The Electoral College Content-Area Vocabulary amendment a law or statement added to the Constitution or other document candidates those people running for political offices citizens members of a nation or community by birth or other means Constitution a document containing the laws written to show how the United States government would be formed elected selected by voters for an office or position Electoral College the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice president electoral votes votes cast in the Electoral College by the electors Vocabulary Extension Activities Have students create political cartoons that show whether they agree or disagree with having an Electoral College. They should use at least five vocabulary words somewhere on their cartoons, such as in their titles, in the words of the characters, or in their captions. Have students choose five vocabulary words. Then, ask them to write three examples for each of the words they chose. For example, if they chose candidates, they could write the names of any three current candidates. electors citizens who are chosen to vote in the Electoral College for the president and vice president of the United States popular vote the votes cast by the public or citizens of a nation presidential elections elections in which the country decides on a president representatives people who represent others or certain parties 143 Shell Education
The Political College Background Information When voters go to the polls in November to vote for a president, they are really voting for electors. These electors are pledged to vote for certain candidates on the ballot. The number of electors in each state differs. The electors are the same number as the senators and representatives from each state. There are two senators from each state. But the number of representatives is based on a state s population. However, the District of Columbia, though not a state, gets three electors. The minimum number of electoral votes per state is three. In most of the states, the winner takes all of the electors. Whichever candidate gets the most votes in that state gets all of the electors. So, if a candidate wins Texas, he or she gets all of the electoral votes from Texas. The Electoral College then votes for the president and vice president. Each elector casts one vote. These votes are called electoral votes. All electors pledge to be honest and vote for the candidate for whom they promised to vote. The Electoral College was created in the Constitution. Some of the writers wanted Congress to elect the president. Others wanted the president to be chosen by the popular vote. The writers felt the Electoral College would be a compromise between the two ideas. The writers of the Constitution did not think the average citizens were smart enough to choose a president. So, they created electors. These electors were the educated upper class and they had the final vote. Many people do not like the Electoral College. However, it would not be easy to remove it from the election process. An amendment would have to be added to the Constitution. In order for that to happen, two-thirds of the House would have to approve the amendment. Then it would go to the Senate. Two-thirds of the Senate would also have to approve it. Finally, it would go to the voters. Three-fourths of all states would have to approve the amendment as well. That would be all but 13 states. There have been over 700 proposed amendments to get rid of the Electoral College, but all of them have failed. The Electoral College votes in December. The electors meet in their state capitols and cast their votes. The votes are then sent to Washington, D.C. On January 6, the votes are counted in Congress. The candidate that receives the majority of the electoral votes is elected president. It takes 270 electoral votes to win the presidential election. If there is no winner in the Electoral College, then the House of Representatives chooses the president. Four presidents have won the Electoral College even though they did not win the popular vote. John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Grover Cleveland, and George W. Bush all became president this way. 144 Shell Education
Mapping the Electoral College Primary Source Connection Primary Source Background Information This map shows the electoral votes projected for the 2008 elections. It states the number of electors each state has. There are a total of 538 electors, with a candidate needing 270 electoral votes to win. Shell Education 145
Primary Source Questions Mapping the Electoral College Primary Source Connection (cont.) 1. Which state has the most electoral votes? How many electoral votes does it get? Why does it have the most votes? 2. Which five states do you think are most important to the candidates? Why? 3. How can the states with fewer electoral votes affect an election? Primary Source Extension If you were in government, would you try to change the Electoral College? What plan would you develop to make it easier and/or better? Propose your own amendment that would allow the elections to be fair. Would you keep the Electoral College, but reform it? Or, would you try to get rid of it completely? Explain all of your ideas in the proposed amendment. 146 Shell Education
The Electoral College vs. the Popular Vote Directions: Is the Electoral College necessary? Or, should the popular vote be the final vote? Write at least five arguments for each idea under the headings below. Then, answer the questions on the next page. Supporting the Electoral College Supporting the Popular Vote Shell Education 147
The Electoral College vs. the Popular Vote (cont.) Graphic Organizer Questions Directions: Decide which idea you have the strongest argument for. Write a paragraph that convinces government leaders to either keep or get rid of the Electoral College. State your opinion at the beginning of the paragraph. Include at least three reasons to support your opinion. Restate your opinion in a different way when concluding the paragraph. 148 Shell Education
The Electoral College Comprehension Check Knowledge Write five words you have learned about the Electoral College. Include their meanings. Comprehension Create a children s book that explains the Electoral College. Application What questions would you ask a founding father about the Electoral College? List those questions. Then, write answers they might give to the questions. Analysis Which is more important: the Electoral College or the popular vote? Decide by creating a T-chart that shows the pros and cons of both. Synthesis Create an unusual way to show the process of the Electoral College to your classmates. Evaluation Have a debate with a partner. You are to defend the Electoral College, stating why it is necessary. Your partner must state reasons to eliminate it. Shell Education 149