1. Hillary Clinton won more votes during the 2016 election, but she still lost? How is this possible? Do you think this is a fair system? 2. Do you remember where you were when you found out that Donald Trump won the election? How did the people you live with react? 3. Do you really think we needed that 2 hour early dismissal Friday? Why or why not?

Early Announcements Entrance Procedure Check Mindfulness of Your Actions! Grades End Tuesday Coach Class Tomorrow Exam Thursday

How We Really Elect Our President Introduction to the Electoral College

1. What You’re Really Voting For Technically, you are not voting for Barack Obama or John McCain You are voting for an ELECTOR whose vote will be cast for whatever candidate gets the most votes in your state (winner take all system)

2. Electoral College Compromise Set up in 1787 as another deal between large states and small states Similar to Congress, which has one chamber based on equality and one based on population

Electoral College Definition A group of people from each state who meet in December after an election & vote for President.

Keeps things equal between small and large states

3. How Electors Are Chosen Each state gets an elector for every member of Congress Maryland 2 Senators 8 Representatives TOTAL: 10 Electors

4. Election Scenario - MD’s 10 Electors Democrat = 4 million votes Republican = 2.5 million votes How many electors does the Republican get? How many electors does the Democrat get?

Election Scenario - MD’s 10 Electors Democrat = 4 million votes Republican = 2.5 million votes How many electors does the Republican get? 0 Electors How many electors does the Democrat get? 10 Electors

5. Election Scenario - MD’s 10 Electors Democrat = 3.26 million votes Republican = 3.24 million votes How many electors does the Republican get? How many electors does the Democrat get?

Election Scenario - MD’s 10 Electors Democrat = 3.26 million votes Republican = 3.24 million votes How many electors does the Republican get? 0 Electors How many electors does the Democrat get? 10 Electors

6. Winner Take All System If you lose by 1 vote, you lose every elector in the state

3 State Scenario, Electoral College Style Remember, Democrats won 10 Electors from Maryland

7. Election Scenario - NC’s 15 Electors Democrat = 6 million votes Republican = 3 million votes How many electors does the Republican get? How many electors does the Democrat get?

Election Scenario - NC’s 15 Electors Democrat = 6 million votes Republican = 3 million votes How many electors does the Republican get? 0 Electors How many electors does the Democrat get? 15 Electors

8. Election Scenario - FL’s 27 Electors Democrat = 9 million votes Republican = 9.5 million votes How many electors does the Republican get? How many electors does the Democrat get?

Election Scenario - FL’s 27 Electors Democrat = 9 million votes Republican = 9.5 million votes How many electors does the Republican get? 27 Electors How many electors does the Democrat get? 0 Electors

9. Who Won The Election? Democrat Republican Popular vote MD= 4 million NC= 6 million FL= 9 million TOTAL= 19 million MD= 2.5 million NC= 3 million -FL= 9.5 million TOTAL= 15 million Electoral Vote MD= 10 electors NC= 15 electors FL= 0 electors TOTAL= 25 electors - MD= 0 electors - NC= 0 electors FL= 27 electors TOTAL= 27 electors

Who Won The Election? Democrat Republican Popular vote Electoral Vote MD= 4 million NC= 6 million FL= 9 million TOTAL= 19 million MD= 2.5 million NC= 3 million -FL= 9.5 million TOTAL= 15 million Electoral Vote MD= 10 electors NC= 15 electors FL= 0 electors TOTAL= 25 electors - MD= 0 electors - NC= 0 electors FL= 27 electors TOTAL= 27 electors

REPUBLICANS 10 Who Won The Election? Because they won the most electors The state of Florida is much larger in population, and therefore has more electors

Republicans won because… Maryland MD North Carolina NC Florida FL 6.5 million 10 electors 9 million 15 electors 18.5 million 27 electors DEMOCRATS WON REPUBLICANS WON

Candidates must receive 270 to win 12. 270 = The Magic Number 435 Representatives 100 Senators 3 for DC TOTAL = 538 Electors Candidates must receive 270 to win = simple majority

270 = The Magic Number

13. State by State Strategy Obviously, there are certain states that are more important than others, so... Candidates focus their TIME, ENERGY, and MONEY on winning them

13. Red States/Blue States Red states traditionally vote Republican Examples: Alabama Georgia Utah Blue states traditionally vote Democratic Maryland California New York Swing states go either way and usually decide the election Ohio Florida Iowa

2008 Electoral Map

14. Swing State Could go either way Examples: Ohio Pennsylvania Florida

Swing states are in light brown

Check this map out; what is going on?

But what about a tie? What if both candidates for presidents get 269 votes somehow? THEN The House of Representatives votes on the President. The Senate votes for Vice President. Must have more than 1/2 of the votes.

Why the Electoral College? When the founding fathers were deciding how to elect the President they had many ideas. Congress votes This was voted down because they were scared of corrupt (bad) congressmen State legislatures vote This was voted down because it would have taken power away from the federal government) Direct popular vote (the people would decide) This was voted down because they felt the people would pick people they knew and not research the candidates nor make informed decisions.

Why the Electoral College? They finally settled on the Electoral College A group of informed citizens would elect the president indirectly. The Electors are supposed to be the most informed and knowledgeable people vote on the will of their state. Requirements: US Citizens & Cannot be members of Congress or a federal employee Remember, they do not have to follow their state’s popular vote… they can vote of their own opinion.

and independent activity. Independent Practice Using your intellect along with your notes, complete the independent practice worksheet. Use the Electoral Map Handout as your guide. Dark Grey means Blue (Democrat). Light Grey means Red (Republican). Answer questions on the electoral maps given to you. This is always a silent and independent activity.

Map #1 – 2000 Electoral Map DEMOCRAT = 266. AL GORE REPUBLICAN = 271 Map #1 – 2000 Electoral Map DEMOCRAT = 266 AL GORE REPUBLICAN = 271 GEORGE W. BUSH

Map #2 – 2008 Electoral Map DEMOCRAT = 365 Map #2 – 2008 Electoral Map  DEMOCRAT = 365 BARACK OBAMA REPUBLICAN = 173 JOHN MCCAIN

2012 Electoral Map

Quick 5 12/15 How do we elect the president in our nation? Do you think this is a good system? Why or why not?