BE PREPAREDBE PREPARED……Grab sheet from the table

HOMEWORK:HOMEWORK:Test (Friday)Study Guide (Friday)

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

The election for President and Vice President is not a direct election by United States citizens…it is an indirect election

Citizens vote for electorselectors, representing a state, who are the authorized constitutional participants in a presidential election

How are Electors ChosenHow are Electors Chosen??

In modern practice, each state chooses its electors in popular elections

Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in EACH Presidential election

Once chosen, the electors meet in their respective states to cast ballots for the President and Vice President

The Twelfth Amendment Twelfth Amendment provides for each elector to cast one vote for President and one vote for Vice President. It also specifies how a President and Vice President are elected

How Many Electors Does a State GetHow Many Electors Does a State Get??

Every 10 years, the Census Bureau determines state population, which affects the number of Representatives each state sends to the House

Each state’s number of electorsEach state’s number of electors =

# of representatives in the House + # of senators

How Many to WinHow Many to Win??

A candidate must receive an absoluteabsolute majority majority of electoral votes (currently 270) to win the Presidency

If no candidate receives a majority in the election for President, or Vice President, that election is determined via a contingency procedure in the Twelfth Twelfth AmendmentAmendment

Has Someone Become President Has Someone Become President Without Receiving the Most VotesWithout Receiving the Most Votes??Yes…it has happened a few times where

the winner did not receive the most popular votes Most recently – 2000 Bush over GoreMost recently – 2000 Bush over Gore

Which States Hold PowerWhich States Hold Power??

The six states with the most electors are California (55), Texas (38), New York (29), Florida (29), Illinois (20) and

Pennsylvania (20)

The seven smallest states by population —Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming —have 3 electors each (DC also has 3)

270towin.com

Party’s Platforms (BeliefsParty’s Platforms (Beliefs))

REPUBLICAN (A. Lincoln)REPUBLICAN (A. Lincoln) – opposed the – opposed the expansion of slavery into the territoriesexpansion of slavery into the territories

NORTHERN DEMOCRATS (S. Douglas)NORTHERN DEMOCRATS (S. Douglas) – – allow the voters of the territories to decide allow the voters of the territories to decide on the slavery issue (popular sovereignty)on the slavery issue (popular sovereignty)

SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS (J. Breckinridge)SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS (J. Breckinridge) – – opposed the limits on slaveryopposed the limits on slavery

CONSTITUTIONAL UNIONCONSTITUTIONAL UNION (J. Bell) – preserve (J. Bell) – preserve the Union!the Union!

ELECTION OF 1860 RESULTSELECTION OF 1860 RESULTS

Lincoln = 180Douglas = 12Breckinridge = 72

Bell = 39

Lincoln = 1,865,593Douglas = 1,382,713Breckinridge = 848,356Bell = 592,906

Lincoln (Republican)

Douglas (N. Democrat)

Breckinridge (S. Democrat)

Bell (Constitutional Union)

Who won the election?

How could Stephen Douglas get the second highest

number of votes, but only win a couple states?