1. Electoral College Just the Facts: Good, bad, and confusing…
Directions:
Watch videos
Take down any notes!
Read “You can get to know the electoral College”
Answer questions
Be ready to discuss!

2. Why the Electoral College?
Three Reasons why the framers of the Constitution wanted an electoral college:
Equality – balanced between big states and small states (population)
Fear – general public wasn’t educated enough to cast adequate votes
Knowledge - No way for people to know about candidates from other places (no media!)

3. How does the College Work?
The Representatives and Senators in your state make up your Electoral Votes
Total of 538 electoral votes
(435 Reps, 3 from DC and 100 Sen)
Based on the popular vote
“Winner Takes All”

5. 270 To Win
Candidate must win majority of electoral votes to win presidency (270)
IF THERE IS A TIE – House of Representatives votes. Each state has 1 vote
IF the candidate wins the POPULAR VOTE but not the ELECTORAL VOTE they DO NOT become President

6. Near Failures of System?
1888
Harrison won electoral college with 233 votes to Cleveland’s 168 votes
2000
- Al Gore received 539,947 more popular votes. Bush won with 271 EC votes to Gore’s 266
1800
- T Jefferson & Aaron Burr (same party) each had 73 electoral votes
1876
- Rutherford B. Hayes lost the popular election to Samuel Tilden (48% to 51%)

7. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Electoral Process
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

8. Money and Elections Money is a necessary campaign resource
The getting and spending of $ can corrupt the political process

9. Private and Public Sources of Campaign Money
Sources of Funding
Private and Public Sources of Campaign Money
Nonparty groups such as PACs (Political Action Committees) Ex: Priorities USA or Restore Our Future
Small contributors
Wealthy supporters
Temporary fund-raising organizations (direct mail requests, telethons, Internet solicitations)
Candidates Ross Perot - $65 Million

11. Why do people donate? Political participation
Believe in party or candidate
Access to government
Want appoint to office
Social recognition
Organizations want things done

12. FEC regulates campaign finance
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces:
Timely disclosure of campaign finance information
Limits on campaign contributions
Limits on campaign expenditures
Provisions for public funding of presidential campaigns

14. Loopholes in the law “More loophole than law…” —Lyndon Johnson
Soft money—money given to State and local party organizations for “party-building activities”
Independent campaign spending—a person unrelated and unconnected to a candidate or party can spend as much money as they want to benefit or work against candidates
Issue ads—take a stand on certain issues in order to criticize or support a certain candidate without actually mentioning that person’s name.

15. PUBLIC OPINION

16. What is public opinion?
Public opinion: attitudes held by a significant number of people on matters of government and politics.
Formation of Public Opinion:
Family
Education
Mass Media
Peer Groups
Opinion Leaders
Historic Events

17. How Do We Measure Public Opinion?
There are a variety of means to “measure” public opinion but not all are accurate.
Examples:
Elections
The Media
Interest Groups
Polls
Personal contacts

18. The role of Mass Media Influence of television
Media has the power to get the public to focus on a certain issue
TYPES OF MEDIA?
Influence of television
Power of Political Parties/CAMPAIGNS:
less dependent on party organizations
More image conscious and less focused on complex policy debates
Limits on media influence?

19. Interest Groups: private organizations
members share views and work to shape public policy
exist to shape public policy

20. Types of Interest Groups
economic
Noneconomic
Business
Labor
Professional Association
Public Interest
Single Issue
Ideological
Government

21. Functions of Interest Groups
raise awareness of issues that concern the people at large
represent people who share attitudes rather than those who share geography
provide specialized information to government agencies and legislators
political participation
keep tabs on various public agencies and officials

22. Criticisms influence far out of proportion to their size or importance
difficult to tell who or how many people served by a group
do not always represent the views of the people they claim to speak for
groups HAVE useD tactics such as bribery, threats, and so on.

23. Propaganda
technique of persuasion aimed at influencing individual or group behaviors
goal is to create a particular belief which may be true or false
disregards information that does not support its conclusion
presents only one side of an issue
often relies on name-calling and inflammatory labels.

24. Influencing Parties and Elections
Political Action Committees (PACs)
raise and distribute money to candidates who further THEIR goals

25. Lobbying
ACTIVITY by which a group pressures legislators and influences the legislative process
SEEN IN THE legislature, government agencies, executive branch, and even the courts
Nearly all important organized interest groups maintain lobbyists in Washington, D.C.

27. Bell Ringer
Define Public Opinion. What do you believe has the largest impact on this?

28. Exit Ticket How many electoral votes does a candidate need to win?
What are the benefits and drawbacks to using this in elections? (List 2 each)

29. Bell ringer
What are five issues you believe to be the most important issues facing our government? List and explain why.

30. Issues Assignment Due NEXT class On a notebook piece of paper
Ask 2-3 adults in your life (Parent, Guardian, Boss, Teacher, etc.):
“What do you believe are the most important issues facing our government at the state and national level?
Have them explain WHY they think these are important issues

31. Mock Campaign Breakdown
Write down positives about the assignment
Things you liked, thought were interesting, want to know more about
Write down what should be improved
Tell me why you did not like this and how it can be improved