Primaries vs. Caucuses

Primary (or “direct primary”)• An election in which voters elect candidates to

represent their political party in the general election

Caucus• A meeting of political party members to select

candidates to represent their party in the general election

Objectives

Assess information on Electoral College and its impacts on the political process, and draw your own conclusions as to whether or not it should be reformed.

The General Election for President is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November (“Election Day”)

Structure of Electoral College

# Electors per state = # Members of Congress per state (Reps + 2 Senators)

538 Electoral votes (270 needed for win) Winner Takes All:

• All electors in a state vote for winner • except Maine & Nebraska (proportional)• How many Electors does Pennsylvania have?• See the 2012 Electoral Map

Impact on the Political System?

Due to “Winner Takes All”….• Candidates focus on large,

competitive (“swing”) states while ignoring other states

• 2008 Exception: Obama’s 50 state strategy

• Discourages third parties who rarely get any EC votes

• (1968 was an exception)

• Candidate may win without popular mandate

CRITICISMS: How is it possible to win the popular vote but lose the election?

Winning candidate wins by big margins in several states, but has narrow losses in some large states

2000: Bush (271 / 47.9%) beats Gore (266 / 48.4%)• Gore had over 500,000

more popular votes, but lost by 537 votes in Florida

• Election results since 1964

Florida Recount

CRITICISMS: How is it possible to win the popular vote but lose the election?

If no Presidential candidate wins a majority, House of Rep’s chooses Pres. from top 3 (Each state gets only one vote)

If no VP candidate wins a majority, Senate chooses VP from top 2

If Pres can’t assume power by Jan. 20, then VP, Speaker of House, PPT, Sec. State, etc.

Arguments: Keep the Electoral College

Promotes Federalism:• Must campaign by states / can’t win by focusing

all efforts in one region• smaller states given a boost

Fosters Intentions of Founding Fathers• Constitutional Compromise b/w direct election

of Pres. and State Legislators electing Pres. Fosters Two-Party System

• More stability / fewer 3rd party upsets

Arguments: Reform or Disband the Electoral College

Public Opinion (more people oppose it) Doesn’t Reflect Popular Will

• winning election with minority of popular vote • Votes of All Citizens Don’t Count Equally (Not

“One Person, One Vote”• Smaller states “overrepresented”• E.g. 2004:

• 1 WY Elector = 165,101 votes• 1 CA Elector = 617,000 votes

Lack of Legitimacy for officeholder Current System is Unfair to 3rd Parties Problem of “Faithless Electors”

Discussion

Agree on whether to keep, scrap, or reform the Electoral College

Discuss Pros & Cons of each Come up with a Proposal and Arguments to

convince the rest of the Class to Agree with you

Should the Electoral College be reformed? If yes, how?Informal Debate:* Make a list of pros and cons.* Choose a side.* Defend and Explain your position.