1. Electoral College

2. To protect from manipulation- people vote
To maintain states’ right- people vote per state

3. Federalist #68- Hamilton, you’re a genius
Click HERE to read it in its entirety, or just my summary:
The Founders so greatly feared the tyranny of the majority, that they rejected the idea of a direct vote for President, in favor of the Electoral College.

4. What type of Government are we?
Pick the one that doesn’t belong…
Republic
Federal
Constitutional
Presidential
Representative Democracy
Direct Democracy
Oh, that’s right, we discussed the first week about having a direct Democracy and all of YOU told ME that it was an unrealistic idea and in a way, actually a bad idea…
Well, the Founders thought so too.
We have never been a pure, majority wins, direct democracy. Instead, our system was founded on being a representative democracy, including during elections!
Let’s think back to all the reasons YOU told me that being a direct Democracy was bad:

5. What did we learn back in unit one about the foundations of a democracy?
Majority Rules, minority rights
Equality of persons (civil rights)
Individual freedom (personal liberties)
Necessity of Compromise
Worth of the individual
Let’s talk about the first one on the list
In history, pure Democracies have not worked. Why? A simple majority (50% plus 1 vote) can tyrannize an entire country. Divide and conquer was history’s favorite game. I’d argue we’re in the throes of it right now!
What did the Founders establish in order to prevent this from happening? (next slide)

6. What was established to prevent tyranny of the majority?
Separation of Powers (3 branches of the National Government)
A bicameral Congress (small state and large state compromise)
Supermajority in Congress AND ¾ of the states in order to amend the U.S. Constitution
Federalism
Oh… that’s right…the Electoral College

7. Does anyone even know how it works?
Stage one in November
purely democratic popular vote
Follows the principal of Federalism
51 State run elections for the President of the United States (plus D.C.)
Stage two in December
538 electors from each state and D.C. cast their vote for President based on YOUR direct vote in November.
270 Electoral votes are needed to win the Presidency
This also follows Federalism… now it’s the federal government’s turn!
Well, I’ll tell you; like most other parts of our Democracy, it happens in two phases to protect the minority from the majority
Is it for the President?
No, the popular vote is a DIRECT vote for either the Republican or Democratic slate of Electors.
You still get a direct vote in the Electoral College, just not for the President
Why is this system important?
This encourages coalition building and national campaigning
In order to get to 270, the nominee must earn the support of many different types of voters, from various regions of the country
Cannot win election from just the south, Midwest, etc.
Isn’t it really just about swing states?
Nope! That would imply a set of swing states that is constant, but they are constantly changing
No political party can ignore any state for too long, or its allegiance will flip! LOOK AT WISCONSIN PICTURE

8. Basically our current system, except Maine (4 electoral votes- 2 Congressional Districts) and Nebraska (5 Electoral Votes and 3 Congressional Districts

9. Popular Vote Pros Cons One person, one vote
Eliminates faithless electors from the electoral college

10. “Swing” States
Florida
Ohio
Pennsylvania

11. Do the maps look different in “safe” states?
Texas
Minnesota
New York
Illinois

14. 2016 Results Using Congressional District Method
Clinton-261
Trump-260
Johnson-12
Stein-1
McMullin-1

16. Which problem is worse, the EC or Voter Turnout?

17. What’s the conclusion? There isn’t one
Before you passionately fight for or against the Electoral College, get to really understand the pros and cons of each potential system
Understand that eliminating the Electoral College will not eliminate problems, it will create new problems
Which problems are best for ALL of our systems, not just democracy
Which problems are best for ALL foundations of a democracy, not just one of the five
ALL of our systems:
Republic
Federal
Constitutional
Presidential
Representative Democracy
ALL parts of Democracy:
Majority Rules, minority rights
Equality of persons (civil rights)
Individual freedom (personal liberties)
Necessity of Compromise
Worth of the individual
Finally, the ultimate questions, would you want to get rid of the Electoral College if Republicans begin to out number Democrats?

18. Other Options to Create “fair” Elections
Get rid of the two-step system
Automatically register citizens at 18-years-old
True access
No voter ID laws
If you are still a citizen, you still vote (felons and those living abroad and in the territories)
Allow Third Party Candidates to participate in debates
Close loopholes in Campaign Finance Laws
Overturn Citizens United???
Initiate Alternate Vote
Will help Third Party candidates
Gets it of strategic voting and allow voters to rank candidates from first to last choice