1. The Electoral College
LCC

2. Creation
The Electoral College was created at the Constitutional Convention by the Founding Fathers
It was the last of many plans adopted in 1787 in Philadelphia

3. Major Changes Through the Years
12th Amendment-1804-Separated the candidacy of the President and the Vice-President
Popular election of electors in the 1820’s & 30’s

4. The Mechanics
The Presidential Election should be viewed as 51 separate elections each with a “winner take all” system
To win a candidate must get a majority of 538 votes or 270
Each state is represented in the EC according to their total number of members of Congress

5. The Mechanics Cont’d
Kentucky has 2 senators and 6 representatives. This means that Kentucky has 8 electoral votes
California, the most populous state, has two senators and 52 representatives. This gives California 54 electoral votes
Wyoming, the least populous state, has two senators and 1 representative. This gives Wyoming 3 electoral votes

8. Total Votes in 2000 Election:
Bush 50,461,092 total votes
(47.9%)
271 Electoral Votes
Gore 50,994,086 total votes
(48.4%)
266 Electoral Votes
Nader 2,882,728 total votes
(2.7%)
0 Electoral College Votes 8

9. 9

10. 10

11. The Mechanics Cont’d
The total electoral vote of 538 is based on 100 senators, 435 representatives for the 50 states. The 23rd Amendment gave Washington, DC 3 electoral votes
The candidates compete in 50 states and DC for electoral votes and the winner must have at least 270
The Electoral College always works when there are only two candidates

12. The Mechanics Cont’d
If there are more than two candidates, the system might not work
If the system does not work, the House elects the President and the Senate elects the Vice-President. This has not happened since 1824.

13. What the Individual Vote Means
Individual votes count only in the state where they are cast
When all states have voted, the candidate with the most votes in each state gets all the electoral votes of that state
In December, following the November Election, the winning electors in each state go to their respective state capitals and cast their votes and send them to Congress

14. Electoral College Delegates
The delegates are chosen by the political parties in each state
Historically, the delegates have been 99.9% loyal to their party
After the combined votes in 50 states and DC are counted by a joint session of Congress, the election is official

15. Disadvantages of the Electoral College System
Complex
The person with the most votes may not win

16. Advantages
Preserves the federal system-winning individual states is important. Without the EC, state lines mean nothing
Preserves the two party system
Keeps our politics moderate-extreme parties have little chance of winning any state

17. Advantages
Protects minorities-they form the balance of power in most states and can’t be ignored. Without the EC, one could develop a program just for the white urban middle class and win. (If you want David Duke, the KKK man from Louisiana as President or some other extremist, then abolish the Electoral College and go for all popular vote and you may get such a person.)

18. Conclusion
The system is not likely to change because of the difficulty of amending the Constitution
Why fix it if it is not broken?

19. What is the advantage that small states have in the current system that would make those states not want to change it?
Describe the arguments for and against the Electoral College. Which arguments seem the weakest? Strongest?