1. THEMAKING OF THE PRESIDENT2008

2. Presented by the James Bowie High School Social Studies Department

3. A big thanks to Mr. Bill Reed National Board Certified Career and Technical Education teacher James Bowie High School

4. On November 4, 2008 American voters will once again go to the polls to elect the President of the United States. So, how does it all work and who really “elects” the President? The following is a brief summary of how the election process takes place.

5. HOWTHEELECTORALCOLLEGE WORKS

6. There are currently 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Each state is given representatives based on the number of people living in the state.

7. ANSWER TO QUESTION #1 FALSE

8. Texas is currently the second largest state in the U.S. (by population) and has 32 members in the U.S. House of Representatives.

9. Even the smallest populated states (Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, and Vermont) are guaranteed at least one member in the House of Representatives.

10. ANSWER TO QUESTION #2 TRUE

11. Each of the 50 states has 2 U.S. Senators. There are currently 100 members of the U.S. Senate.

12. TRIVIA TIME DID YOU KNOW THAT: James Madison was once so poor that he applied for a loan to the Bank of the United States? He was turned down.

13. TRIVIA QUESTION #1 ANSWER JAMES MADISON

14. Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes the Electoral College. Each state receives a number of electors equal to the number of U.S. Senators plus U.S. House of Representatives it has.

15. There are 538 electoral votes total—representing 100 senators plus 435 representatives, plus 3 for Washington D.C.

16. A total of 270 electoral votes are needed to win a presidential election.

17. ANSWER TO QUESTION #3 TRUE

18. Texas has 34 electoral votes—32 from its number of members in the U.S. House of Representatives plus 2 from its number of U.S. Senators.

19. ANSWER TO QUESTION #4 TRUE

20. During the summer of 2008 Texas (and every other state) held separate Democratic and Republican conventions. Each party selected 34 officials to become that party’s electoral vote. Electors are chosen for their party loyalty.

21. TRIVIA TIME DID YOU KNOW THAT: Theodore Roosevelt was the first U.S. President to leave the continental U.S. when he sailed to Panama in 1906? Theodore Roosevelt was the first U.S. President to leave the continental U.S. when he sailed to Panama in 1906?

22. TRIVIA QUESTION #2 ANSWER THEODORE ROOSEVELT

23. WHAT HAPPENS ON AND RIGHT AFTER ELECTION DAY?

24. On November 4, 2008 Americans will go to the polls to cast their vote for President. The people’s vote is called “ The Popular Vote.”

25. That evening the news media will report each state’s popular vote. The winner of the popular vote by state will determine how the electoral votes are cast.

26. Most states use a “winner- take-all” rule for the electoral vote. This means that whichever candidate receives the most popular votes in that state’s general election, they will receive ALL the electoral votes from that state.

27. Texas uses the “winner- take-all” rule. Let’s say that here in Texas 5,000,000 people vote for Candidate A and 5,000,001 people vote for Candidate B.

28. Candidate B, who received a majority of the popular vote here in Texas, would be awarded ALL of our 34 electoral votes.

29. ANSWER TO QUESTION #5 FALSE

30. In early December, the 34 officials chosen by Candidate B’s party here in Texas would meet in Austin to “officially” vote for president and vice-president. This same procedure would occur at the same time in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

31. On January 6, the current Vice-President of the United States will count all 538 electoral votes in a joint session of Congress. A candidate must win 270 electoral votes to become President.

32. TRIVIA TIME DID YOU KNOW THAT: Jimmy Carter is the only Presidentto have graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy? Jimmy Carter is the only President to have graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy?

33. TRIVIA QUESTION #3 ANSWER JIMMY CARTER

34. SOME UNIQUE ASPECTS ABOUT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

35. In the election of 2008 a candidate could win the electoral vote in as few as the 11 most populated states, lose the vote in the remaining 39 states and Washington D.C., and still have the necessary 270 electoral votes to become President.

36. ANSWER Question #6 TRUE

37. The 11 most populated states (and their electoral vote count)

38. California—55Texas—34 New York—31 Florida—27Illinois—21Pennsylvania—21Ohio—20Michigan—17 New Jersey—15 North Carolina—15 Georgia—15

39. That’s 11 states with a total of 271 electoral votes.

40. In the event that no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes (270) then the election process goes to the U.S. House of Representatives to decide who becomes President.

41. ANSWER Question #7 FALSE

42. Since Texas has 32 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, each of them would vote for President. Whichever candidate receives the most votes, the state of Texas would cast its one vote for that person.

43. Since there are 50 states, a candidate must receive 26 state votes in order to become President.

44. TRIVIA TIME DID YOU KNOW THAT: In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first President to appear on television?

45. TRIVIA QUESTION #4 ANSWER FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

46. Here is another unique aspect of the electoral college system. A presidential candidate may receive more people (popular) votes throughout the entire nation and still not win the electoral count.

47. In 2000, George W. Bush (Republican) received a little over 50 million popular votes across America.

48. Al Gore (Democrat) received a little over 51 million popular votes.

49. However, Mr. Bush received 271 electoral votes to Mr. Gore’s 266, and Mr. Bush won the presidential election.

50. ANSWER Question #8 TRUE

51. Throughout U.S. history there have been 3 other candidates (besides George W. Bush) to lose in the popular vote but win in the electoral vote.

52. Benjamin Harrison John Quincy Adams Rutherford B. Hayes

53. ANSWER Question #9 FALSE

54. TRIVIA TIME DID YOU KNOW THAT: It was only when Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected President that it was confirmed that he was born in Denison, Texas.

55. TRIVIA QUESTION #5 ANSWER DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

56. Our founding fathers established the Electoral College for various reasons. One reason was, they didn’t want the “common people” to be the ultimate decision makers in choosing a president.

57. ANSWER Question #10 TRUE

58. The election of 2008 will be a history-making event. As we choose our 44th U.S. President we will either elect the first woman vice-president or the first African-American President.

59. It is our obligation to Vote and be part of the democratic process. Take Responsibility! Take Ownership! Take Part!!!