1. A candidate can become president of the United States by securing the electoral votes of the 11 states with the most electoral votes. To the best of your ability, make a list of these states.

2. A candidate can become president of the United States by securing the electoral votes of the 11 states with the most electoral votes. To the best of your ability, make a list of these states.
California (55 Electoral Votes)
Texas (34 Electoral Votes)
New York (31 Electoral Votes)
Florida (27 Electoral Votes)
Pennsylvania (21 Electoral Votes)
Illinois (21 Electoral Votes)
Ohio (20 Electoral Votes)
Michigan (17 Electoral Votes)
New Jersey (15 Electoral Votes)
North Carolina (15 Electoral Votes)
Georgia (15 Electoral Votes)
TOTAL 271 Electoral Votes

3. The Electoral Process
Essential Question: How is the President of the United States elected to that office?

4. The Electoral Process (Using Election 2008 as an Example)
Many Democrats seek their party’s nomination
Campaigns & Debates
Candidates “Throw Their Hat Into The Ring”
Many Republicans seek their party’s nomination
Campaigns & Debates

5. The Electoral Process (Using Election 2008 as an Example)
Many Democrats seek their party’s nomination
Campaigns & Debates
Primaries & Caucuses
Primaries & caucuses held in each state
Iowa holds the 1st caucus (Jan. 3, 2008)
New Hampshire holds the 1st primary (Jan. 8, 2008)
Candidates “Throw Their Hat Into The Ring”
Many Republicans seek their party’s nomination
Campaigns & Debates
Primaries & Caucuses

6. Is our current method of nomination fair?B.

7. The Electoral Process (Using Election 2008 as an Example)
Many Democrats seek their party’s nomination
Campaigns & Debates
Primaries & Caucuses
Obama secures the nomination
Primaries & caucuses held in each state
Iowa holds the 1st caucus (Jan. 3, 2008)
New Hampshire holds the 1st primary (Jan. 8, 2008)
Candidates “Throw Their Hat Into The Ring”
Many Republicans seek their party’s nomination
Campaigns & Debates
Primaries & Caucuses
McCain secures the nomination

8. The Electoral Process (Using Election 2008 as an Example)
Many Democrats seek their party’s nomination
Campaigns & Debates
Primaries & Caucuses
Obama secures the nomination
Obama selects Biden as his running mate
Primaries & caucuses held in each state
Iowa holds the 1st caucus (Jan. 3, 2008)
New Hampshire holds the 1st primary (Jan. 8, 2008)
Candidates “Throw Their Hat Into The Ring”
Many Republicans seek their party’s nomination
Campaigns & Debates
Primaries & Caucuses
McCain selects Palin as his running mate
McCain secures the nomination

9. The Electoral Process (Using Election 2008 as an Example)
Convention held in Denver (Aug. 25 – 28, 2008)
Parties Hold National Conventions
Develop the party platform
Speeches are given in support of the nominee (a pep rally)
Delegates vote & the nominee is officially announced
Convention held in Minnesota (Sept. 1 – 4, 2008)

10. The Electoral Process (Using Election 2008 as an Example)
Convention held in Denver (Aug. 25 – 28, 2008)
Parties Hold National Conventions
Develop the party platform
Speeches are given in support of the nominee (a pep rally)
Delegates vote & the nominee is officially announced
Candidates campaign against each other and debate the issues
Convention held in Minnesota (Sept. 1 – 4, 2008)

11. The Electoral Process (Using Election 2008 as an Example)
Convention held in Denver (Aug. 25 – 28, 2008)
General Election
1st Tues. after the 1st Mon. in Nov. (Nov. 4, 2008)
The “popular vote” is conducted
Eligible citizens vote for the “electors” for Obama & McCain
Parties Hold National Conventions
Develop the party platform
Speeches are given in support of the nominee (a pep rally)
Delegates vote & the nominee is officially announced
Candidates campaign against each other and debate the issues
Convention held in Minnesota (Sept. 1 – 4, 2008)

12. The Electoral Process (Using Election 2008 as an Example)
Obama: 69,456,897 Popular Votes
Convention held in Denver (Aug. 25 – 28, 2008)
General Election
1st Tues. after the 1st Mon. in Nov. (Nov. 4, 2008)
The “popular vote” is conducted
Eligible citizens vote for the “electors” for Obama & McCain
Parties Hold National Conventions
Develop the party platform
Speeches are given in support of the nominee (a pep rally)
Delegates vote & the nominee is officially announced
Candidates campaign against each other and debate the issues
McCain: 59,934,814 Popular Votes
Convention held in Minnesota (Sept. 1 – 4, 2008)

13. The Electoral Process (Using Election 2008 as an Example)
Obama: 365 Electoral Votes
Electoral College Votes
1st Mon. after the 2nd Wed. in December (Dec. 15, 2008)
Electors vote at their respective state capitols
Must receive 270 votes to win
Usually just a formality, the results are not in doubt
McCain: 173 Electoral Votes

14. 2008 Presidential Election
McCain: 173 Electoral Votes
Obama: 365 Electoral Votes

15. The Electoral Process (Using Election 2008 as an Example)
Obama: 365 Electoral Votes
Electoral College Votes
1st Mon. after the 2nd Wed. in December (Dec. 15, 2008)
Electors vote at their respective state capitols
Must receive 270 votes to win
Usually just a formality, the results are not in doubt
Inauguration
Occurs Jan. 20 at 12:00 (noon)
Sworn-in by the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
McCain: 173 Electoral Votes

16. Why did the “Framers” create the Electoral College system?

17. Is the Electoral College system still necessary?

18. Change the method by which we choose a president because…
The system favors states with large populations, so small states are ignored by presidential candidates.
The winner-take-all aspect hinders 3rd parties b/c it is very unlikely that independents & 3rd party candidates will win any states.
The popular vote winner can lose the election, thus thwarting the will of the majority.
Although rare, a “faithless elector” can violate their pledge to vote for a specific candidate…it’s undemocratic.
The system was created b/c the citizenry was largely illiterate & uninformed in the late 1700s…this is no longer the case.

19. Keep the method by which we choose a president because…
A close popular vote can result in a landslide electoral victory, giving the appearance that the president-elect has the overwhelming support of the people…a “mandate”.
The state-by-state results simplify the recount procedures, rather than requiring a nation-wide recount.
The requirement of 270 electoral votes in order to win, forces a candidate to appeal to a broad group of voters.
The system has worked well for over 200 years and should not be tampered with.

20. Summarizer: Word Splash Each of the items below have had some significance regarding our discussion of the Electoral College. Use each in a word splash. Write in complete sentences and underline each word as you use it.
Popular Vote
Electoral Vote
Primaries and Caucuses
General Election
Inauguration
Debates