1. 1. Video: How is the US President elected? -5 mins 2. Video Worksheet: How is the President Elected?- 10 mins 3. Website Research and Worksheet – 30 mins 4. Design Revision Flash Cards for the essay: The US Presidency and the Electoral College (strengths and weaknesses) -20 mins 5. The Florida Case: Electoral Fraud and Party Politics 6. Media Diary Update for Electoral College 7. The Exam Paper 8. Essay Planning 9. Timed Essay 10. Homework

2.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_VQ8I 7g6I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_VQ8I 7g6I  Complete the worksheet with questions

3.  Access:  Guide to the American Presidency Guide to the American Presidency  Read the sections on:  Arguments for and against the electoral college, tables of results, electoral votes by state. Answer the worksheet/questions:

4.  Why was the system adapted?  Outline 4 reasons Historians give for the introduction of the electoral college  How did Alexander Hamilton describe the system?  How did the modern system develop by 1836?  Which two states have deviated from this system? (more proportional)  What kind of system does the ‘winner take all’ electoral college system create?  What is the biggest criticism of the ‘winner takes all’ electoral college system? (name at least 2 presidents elected this way)  Give an example of how the electoral college exaggerates the popular vote?  How are third party candidates penalised (Ross Perot)?  What strength does the electoral college give presidents?  What could happen if the president was directly elected?  Name two other reasons opponents of the electoral college criticise the system?  What do they suggest its replaced with and why?  What is the National Popular Vote Bill and how is it an alternative?

5.  Florida Electoral Fraud Florida Electoral Fraud  Read the handout ‘Greg Palast’

6. Access:  The Guardian  The Independent  BBC News  USA Today  Reuters  Radio Four Online  Find articles about the presidential election results.  Decide if they illustrate a weakness in the electoral college system or strength  Update your media diary

7.  Create Revision Flash Cards for todays essay topic:  Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the Electoral College. (15 mins) 1. Make sure you ask questions and answers that test your knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the electoral college (and any examples found in the media diary). 2. Test your self with your tutor!

8.  Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the Electoral College -15 mins  Ensure you cover the points on the flashcards today  Make sure you follow the rule every point needs an example or defence  Try to come back with criticisms for each point made  Use media examples from today

9.  You will get a choice of 8 questions, choose only 2.  Each question is worth 50 marks. So they are looking for approx 50 points (arguments and examples) per essay  Read through all the questions first.  Answer the question you feel you are strongest with first. Just a mark the numbers clearly in margin  Spend approx 10 minutes planning, spend 50 minutes writing the essay. Allow 5 minutes for editing at the end, reading back over.  Don’t be a victim of panic! If you get a memory blank, leave a sufficient space and an asterix in the margin ands go back to it.  Don’t cross out essay plans, they may be counted towards your final mark by the examiner  Make sure you allow 5 minutes extra at the end of each essay for editing at the end  Don’t revise the night before or on the morning of the exam. Relax, rest, breakfast. Early night before!

10.  Read the chapter ‘Elections and Voting’.  Answer the essay question  Outline and discuss the different factors that influence voting in Congressional Elections’ 20 mins, 20 marks  Read the chapter on Congressional Elections and on Propositions, referendums and recall elections and make a spider chart or flash cards with key points.  Update your media diary on Congressional elections and Referendums and propositions  Complete the two exam papers (F851, F855)