___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ APK: Activation of Prior Knowledge Write at least 2-3 sentences describing a time when… You were outnumbered and did not like what happened to you because of it. Question of the Day What is the purpose of the Electoral College? [Explain] Which types of states have more influence in the Electoral College? [Explain]

Key Vocabulary Terms to Look for Electoral College Popular vote Electors Winner-take-all system

What is the Electoral College? A system of electing the president. No other type of election is decided this way. Steps: Citizens vote for a candidate [called popular votes because average people are voting]. Popular votes then get counted. Candidate with most popular votes gets all of the electoral votes for that state. Electoral votes are based on the number members of Congress in each state [larger states have more] The candidate with the most electoral votes wins the election. Electors-People selected by Democrats and Republicans in each state who meet 3 months after election to give their votes to the winner of the popular vote in their state. New president selected.

Problems?

Times the popular “Loser” won the presidential election Three times in United States history the losing presidential candidate had more popular votes than the winner! 1876 {Rutherford B Hayes lost popular vote but won electoral vote against Samuel Tilden} 1888 {Benjamin Harrison lost popular vote but won electoral vote against Grover Cleveland} 2000 {George W. Bush lost popular vote but won electoral vote against Al Gore}

What was the purpose of the Electoral College? Founding Fathers wanted to control the desires of the masses [ordinary people]. Larger states have “more say” over who the president is because they have more electoral votes. Back up plan in case popular elections did not work.

Directions: Electoral College activity Using the political map on the next page do the following [Use the same sheet of paper as your APK/QOD]: [A] In the most efficient [easiest, fastest] way possible target the least number of states to gain a minimum of 270 electoral votes. [B] Write each state’s abbreviation and number of electoral votes. Purpose: To realize how a presidential candidate can win an election but still receive less popular votes.

Adding the votes activity

Sources ates/electorl.gif ates/electorl.gif if&imgrefurl if&imgrefurl _bush.jpg _bush.jpg cleveland.jpg cleveland.jpg her.dynasties/benjamin-harrison.jpg her.dynasties/benjamin-harrison.jpg dB.jpg dB.jpg shot_Black_and_white.JPG