1. Electoral College

2. Random Trivia Who was the first to use a campaign photo of himself shirtless? Who was the first to use a campaign photo of himself shirtless? JFK JFK Who was the only one who could write with both hands at the same time? Who was the only one who could write with both hands at the same time? James Garfield- he could write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other. James Garfield- he could write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other.

4. Electoral College group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President there is an electoral college for each candidate on the ballot there is an electoral college for each candidate on the ballot One elector for each senator and representative One elector for each senator and representative

5. Framers expected the Electors to use their own judgment in selecting the president Framers expected the Electors to use their own judgment in selecting the president now Electors vote for their party now Electors vote for their party felt the average citizens were not enlightened enough to select the president- educated, informed felt the average citizens were not enlightened enough to select the president- educated, informed Electoral College

6. Who are the electors? electors cannot be members of Congress or employed by the Federal Government electors cannot be members of Congress or employed by the Federal Government chosen by political parties chosen by political parties Currently in Arizona we have 11 Electors (2 senators and 9 representatives) Currently in Arizona we have 11 Electors (2 senators and 9 representatives)

7. The 23 rd Amendment (1961) gave the District of Columbia electoral college votes The 23 rd Amendment (1961) gave the District of Columbia electoral college votes the same number of electors as the least populous Statethe same number of electors as the least populous State Washington DC has 3 electoral college votesWashington DC has 3 electoral college votes Electoral College

8. How it works step one electors are chosen in every state on election day electors are chosen in every state on election day you do not actually vote for president, you vote for electorsyou do not actually vote for president, you vote for electors the candidate that wins the popular vote in the state wins the electoral college votethe candidate that wins the popular vote in the state wins the electoral college vote

9. step two electors, from winning party, meet at state capital on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December electors, from winning party, meet at state capital on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December formally cast their vote, sign, seal and send to Washington DC formally cast their vote, sign, seal and send to Washington DC one for Presidentone for President one for Vice Presidentone for Vice President

10. step three The votes are officially counted on January 6 th before a joint session of Congress The votes are officially counted on January 6 th before a joint session of Congress President of the Senate opens and reads each vote President of the Senate opens and reads each vote The candidate that receives at least 270 out of 538 electoral college votes wins The candidate that receives at least 270 out of 538 electoral college votes wins

11. Random Trivia Who had a middle initial but no middle name? Who had a middle initial but no middle name? Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman Who was the first to ride in an automobile? Who was the first to ride in an automobile? T. RooseveltT. Roosevelt

12. First Major Defect The candidate that wins the popular vote does not always win the Electoral College vote The candidate that wins the popular vote does not always win the Electoral College vote 2000 election 2000 election Gore 49,357,039 (49%)Gore 49,357,039 (49%) Bush 47,152,250 (48%)Bush 47,152,250 (48%) Gore 267 electoral college votesGore 267 electoral college votes Bush 271 electoral college votesBush 271 electoral college votes

13. Second Major Defect members of the Electoral College are not required to vote with the popular vote members of the Electoral College are not required to vote with the popular vote They are expected to as loyal members of their party They are expected to as loyal members of their party “faithless elector” has never had a bearing on the election “faithless elector” has never had a bearing on the election

14. Third Major Defect if a candidate does not receive a majority of the electoral college votes then the election goes to the House of Representatives if a candidate does not receive a majority of the electoral college votes then the election goes to the House of Representatives each state has one vote at this time (regardless of whether they have 1 or 52 representatives) each state has one vote at this time (regardless of whether they have 1 or 52 representatives)

15. There have been suggestions about CHANGING the electoral College. Lets take a look at some of the proposals.

16. District Plan electors would be chosen in each state the same way as members of Congress electors would be chosen in each state the same way as members of Congress two chosen at large and would cast vote along with popular votetwo chosen at large and would cast vote along with popular vote other electors would be chosen from each congressional district and would vote with the popular vote from that districtother electors would be chosen from each congressional district and would vote with the popular vote from that district

17. Proportional Plan each presidential candidate would receive the same share of a state’s electoral votes as he or she received in the state’s popular vote each presidential candidate would receive the same share of a state’s electoral votes as he or she received in the state’s popular vote Arizona = 11 votesArizona = 11 votes 50% to candidate 1 = 5 votes 50% to candidate 1 = 5 votes 50% to candidate 2 = 6 votes 50% to candidate 2 = 6 votes

18. Direct Popular Election do away with the electoral college do away with the electoral college candidate that wins the popular vote in the country would win the election candidate that wins the popular vote in the country would win the election