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Electoral College

Electoral College. How the President is ACTUALLY chosen. Why Electoral College? WHY???. Framers distrusted voters most voters relatively uneducated Framers want elite to actually select the president Presumably better-informed Choose people with actual political knowledge/experience.

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Electoral College

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  1. Electoral College How the President is ACTUALLY chosen

  2. Why Electoral College? WHY??? • Framers distrusted voters • most voters relatively uneducated • Framers want elite to actually select the president • Presumably better-informed • Choose people with actual political knowledge/experience “It would be as unnatural to refer the choice . . . to the people as it would to refer a trial of colours to a blind man.”-George Mason

  3. What’s the Electoral College? WHAT??? • Each state allotted number of electors based on total number of Representatives and Senators • MN = 8 Reps + 2 Sens or 10 electoral votes • Electors are individuals chosen by each party in each state • Usually a “reward” for faithful service • NOT the Reps and Sens themselves • Electors meet and cast ballots (one each for Prez and Vice Prez) in December, to be counted in January when new Congressional Session opens

  4. Electoral College Particulars cont’d • A candidate needs a true majority (not a plurality) to win the Electoral College outright • 435 Reps + 100 Senators + 3 votes for DC = 538 votes, thus a majority is at least 270 Electoral Votes • If no candidate has a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the President based on one vote per state, Senate chooses Vice President with each Senator casting a ballot

  5. Still more Electoral College Particulars • Each state has power to determine how to distribute electoral votes • 48 states  winner-take-all • Maine and Nebraska  proportional allocation • 2 Electoral votes allotted to overall winner, other votes divided based on who won each district. • Occasionally this happens elsewhere – “faithless electors”

  6. A look at some historical elections . . . • 1800 – 36 ballots in the House • 1860 – Lincoln – note the divided nation • 1912 – Impact of “Third Parties” • 1932 – Impact of Great Depression • 1972 – Huge Landslide – Nixon • 2000 – most recent popular-vote loser • 2004 – “Oops” in Minnesota • Examples snipped from: http://www.100bestwebsites.org/alt/evmaps/electoral-maps.htm

  7. 1800 – T-Jeff’s squeaker Electors cast two ballots each, most votes would be Prez, 2nd most VP. Jefferson’s electors ALL cast their second ballots for Aaron Burr resulting in a tie. It took the House 36 votes to finally choose Jefferson

  8. 1860 – A Nation Divided

  9. 1912 – Bull Mooses butt heads with Republicans Taft OR Roosevelt likely could have won; Taft AND Roosevelt split the votes allowing Wilson to win

  10. 1932 – Republicans blamed for Depression Hoover didn’t cause the Depression, but it happened on his party’s watch. FDR reaps the rewards

  11. 1972 – Landslide win for R.M. Nixon Nixon’s re-election bid sweeps all but one state and DC. He would resign in August of ‘74 due to Watergate scandal

  12. 2000 – Gore and the Florida Nightmare Electoral College thrust back into public debate; why?

  13. 2004 – John Edwards probable only ever Presidential Electoral Vote Note the faithless elector voting for John Edwards in MN.

  14. Does the Electoral College need fixin’? • Keep in mind, only 4 times in nation’s history has the popular vote winner not won the presidency • What are some possible reforms? • What benefits might each offer? • What are some obstacles to reform? • Here’s another example if we have time…

  15. Imagine if you will… • The world welcomes a new nation called Giesenstan!! • Giesenstan’s leaders think America is pretty much the bee’s knees, and thus they adopt a virtually identical Constitution. • This includes the electoral college and its winner-take-all application

  16. GIESENSTAN!!! StinksburgPop: 300,000 New Belle PlainePop: 100,000 DorksylvaniaPop: 450,000 SpungoPop: 50,000

  17. Table of data

  18. Election #1 • The first election in Giesenstan history pits Giesen against rival Norman for the presidency. Here are the results: • Which candidate will win the most POPULAR VOTES? • Which candidate will win the most ELECTORAL VOTES? • Who wins: Norman – 500,000 votes [Giesen – 400,000 votes] Giesen – 8 Electoral Votes [Norman – 7 Electoral Votes] GIESEN!!!

  19. Following that election… • Giesen, being a ruthless despot, annexes some neighboring territory and establishes a 5th state ChumpshirePop: 50,000

  20. Election 2! • Norman challenges Giesen’s re-election bid! • Which candidate will win the most POPULAR VOTES? • Which candidate will receive the most ELECTORAL VOTES? Norman – 550,000 votes [Giesen – 400,000 votes] TRICK QUESTION!!!! THEY’RE TIED!!! House of Reps, 1 vote per state So who has to decide? GIESEN!!! So who wins???

  21. See the problems? • Should the Electoral College remain? • If not? Why? What parts need fixing? How do we fix them? • If we should keep it, think about why!

  22. A Couple Fun/Awesome campaign ads – Dale Peterson gives a RIP! • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU7fhIO7DG0 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GabMEHfCjT0 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBAShu7PKcI

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