The Electoral College  The United States DOES NOT directly elect a president: voters choose electors who vote in the ELECTORAL COLLEGE  The Framers of the Constitution were afraid to give the people the direct power to choose the president  Each state votes in the Electoral College:  Total Number of Representatives in the House + 2 Senators = Number of Votes in the Electoral College

Simple Math  Maryland has 8 Members of Congress + 2 Senators = 10 Electoral Votes  California has 53 Members of Congress + 2 Senators = ____ Electoral Votes  New York has ____ Members of Congress + 2 Senators = 29 Electoral Votes  Every state and D.C. will have at least 3 votes in the Electoral College

The Magic Number  There are 538 votes in the Electoral College  270 Electoral Votes WINS!  Just like a scavenger hunt, you will have to put together an electoral map that gets you at least 270 votes in the Electoral College! BUT you will have some help…as candidates you have an electoral base to build on!

Red vs. Blue Red StatesBlue States  Red States: These are states that tend to vote Republican. They generally don’t have to worry about campaigning there! (Sometimes called the Republican L)  Blue States: These are states that tend to vote Democratic. They generally don’t have to worry about campaigning there!

Battleground States  Battleground States: Sometimes called “Swing States” or “Purple States” they swing between Democratic and Republican candidates.  Traditionally these are the states that decide who wins a presidential election!

270 to Win For the Electoral CollegeAgainst the Electoral College  Protects federalism: ensures that the smaller states have representation  Forces candidates to concentrate on states other than the most populated  It works: winning presidential candidates tend to get at least 300 votes!  Gives the smaller states disproportionate power  A vote in a red state or blue state is arguably worth less than a battleground state  Candidates sometimes win the electoral majority and not a popular majority

Why it Works  Since 1960, winning candidates tend to get at least 300 electoral votes. This makes Bush’s elections (271 Electoral Votes and 286 Electoral Votes) in 2000 and 2004 an anomaly!  Kennedy – 303  Johnson – 486  Nixon – 301, 520  Carter – 297  Reagan – 489, 525  Bush 41 – 426  Clinton – 370, 379  Bush 43 – 271, 286  Obama – 365, 332  Mr. Staten – 390, 458

Why it Works  There have been 57 presidential elections in U.S. History  Only 4 times has a candidate lost the popular vote and won an electoral majority  The Electoral College has a success rate of 92.85%