The Executive Branch #3 The Electoral College

Elects Pres & VP Indirect election created by Framers

How does it work? Each state has electoral votes = # of Congress members – CA: 2 S + 53 HR = 55 Electoral Votes – WY: 2 S + 1 HR = 3 Electoral Votes 23 rd Amendment: Washington DC given 3 electoral votes Total = 538 Electoral Votes

Each State’s Electoral Votes If you are running for president which states will you focus your campaign on?

To Win! 270 (majority) is required to win the presidency If no one reaches 270 or there is a tie: – HR members pick the pres – Each state in HR is given 1 vote – –

Winner Takes All In most states the winner of the popular vote receives all of that states electoral votes In Colorado – 54% Obama – 45% McCain – Winner, Obama, takes all 9 EV In Florida in 2000 – Bush has a few hundred more popular votes than Gore, wins all the electoral votes & election

Why do we have it? Tradition Medium size states love it! – Ohio, Pennsylvania and other medium sized, competitive states become all important in the general election – swing states or battleground states – Spreads out candidate’s attention – To amend the Const need 3/4 of states to agree

More reasons to keep the EC Usually it works! The winner of the popular vote generally wins the electoral college

Let’s get rid of it! Popular vote winner is not always the electoral college winner – Not in 2000 – Last time it “failed” was in the late 1800s

More reasons to end the EC Large states are ignored in general election CA, TX, NY are virtually ignored – why? More confusing than direct elections Faithless Elector HR could decide election

Should we amend the Constitution to remove the Electoral College and replace it with direct elections?

Silent Debate! Explain 2 reasons for your assigned position Trade papers Respond / debate with the arguments