1. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Learning Objectives
Trace the history of the electoral college.
Describe the role of the electoral college in the presidential election process.
Evaluate the electoral college, assessing the validity of arguments offered by its critics and its defenders.
Describe and assess proposals for reforming the electoral college.
Assess the likelihood of electoral college reform.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
4/14/2017

2. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Key Terms
Electoral College
Electors
Political Legitimacy
Winner-Take-All Election System
Small State Bias
Direct Popular Election
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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3. LAST TOPIC… The Electoral College Article II, Section 1 Clause 3 12th Amendment
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Political Science Module Developed by PQE

4. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
True or False?
The candidate with the most votes is elected president.
Answer: Depends. Ask Al Gore.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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5. The 2000 Election The Popular Vote The Electoral Vote
Al Gore 50,996,039
George W. Bush 50,456,141
The Electoral Vote
George W. Bush 271
Al Gore 267
Oh yeah…
I love the
Electoral
College!
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6. Historical Background
The framers of the Constitution disagreed on how to elect a president—congressional selection or direct popular election.
The electoral college was a compromise, combining features of both approaches
*Role of President was/is so important, most framers thought that the people could not be trusted to elect President DIRECTLY (mob rule)
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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7. For Example… Fort Knox Fed. Res NY Manhattan
Presidential Candidate Promise – I will open up these two buildings and you can take out whatever you want!

8. Why issue?
Fort Knox
Fed. Res NY Manhattan
Used to store a large portion of United States official gold reserves and occasionally other precious items belonging or entrusted to the federal government
Ex: Manhattan - holds most of the US and in fact the world's supply of gold.
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9. The Electoral College and Federalism
Def: a system of government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and constituent political units (such as states or provinces).
The Electoral College and Federalism
The electoral college also reflects the federal nature of the Constitution
because it ensures that the States have a role in selecting the president.

10. Let’s take a intro look as to how this works…
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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11. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
State Electoral Votes
Each state is entitled to as many electoral votes as the sum of its representation in the U.S. House and Senate
Texas: House members (32 districts) plus 2 senators
= 34 electoral votes
Total: 435 House members plus 100 senators plus 3 electors for the District of Columbia = 538 electoral votes
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
4/14/2017

12. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Review Question
North Carolina has 13 U.S. representatives. How many electoral votes does the state have?
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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13. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Answer
North Carolina has 15 electoral votes. The formula is the number of U.S. senators, which is two for each state, plus the number of U.S. representatives.
= 15.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
4/14/2017

14. Electors
Def: Individuals selected in each state to officially cast that state’s electoral votes.
Framers anticipated that electors would be state leaders who would exercise good judgment.
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15. Electors
Today, party leaders select competing slates of electors who are typically long-time party activists.
Electors almost always vote for their party’s candidates (not law – but “penalized”)
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16. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
# of Electors can change
Electoral Map (2008) and (2012)
OBAMA
McCAIN
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Political Science Module Developed by PQE

17. Electors: 21, pledged to Barack Obama and Joe Biden:
PA and 2012
Electors: 21, pledged to Barack Obama and Joe Biden:
Lynne Abraham Philadelphia County
Christopher Lewis Chester County
John S. Brenner York County
Valerie McDonald-Roberts Allegheny County
Eileen Connell Dauphin County
Thomas McMahon Berks County
Kathi Cozzone Chester County
Robert Mellow Lackawanna County
John K. Fetterman Allegheny County
Michael A. Nutter Philadelphia County
William George Cumberland County
Corey D. O'Brien Lackawanna County
Patrick Gillespie Delaware County
Josh Shapiro Montgomery County
J. Richard Gray Lancaster County
Jack Wagner Allegheny County
Franco Harris Allegheny County
Michael J. Washo Lackawanna County
George Hartwick Dauphin County
Wendell Young, IV Montgomery County
Daylin Leach Montgomery County
Electors: 20, pledged to Barack Obama and Joe Biden
Mark L. Alderman Montgomery County
Cindy M. Bass Philadelphia County
Richard Bloomingdale Dauphin County
C. Kim Bracey York County
James R. Burn, Jr. Allegheny County
Jay Costa Allegheny County
Frank Dermody Allegheny County
Rich Fitzgerald Allegheny County
Penny Gerber Montgomery County
Amanda Green Hawkins Allegheny County
Vincent J. Hughes Philadelphia County
Susan Golden Jacobson Philadelphia County
Clifford B. Levine Allegheny County
Robert McCord Montgomery County
Michael Nutter Philadelphia County
Lazar M. Palnick Allegheny County
Roxanne G. Pauline Lackawanna County
Jose Rosado Lehigh County
Cynthia D. Shapira Allegheny County
Josh Shapiro Montgomery County

18. Michael A. Nutter Philadelphia County
Josh Shapiro Montgomery County
Michael A. Nutter Philadelphia County
Current Mayor of Philadelphia. Previous member of the Philadelphia City Council from the 4th district, and has served as the 52nd Ward Democratic Leader since 1990
House of Representatives to Currently serves as a member and Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.
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19. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Electoral Map (2012)
OBAMA
McCAIN
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Political Science Module Developed by PQE

20. Selection of Electors
All but two states use a winner-take-all statewide election system
ex: If Candidate A gets the most votes in a state, Candidate A gets the whole slate of electors.
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21. What about a split?  no majority
Selection of Electors
Maine (4) and Nebraska (5) award electors based on the statewide vote and the vote in each of the state’s congressional districts.
What about a split?  no majority
**the statewide winners have consistently swept all of the state’s districts.
Consequently, neither state has ever split its electoral votes. 
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22. Voters and Electors – How does it work…?
1) A Texan who votes for Bush in November
Really voting for a slate of electors pledged to cast the state’s electoral votes for Bush.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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23. The Real Election
2) In December, the electors gather in their respective state capitols to cast ballots for president and vice president.
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24. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
The Real Election
3) In January, Congress convenes, opens the ballots received from each state, and announces the official outcome.
See here
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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25. So, why do I even vote (does my vote count?)
Let’s take a look at three states…
North Carolina
Alaska
California
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26. What does these numbers mean for the candidates?
As a matter of campaign strategy  spend more time and money campaigning in the BIG states rather than SMALL states.
As a result – residents of big states tend to get more attention in presidential elections (so small states may feel left out and unimportant).
YET IN REALITY, EACH INDIVIDUAL VOTER HAS LESS INFLUENCE IN A BIG STATE THAN IN A SMALL STATE
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27. What if no one receives a majority?
To win, a candidate needs a majority, that is, 270 (1/2 of ) electoral votes.
If no candidate has a majority, the House selects the president from among the three presidential candidates with the most electoral votes. Each state delegation has one vote.
The Senate selects the vice president from the top two vice-presidential candidates.
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28. Criticisms of the Electoral College
The popular vote winner may lose the presidency (Bush and Gore )
Electors may vote for persons other than their party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates (not legally bound but…)
If no candidate receives a majority, Congress will pick the president and vice president.
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29. Do we really need the Electoral College?
The proponents of the electoral college believe that it conveys legitimacy to the winner in most closely fought presidential elections.
For example, Bill Clinton won 69 percent of the electoral vote in 1992 despite capturing only 43 % of the popular vote. The electoral college gave Clinton the appearance of the majority support necessary to be an effective president.
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30. But don’t forget Florida
The 2000 election demonstrated that the electoral college can sometimes undermine a president’s legitimacy. Because of the electoral college, the outcome of the national presidential election was in doubt for more than a month even though one candidate enjoyed a clear popular vote plurality nationwide. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually determined the outcome of the election by halting the vote count in Florida.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE

31. Proposals for Reform
Eliminate electors but still count electoral votes.
Ex: If President Obama wins PA by the popular vote, then he would AUTOMATICALLY receive PA’s 20 electoral votes
Advantage – Know right away & No human electoral vote (which could change from people’s vote)
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32. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Proposals for Reform
Select electors based on the proportion of the vote each candidate gets in each state.
This way, a candidate who come in second place in a state with 45% of the popular vote would receive 45% of the electoral votes from that state, instead of 0%. 
Advantage - would greatly increase voter turnout and the representation of all parties in a state.
It would also encourage candidates to campaign in all states rather than just those that are competitive.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
4/14/2017

33. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Proposals for Reform
Select electors by congressional districts with two electors chosen at large in each state.
This method divides electoral votes by district, allocating one vote to each district and using the remaining two as a bonus for the statewide popular vote winner
Disadvantage - would actually make candidates attention even more tunneled. There are normally anywhere from competitive swing states in any given election.
However, with this method, candidates would rather shift their focuses to competitive districts, the number of which would be small enough to further reduce the reach of presidential campaigns, promises and attention. 
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
4/14/2017

34. Proposals for Reform
Choose the president by direct popular election (Eliminate Electoral College).
This method would abolish the Electoral College and require each person to cast one vote for the candidate of their choice.
The candidate who receives the most votes nationwide would win the election, with or without a majority of the votes
PROBLEM - Well over half of the population lives east of the Mississippi river so in a popular vote they would overwhelm the rest of the country and there would be no reason for Californians to even go to the polls.

35. Critique of the Reforms
Critics attack some reforms for not going far enough.
Critics attack other reforms because of the danger that they would produce unintended bad consequences.
Too many elections decided by Congress.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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36. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Will Reform Happen?
Amending the Constitution is not easy.
The bill must pass both houses of the legislature, by a two-thirds majority in each. Once the bill has passed both houses, it goes on to the states.
This is the route taken by all current amendments
Small states would be opposed to reform because they benefit from the current system.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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37. Matching, Multiple Choice, and Completion
Any Questions?
Wednesday Test
Format – 60 points
Matching, Multiple Choice, and Completion
*Review Sheet
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38. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Review Question
If Michigan has 8 House of Representative members, how many Electoral Votes do they have total?
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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39. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Answer
If Michigan has 8 House of Representative members, how many Electoral Votes do they have total? 10 Electoral Votes = (8 H of R + 2 Senators)
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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40. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Review Question
Who are electors?
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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41. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Answer
They are individuals selected in each state to officially cast that state’s electoral votes.
Electors are typically long-time party activists who are selected by their state party organization as a reward for their loyalty to the party.
In most states, electors are officially pledged to support their party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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42. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Review Question
In all but 2 states, does it matter whether a candidate carries a state by a few votes or a lot of votes?
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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43. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Answer
No. A candidate receives all of a state’s electoral votes whether the candidate carries the state by one vote or a million votes.
In every state except Nebraska and Maine, the race is winner take all.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
4/14/2017

44. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Think About it…
Pretend you are explaining to your grandparents or little 8 year old sibling about the Electoral College. How would you explain it to them (in terms they can understand) or make an illustration?
2) Do you favor or oppose replacing the electoral college with a different system for selecting a president? Why or Why not?
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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45. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Review Question
What is the small state bias?
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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46. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Answer
The electoral college has a small state bias because every state gets at least three electoral votes regardless of its population. As a result, small states such as Alaska, Wyoming, and South Dakota enjoy a greater percentage of electoral votes than they would merit based strictly on population.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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47. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Review Question
Why would most Cuban American political leaders likely oppose replacing the electoral college with direct popular election?
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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48. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Answer
The electoral college gives Cuban Americans a disproportionate influence in national politics because of their concentration in the state of Florida, a state with a sizable number of electoral votes that is closely divided politically. Candidates for president cannot afford to ignore the political concerns of Cuban Americans because of their role in Florida elections.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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49. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Discussion Question
Why didn’t the 2000 election trigger a major effort to reform the electoral college?
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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50. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Discussion Question
How does the electoral college impact candidate strategy in presidential election campaigns?
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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51. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
Political Legitimacy
Political legitimacy is the popular acceptance of a government and its officials as rightful authorities in the exercise of power.
Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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52. Political Science Module Developed by PQE
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