Objectives SWBAT explain how the Electoral College works to elect our President SWBAT analyze the modern problems with the Electoral College

FederalistsAnti-Federalists Against the Bill of Rights Strong national gov’t Supporters of the Bill of Rights Small national gov’t Strong state govts Individual rights

Modern Issue #1 Should the Federal Government have expanded powers during a crisis to protect Americans? Does the Constitution allow for this?

What is this picture from?

Modern Debate #1 The 2001 USA Patriot Act: Legislation passed by Congress to expand the federal government’s power to combat terrorism. Gives the federal government more implied powers. –Power to access banking information, library, internet, phone and other personal records. –Power to use wiretapping devices to listen in on conversations.

Modern Issue #2 Is the method we use to elect our president outdated? Should we abandon the electoral college and use the popular vote instead?

How we elect the president (Article II): Electoral College: This body is used to elect the President & Vice President Each state gets: the # of representatives + (plus) the # of Senators for their Electoral Vote 13 NC representatives + 2 NC Senators = 15 EC Winner Takes All: Whichever candidate wins the most popular votes in that state will receive ALL the electoral votes for the state (Except in Maine & Nebraska) There are a total of 538 electoral votes You must win 270 electoral votes to win If there is a 269 to 269 vote tie the House decides the President and the Senate decides the VP (12th Amendment)

Electoral College Why did the framers of the Constitution decide to create the Electoral College? 1.Federalism: The Anti-Federalists wanted to make sure the states still had power in the federal governement. The Electoral College is designed so that even small states can influence the outcome of an election. Example: President Obama had to campaign in big states like Ohio and Florida, but he also had to campaign in NH which only has 4 electoral votes so that he would have at least 270 total on election day.

2. Fear of a direct popular vote: The Federalists feared that a direct popular vote would be too much power in the hands of the people. They wanted electors to be able to make a thoughtful decision about who should be president. Today Electors vote the way the people in their state want them to.

Electoral College Map

2008 Election Prediction Blue = Democrats 210 Red = Republicans 221 Toss-up = 123 votes

Final 2008 Election Results Obama: 365 Electoral Votes McCain: 173 Electoral Votes

 Winner takes all is unfair.  Since all states have 2 Senators and at least 1 House of Rep. that unfairly gives the states with small populations too much influence. Example: In Wyoming there are 170,000 people represented by each electoral vote. In California 670,000 people are represented by each electoral vote. But then if small states didn’t have at least 3 electoral votes no candidate would ever pay attention to that state. ANSWER ON YOU PAPER: Do you think it is fair that 1 electoral vote can represent 700,000 people in one state and then only 200,000 people in another state? Criticisms of the Electoral College:

Basic Principle of American Government: Majority Rule and Minority Rights The majority (greatest # of people) will decide how the rest of the population shall live, but the minority still gets all the basic freedoms promised in the Constitution.

Majority Rule Minority Rights What does “Majority Rule and Minority Rights” mean? Example: How many of you like Rap or Hip Hop music? If you don’t like Rap what type of music do you like? Do the minority still have a right to listen to any type of music they want even though it is not the majority music?

Electoral Map

Objective 2.07 Which of the following has undercut the constitutional principle of popular sovereignty in recent years? a.Controversy over states’ rights b.Judicial activism c.Decline in presidential vetoes d.Low voter turnout

A candidate must win which of the following to be elected president? a.A majority in Congress b.A majority of the popular vote c.A majority of the electoral vote d.The popular vote in Florida

Opponents of the PATRIOT Act would most likely argue that it violates which part of the U.S. Constitution? a.Protection against unreasonable searches b.Guarantee of a republican form of government c.Freedom of speech d.Right to bear arms