1. How do we elect the President of the United States?
Bell Work
How do we elect the President of the United States?

2. In Lak’ech by Luis Valdez
Tu eres me otro yo
Si te hago daño a ti,
Me hago daño a mi mismo
Si te amo y respeto
Me amo y respeto yo
You are my other me
If I do harm to you,
I do harm to myself
If I love and respect you
I love and respect myself

3. How do we elect the President of the United States?
Bell Work
How do we elect the President of the United States?

4. The Road to the White House
The Framers devised the Electoral College because they did not trust average person’s judgment.
Candidates often begin by forming a political action committee (PAC) for fundraising.
A candidacy is official when it is registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
After the primaries, each party nominates its candidate at the party nominating convention.
The candidates engage in a flurry of expensive campaigning before the general election.

5. Electoral College Crash Course - Video
What arguments do supporters make for keeping the Electoral College?
What role does the Electoral College play in national elections and determining the winner?
What are swing states, and why are they important?

6. Role of the Electoral College
538 Electors total
Each state gets as many electors as it has representatives in Congress
To be elected, a candidate needs 270 electoral votes (50% + 1 vote)
Most states have a winner-take-all system
Maine and Nebraska choose electors in each congressional district. The winner of the state’s popular vote getthe 2 statewide electors
If no candidate wins 270 electoral college votes, the House of Representatives chooses the winner from the top 3 candidates
Each state gets one vote
26 votes needed to win

7. Electoral College Issues
As a winner-take-all system, a candidate could lose the popular vote yet win the electoral vote.
A strong third-party candidate could prevent anyone from receiving a majority of the votes.
If the election falls to the House, there are more issues of concern.
Several ideas have been suggested for reforming or eliminating the Electoral College system.

8. Electoral College Map

9. The chief justice administers the oath of office.
The Inauguration
The new president takes office at noon on January 20 in the year following the presidential election.
The chief justice administers the oath of office.
The new president gives an inaugural address.

10. Reflection
Do you think Arizona should adopt National Popular Vote legislation? Why or why not?