1. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Mr. Lawrence American Gov’t

2. The Original System: Electoral College  In Article II, Section I of the Constitution establishes the Electoral College:  Each state has as many Electoral College votes as they do Representatives and Senators.  The Electors would meet and cast a vote for two Presidential candidates  States could choose to hold a popular vote or not  The One who received the most votes became President and second place was VP

3. Elections Today  The Electoral College is still used today however, now every state has a popular vote.  Each state has as many electoral votes as they do Senators and Representatives however they now have a winner takes all policy  There are 538 Electoral votes  A candidate will need 270 of these votes to win the election

4. The Birth of Political Parties  Grew in Power at the end of George Washington’s Presidency  Washington warned that these new Parties would Destroy American Democracy  These parties would support a Presidential Candidate helping him campaign  In return the Presidential Candidate was expected to advance the Parties Ideology.

5. Problems with the Modern Election System  Winner Takes All  Third Party Candidates  Election by the House  Popular Vote  Uneducated Voters