QUIZ 1. This is a group of representatives of each state who cast the final ballot that actually elects the president. 2. How many votes does each elector cast for President under the original Constitution? 3. Which of the following was there NOT a problem with our current system? 1800 1824 1862 1888 4. __________________ is the reallocation of the number of seats in the House of Representatives after each decennial census.

Taken from: A More Perfect Constitution. by, Larry Sabato “The framers wanted the Electoral College to serve as a reliable gatekeeper, a richly endowed ‘nominating committee’ that would send the top vote-getters to the U.S. House for a final choice, without any reliance on the will of the general public. George Mason. . . ‘conceived it would be as unnatural to refer the choice of a proper character for chief Magistrate to the people, as it would, to refer a trial of colours to a blind man. The extent of the Country renders it impossible that the people can have the requisite capacity to judge.’” Taken from: A More Perfect Constitution. by, Larry Sabato

Electoral College: Original Constitution Number of electors= senators and representatives MD: 8 Rep. + 2 Sen.= 10 E.V. States determine how electors are chosen. Each elector casts 2 votes. If a candidate gets a majority, he wins. VP is candidate with 2nd most votes. If no one gets majority, House decides.

The Electoral College (Taken from Maryland State Board of Elections Website) As established by Federal Law, on the first Monday after the second Wednesday of December after a Presidential General Election, each State's Electors will meet in their respective State capitals and cast their electoral votes. The electoral votes are sealed and transmitted from each State to the President of the Senate who, on a designated date, opens and reads them before both houses of Congress.

Qualification and selection method No Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed as an elector. (Article II, U.S. Constitution) There are no specific rules for the method of selecting electors. However, some political parties select one person residing in each of the 8 congressional districts and 2 at- large.

Romney v. Obama

Gingrich v. Obama

Romney Gingrich

Election of 1800 Problem: Tie for President House chose Jefferson Jefferson and Burr: 73 votes each House chose Jefferson 12th Amendment (1804) Each elector casts a separate ballot for president and vice-president.

Election of 1824 1. Win Popular Vote. Lose Election. Candidate Electoral Vote House Vote John Q Adams 31% 84 13 Andrew Jackson 42% 99 7 William Crawford 11% 41 4 Henry Clay 13% 37 ---

Election of 2000 Candidate Electoral Vote Popular Vote Al Gore 266 50,996,116 George Bush 271 50,456,169

2. Over/Under Representation State Electors % of Electors Populat-ion % of Pop. California 55 10.22% 33,930,000 12.03% Texas 34 6.32% 20,903,994 7.41% New York 31 5.76% 19,004,973 6.74% Maryland 10 1.86% 5,307,886 1.88% Alaska 3 0.56% 628,933 0.22% Vermont 609,890 0.20% Wyoming 495,304 o.18%

3. Winner-Takes-All (Florida, 2000) Vote Count Bush: 2,912,790 Gore: 2,912,353 25 Electoral Votes

4. Faithless Electors

Election of 2000 Candidate Electoral Vote Popular Vote Al Gore 266 50,996,116 George Bush 271 50,456,169

Possible Alternatives……?

District Vote Plan: Nebraska and Maine Dist. McCain Obama 1st 148,179 121,468 2nd 135,439 138,752 3rd 169,361 73,099 Total 452,979 333,379

Maryland: 2008 (Red=Dem: Blue=Repub) 3 2

Maryland: 2004/2008 (Red=Dem: Blue=Repub)

Why do 3rd Party Candidates Run? THIRD PARTY CONTRIBUTIONS New or different ideas Vote of the fringe Discontent with major parties Pushes major parties to address unprecedented idea

Perot Commercials 14 minute mark http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/34277-1