Electoral CollegeBy: Ms. McIntyre

What is going to happen on November 6, 2012???

• The United States is going to have its 2012 Presidential Election.

• Every ___ years we elect a new President.

• A President serves for 4 years and can serve 2 terms totaling 8 years.

What do we know about President of the United States??

• Let’s Read: If I were Presidentby: Catherine Stier

Make a KWL Chart….

K W L

K = What we already KNOWW = What we WANT to knowL = What we LEARNED

Key Vocabulary: take notes

• Electoral College – A body of electors; one that elects the President and Vice President of the U.S.

• Popular Vote – A voting system where majority rules.

• Democracy - Government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly through representation.

Fill in the K column now

`President Barack Obama

Member of the Democratic Party

Our 44th President

Wants to run for 4 more years

Mitt Romney – Former Governor of Massachusetts

Member of the Republican Party

Currently running against Obama to become President

We know…

• Now that we know what a President does, do we know how he gets elected into office?

• In the Unites States we have a democracy in which the PEOPLE can vote for their President.

• Once the people have voted, then the Electoral College votes for the President.

What is the Electoral College?

• Today we will learn what the Electoral College is since it is an important part of our government.

• Put this in the W column of your KWL charts.

• As we learn begin to think about whether or not you think the electoral college is a fair system. You will have a small assignment about this at the end.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij05CmYqkkA&feature=related

What is the Electoral College?

• Time for Kids pg.9In most elections, the candidate with the most votes wins. But when it comes to picking a U.S.

President, things aren’t quite that simple. Weeks after Election Day, a group of 538 people called the Electoral College will actually elect the President.

Here’s how the Electoral College works. Each state is assigned a number of electoral votes, based on the size of its population. The 538 electoral voters are chosen by the political parties in each state. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to become President. If no candidate gets a majority of electoral votes, members of the House of Representatives choose the President.

In 48 states, the winner of the popular vote (the votes cast by citizens) gets all of the state’s electoral votes. In Maine and Nebraska, the electoral votes can be split between the candidates.

The U.S. Constitution established the Electoral College. Some of the Founding Fathers wanted Congress to pick the President. Others wanted citizens to make the choice. The Electoral College was a compromise. Things first got complicated in 1876. Samuel Tilden won the popular vote. But his opponent, Rutherford B. Hayes, won the election by a single electoral vote. The 2000 election was tricky too. George W. Bush won fewer popular votes than Al Gore. But in the end, Bush had more electoral votes and went to the White House.

Many people think it would be fairer for the popular vote alone to decide elections. Others agree with our Founding Fathers that the Electoral College is a necessary part of the process. The voters will have their say, but it’s the Electoral College that makes it official.

Number of Electoral College Votes

What is a Swing State???

• A swing state (also, battleground state or purple state) is a state in which no single candidate or party has overwhelming support in securing that state's electoral college votes.

• These states are targets of both major political parties in presidential elections.

• Winning these states is the best opportunity for a party to gain electoral votes.

• NC is a swing state!! Your vote counts!

Controversy

Some say the Electoral College is not fair because if you live in a state that is a Republican(Red) state and you wish to vote Democrat, then your vote won’t count because the majority of your state will vote against you, and Republicans would get all your states electoral votes.

Others say the Electoral College is fair because if we did not have it and we picked our President based on Popular vote, then only very large states like California, New York and Texas would matter because they have the most people voting. The Electoral College evens the playing field.

Others say the Electoral College is fair because if we did not have it and we picked our President based on Popular vote, then only very large states like California, New York and Texas would matter because they have the most people voting. The Electoral College evens the playing field.

Is the Electoral College Fair???

• What do you think? Stand up and let’s debate!

I think the President should be elected based on the number of POPULAR votes (the peoples # of votes) because…..

I think the President should be elected based on the number of POPULAR votes (the peoples # of votes) because…..

I think the President should be elected based on the Electoral College system because…..

I think the President should be elected based on the Electoral College system because…..

Make a Persuasive Poster…..

• Materials: 1 piece of construction paper, crayons or markers.

Assignment: Create a persuasive posters that will convince others to either:A.Keep the Electoral College system in place… ORB.Change the Electoral College system…..

Your poster must include: Your stance on the topic and your reason why. BE CREATIVE!! HAVE FUN!!

Assignment: Create a persuasive posters that will convince others to either:A.Keep the Electoral College system in place… ORB.Change the Electoral College system…..

Your poster must include: Your stance on the topic and your reason why. BE CREATIVE!! HAVE FUN!!

In Conclusion….

• Complete the L column in your KWL charts with information you learned today.

• And since we are a democracy NOW I WILL TAKE A POPULAR VOTE FOR TOMORROWS LESSON.

You Pick

• Do we read….

1. The Life of a CatOr

2. Twins’ Luck