 The framers of the Constitution disagreed on how to elect a present-Congressional selection or direct popular vote election?  The electoral college was a compromise.  Framers believed the every day man was not knowledgeable enough to select a President (poor communications)  This was a check that gave the states a voice in choosing the President  To maintain regional balance

 “Each state shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States shall be appointed an Elector.”

 The process varies throughout the United States.  Generally, the political parties nominate Electors at their State party conventions or by a vote of the party’s central committee in each State. Each candidate will have their own unique slate of potential Electors as a result of this part of the selection process.  Electors are often chosen to recognize service and dedication to their political party. They may be State-elected officials, party leaders, or persons who have a personal or political affiliation with the Presidential candidate.  All states but Maine and Nebraska use a winner takes all approach.

 Number of Electors per state = number of Representatives in the House + 2 Senators  Total: 435 House members Senators + 3 electors for the District of Columbia = 538

 There is no Constitutional or Federal law that requires Electors to vote according to the results of the popular vote in their States.  Some States, however, require Electors to cast their votes according to the popular vote.  These pledges fall into two categories— Electors bound by State law and those bound by pledges to political parties.

 General election: 1 st Tuesday after the 1 st Monday in November.  On Monday following the 2 nd Wednesday of December, each State’s Electors meet to cast their votes, one for president and one for vice president, in their state capitals.  On January 6 th, President of the Senate (the Vice President) opens and reads the votes before Congress.  Winner needs 270 Electoral votes to win.

 No majority? The U.S. House of Representatives selects the President from the top 3 candidates. and the Senate chooses the Vice President.  Each state casts one vote. A majority of the states is needed to win.  Occurred in 1824 when Congress chose John Quincy Adams (lost popular vote) over Andrew Jackson and William Crawford.  Noon, January 20 th, newly elected President and Vice President are sworn into office.  register/electoral-college/about.html register/electoral-college/about.html

 Rutherford B. Hayes over Samuel Tilden  Benjamin Harrison over Grover Cleveland  George W. Bush over Al Gore-2000 

1.Brainstorm arguments For and Against this system. 2. Read the opinion piece. 3. Highlight key arguments for or against the Electoral College. Be prepared to argue your case with your neighbor!

 Ensures the states play a role in the election of a president.  Makes candidates spend time campaigning in both big and smaller cities within a key state.  Very close elections, recounts will be confined to a state, rather than across the country

 Winner of Electoral College might not be the candidate who received the most in the popular vote.  Direct elections are seen as more consistent with the principles of our government.  Candidates would have to campaign across the country vs. within key states.

 Quickwrite: Do you think the Electoral College is a fair way to elect the United States President? Explain your response.