ELECTING A PRESIDENT HOW THE FOUNDING FATHERS OR HOW THE FOUNDING FATHERS TOOK A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS AND MADE IT MORE COMPLICATED

2000 Presidential Election CANDIDATE POPULAR VOTE 50,462,412 51,009,810 WHO WON?

2000 Presidential Election CANDIDATE POPULAR VOTE 50,462,412 51,009,810 BUSH WON, OBVIOUSLY!

Popular Vote does not decide who wins the election Popular Vote does not decide who wins the election. Presidential Elections are decided by the ELECTORAL VOTE. WON POPULAR VOTE WON ELECTORAL VOTE

The 2000 Presidential election was decided by the state of Florida The 2000 Presidential election was decided by the state of Florida. FLORIDA POPULAR VOTE 2,912,790 BUSH 2,912,253 GORE 537 VOTE DIFFERENCE

The Founding Fathers, James Madison in particular, felt the average citizen was not intelligent enough to select a President. Instead the Founders decided the voters will vote for ELECTORS, who would then choose the President.

Election day is always held in November on the First Tuesday, after the First Monday, in years divisible by four. Wait, what? Why not make it just the First Tuesday? Complicated.

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS Every state is given electors equal to the number of the members they have in Congress. In the Senate representation is equal, each state having 2 SENATORS. In the House, representation is based on population. The more people the state has, the more representation they get.

In the 2000 Presidential election NJ had 15 members of Congress and 15 Electoral Votes. In the 2012 Presidential election New Jersey had 14 members of Congress and 14 Electoral Votes. Was NJ cheated between 2000 and 2012? What happened in between 2000 & 2012?

In the year 2012, New Jersey had their 2 SENATORS and 12 REPRESENTATIVES in the House. That’s a total of 14 members in CONGRESS. That also means New Jersey gets 14 ELECTORAL VOTES in the Electoral College. OBAMA 2,126,610 ROMNEY 1,478,749

California, the most populous state, has the most members of Congress, 55 in 2012. With 55 members in Congress and 55 Electoral Votes California wields a lot of power in the Electoral College. OBAMA 7,854,285 ROMNEY 4,839,958

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE The House of Representatives has 435 voting members. There are three non-voting members, for a total of 438. The Senate has 100 members. There are a total of 538 members of Congress, which means there are 538 Electoral Votes.

Since there are 538 Electoral Votes and a candidate needs to get a simple majority, how many votes must a candidate receive in order to become President? What is the MAGIC NUMBER???

Since there are 538 Electoral Votes and a candidate needs to get a simple majority, how many votes must a candidate receive in order to become President? In order to be elected President of the United States, a candidate must receive a minimum of 270 electoral Votes.

Since there are 538 Electoral Votes and a candidate needs to get a simple majority, how many votes must a candidate receive in order to become President? In order to be elected President of the United States, a candidate must receive a minimum of 270 electoral Votes. 2000 Electoral Vote Count: Bush = 271 Gore = 266

2012 Presidential Election CANDIDATE POPULAR VOTE ELECTORAL VOTE 65,918,507 332 60,934,407 206

CAN THERE BE A TIE? 538 Electoral Votes available. 2 Candidates running and trying to get them. Can they tie? Have any tied? Who becomes President? Vice President? Who decides? Who cares? I DO.

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED

The US CONSTITUTION states that should The US CONSTITUTION states that should there be a tie in the Electoral College the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES will decide the PRESIDENT and the SENATE will decide the VICE PRESIDENT. Each state gets 1 Vote.

ELECTION OF 1800 Presidency decided in the House of Reps. Jefferson received 10 votes. Aaron Burr received 4 votes. Jefferson is President, Burr is Vice President.

BE PART OF THE DECISION