1. The U.S. Electoral College

2. Rationale
It is important for students to be aware of the importance of the Electoral College and its function. They must also understand why it was created and how the Electoral College affects Presidential Campaigns.

3. Objectives
1) list the primary reasons that the Electoral College was created
2) list the drawbacks of the Electoral College
3) Discuss, in a knowledgeable manner, whether the Electoral College is still needed to elect the President

4. What do the following four men all have in common?
A. Andrew Jackson
B. Samuel Tilden
C. Grover Cleveland
D. Al Gore

5. The Answer
They all won the popular vote in a Presidential election but did not become President.

6. 1824 Popular Vote Andrew Jackson 43% John Q. Adams 30.5%
Electoral Vote
Jackson 99 votes
Adams
* Adams elected by House of Representatives when Jackson did not receive a majority of the Electoral votes

7. 1876 Popular Vote Samuel Tilden 51% R. B. Hayes 48% Electoral College
Winner: Hayes

8. 1888 Popular Vote Grover Cleveland 48.5 % Benjamin Harrison 47.8 %
Electoral College
Cleveland
Harrison
Winner: Harrison

9. 2000 Popular Vote Albert Gore 48.7% George W. Bush 48.5%
Electoral College
Gore
Bush
Winner: Bush

10. Why?
Because we do not pick our President by direct ballot. Technically, we only select electors. These electors form what is called the Electoral College and are the people who officially elect the President.

11. Why was it Created?
Belief by those at the Constitutional Convention that thePeople were not knowledgeable enough to select a President.
This was a check that gave the states a voice in choosing the President
To maintain regional balance

12. What are the drawbacks to the Electoral College?
Encourages low voter turnout
Diminishes third party influence
Person with most popular votes may not win
If there is no majority winner in the Electoral College, the election goes to the H.o. R and there is a loss of separation of powers

13. Why low voter turnout?
The Electoral College is a winner take all system of deciding who receives a states electoral votes. Consequently, if a person gets 50.1% of the popular vote (in a two man race), he get 100% of the electoral votes. Therefore, many people feel that their vote does not matter and choose to not vote.

14. Third Parties
The Electoral College discourages 3rd parties because a candidate must have a broad based, national platform to have a chance to gain the highest office. Rarely are 3rd parties financially and politically able to do this.

16. In-Class Activity
Look at the electoral map on the previous slide, If you were running for President with limited money and could only focus on a few states, where would you focus your campaign?
List in order the sates you would need to win the Presidency

17. Unit Question
Is the Electoral College a fair and democratic method of choosing the President? Or is it fair but not democratic? Or vice versa?