TheElectoralCollegeOverviewInthislesson,studentswillexaminethepurpose,function,origin,andhistoricaldevelopmentoftheElectoralCollegeinordertogainabetterunderstandingofhowAmericanselectthePresident.StudentswillthenevaluateissuesoffairnessandrepresentationwithregardtotheElectoralCollege.Finally,studentswillparticipateinaclassdebateovertheprosandconsofthecurrentsystem.Grade10NCEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistory:TheFoundingPrinciples,Civics&Economics• FP.C&G.2.8-AnalyzeAmerica’stwo-partysystemintermsofthepoliticalandeconomicviewsthatledtoits

emergenceandtherolethatpoliticalpartiesplayinAmericanpolitics(e.g.,Democrat,Republican,promotionofcivicresponsibility,Federalists,Anti-Federalists,Influenceofthirdparties,precincts,“thepoliticalspectrum”,straightticket,canvass,planks,platform,etc.)

• FP.C&G.4.3-AnalyzetherolesofcitizensofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStatesintermsofresponsibilities,participation,civiclifeandcriteriaformembershiporadmission(e.g.,voting,juryduty,lobbying,interactingsuccessfullywithgovernmentagencies,organizingandworkingincivicgroups,volunteering,petitioning,picketing,runningforpoliticaloffice,residency,etc.)

• FP.C&G.5.1-Analyzetheelectionprocessatthenational,stateandlocallevelsintermsofthechecksandbalancesprovidedbyqualificationsandproceduresforvoting(e.g.,civicparticipation,publichearings,forums,atlargevoting,petition,localinitiatives,localreferendums,votingamendments,types

EssentialQuestions• Whatis“directdemocracy?”• WhatisthepurposeoftheElectoralCollegeandhowdoesitfunction?• Howdoesthismethodofvotingdifferfrompopularelections?• WhydoestheUnitedStateshaveanElectoralCollege?• Whatisa“faithlesselector?”• Howareelectorschosen?• WhataretheprosandconsoftheElectoralCollege?• Doesyourvotereallycount?Materials• Color-codedsheetsofpaper,3colors• PresidentialElectionof2000,ElectoralandPopularVoteSummary,attached• “ComparingtheFramers’MethodsofElection,”attached• “WhatistheElectoralCollege”article,attached• “DoesMyVoteCount?”article,attached• TheBayh-CellerAmendment,articleattached

Duration60-90minutesProcedure

Doesmyvotereallycount?

1. Asstudentsentertheroom,handthemeachasmallpieceofpaperthatisoneofthreecolors,makingsurethereisanequaldistributionofcolors.Whenallstudentshavetakenaseat,askthemtowriteananswertothequestion,“HowisthePresidentelected?”ontheirsheets.Whentheyarefinished,callonseveralstudentstoreadwhattheyhavewritten.Answerswillvary,butmoststudentswillprobablysaythatAmericansgotothepollsonElectionDay,vote,andthecandidatewiththemostvotesbecomesthenextpresident.Tellthemthatthisisincorrect.Asamatteroffact,inthe2000election,AlGoreactuallyreceivedapproximately540,000morevotesthanGeorgeW.Bush,andhelosttheelection.Andthisisonlyoneofseveralinstancesthatthishashappened.

2. Asatransitionintothenextpartofthelesson,havetheclassvoteonthefollowingquestion:“Whichisthebestcollege-UNC,NCState,orDuke?”Tallyvotesandplaceanswerontheboard.Haveatie-breakingvoteifnecessary.

3. Dividestudentsintothreegroupsbasedonpapercolor,makingsurethereareatleastsixstudentsineach

group.(Ifclasssizeistoosmalltodothis,onlyusetwocolorsanddivideintotwogroups).Selectarepresentativeforeachgroup,andtellthemtheyarethe“elector”fortheirgroup.Tellgroupstheyhaveoneminutetovoteonthebestcollegeasagroup,andthatthe“elector”isonlyallowedtolistentothediscussion,notparticipate.Attheendofoneminute,telltheclassthatthe“elector”willactonbehalfoftheirgroupandtelltheclasswhatthebestcollegeis.(Thecatchisthattheelectorhasthechoiceofcastinghis/hervotewhicheverwayhe/shepleases,choosingwhethertoadheretothedemocraticrulingofthegroup.)Instructgroupstobesilentwhileelectorsareansweringthequestion.Afterallelectorshavevoted,allowafewminutesfordiscussiontoascertainwhetherornotelectorsvotedthesamewayastheirgroups.Tellclassthat,contrarytopopularbelief,thisisamorerealisticversionofthewaythePresidentiselected.

4. ExplaintostudentsthatAmericadoesnotelectitspresidentthrough“directdemocracy.”Definedirectdemocracyasaformofdemocracyinwhichthepeopleasawholemakedirectdecisions,ratherthanhavethosedecisionsmadeforthembyelectedrepresentatives.

UnderstandingtheElectoralCollege

5. Havestudentsgobacktotheiroriginalseats.Distributethehandoutentitled“PresidentialElectionof2000,ElectoralandPopularVoteSummary.”Givestudents2minutestoexaminethehandout.After2minutes,quicklydiscusswhatinformationispresentedinthechart.Pointoutthecolumn“ElectoralVotes”andaskstudentsiftheyknowwhatthismeans.Explainthat,despitewhatmostAmericansmightthink,presidentsareactuallyelectedbyagroupof538“electors”actingonbehalfofthestates,notbythecitizens.ThismethodofelectioniscalledtheElectoralCollege.Stressthatthisisnottosaythat“thepeople”donotelecttheirpresidentnecessarily,butitexplainshowacandidatecangetthemostvotesfromthepeopleandstilllosetheelection.Moststudentswillinevitablybepuzzledbythis.TellthemthattheElectoralCollegeisoneofthemostcomplicatedaspectsoftheAmericanelectoralprocess.

6. EachstatehaselectorsequaltothenumberofSenators(twoforeachstate)andRepresentatives(basedon

population)ithasinCongress.BecauseRepresentatives(andthereforesomeelectors)areallottedbypopulation,thisisadjustedeverytenyearswhenthegovernmenttakesacensus.Atthispoint,pointouttostudentsthatthenumberofelectorsformanystateshaschangedsincethe2000election,basedonthecensusof2010.Forexample,whileNorthCarolinahad14electorsduringthe2000election,wecurrentlyhave15.ProjecttheattachedElectoralCollegeMapof2012forstudentstoview.

7. So,howdoesonebecomeanelector?Politicalpartieschooseelectors.Themajorpartiesusuallychoosethematconventions.Sometimespartyleadersdecidewhowillperformthisjob.Oncetheyarechosen,politicalpartiessubmitthenamesoftheelectorstoeachstate'selectionoffice.Mostcitizenscanbecomeelectors;however,anyonewhoworksfortheFederalGovernmentorisamemberofCongresscannotbeanelector.

8. SowhydoesAmericahavetheElectoralCollege?TellstudentsthatthiswasaquestiontheframersoftheConstitutionstruggledwith.Therewastremendousdisagreement.TheyconsideredhavingCongresschoosethePresident,havingstatelegislatureschoosethepresident,andevenallowingdirectdemocracyinthecaseofPresidentialelections.Intheend,thecompromisewastheElectoralCollege.

9. Dividestudentsintopairs.Distribute“ComparingtheFramers’MethodsofElection”handoutandtwoarticlesontheElectoralCollege,oneofeachforeverypair.Usingpriorknowledgeandthearticles,askstudentstocompletethefrontpageofthegraphicorganizerandanswerthethreequestions.Encouragestudentstothinkaboutissuesnotspecificallycoveredinthearticles.Thisshouldtakearound20minutes.Duringthistime,movefromgrouptogrouptoansweranyquestionsthatmayarise.(Anadditionalsourcetoconsultortouseasanalternativereadingis“HowtheElectoralCollegeWorks:http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/electoral-college.htm)

10. Oncestudenthavecompletedtheirreadingandquestions,goovertheanswersasaclass.Asaculminatingdiscussion,drawachartontheboardwith“Advantages”intherightcolumnand“Disadvantages”intheleftcolumn.AskstudentstonoteallofthepossibleadvantagesanddisadvantagestotheElectoralCollegeasaclass,notingstudentcommentsintheappropriatecolumn.

CulminatingActivity:CongressionalCommitteetoStudytheElectoralCollege

11. DividestudentsintosmallgroupsandtellthemtoimaginethattheyaremembersofCongresswhohavebeenassignedtoaspecialCongressionalCommitteechargedwithdeterminingwhethertheElectoralCollegethebestmethodofelectingAmerica’spresident.

12. Threestudentsineachgroupshouldassumethefollowingrolls:• CommitteeHead–facilitatesthediscussionandkeepsthegroupontrack;communicateswiththe

teacherifquestionsariseorassistanceisneeded• Secretary–takesdetailednotesregardingtheCommittee’sconversationandfinalrecommendation

regardingtheElectoralCollege• Speaker–presentstheCommittee’srecommendationtoCongress

13. Next,explaintostudents:• YourgrouprepresentsmembersoftheHouseofRepresentativeswhohavebeenassignedtoa

CongressionalCommitteetoexaminetheElectoralCollegeanddeterminewhetherornotthesystemshouldremainorbereplacedwithalternativeprocedures.Considertheinformationyou’velearnedabouttheElectoralCollege,includingtheprosandconstothesystem.IsthisthebestmethodofelectingthePresidentoftheUnitedStates?Together,youmustdiscussyouropinionsregardingwhetherthissystemisstillthefairestmethodforelections.Ifyoudecideitisnot,thenyoumustdetermineareasonablealternative.BepreparedtosummarizeyourdecisiontotheremainderofCongress(i.e.,theclass.)Ifyouproposeanalternative,bepreparedtoexplainyourideaindetail.

14. Provideapproximately15minutesforstudentstodiscussandmakeadecisionregardingtheElectoralCollege.Oncetimeisup,eachSpeakershouldreportbacktoCongress(i.e.,therestoftheclass)regardingtheirCommittee’srecommendation.TheteachershouldkeepnoteontheboardregardingeachCommittee’srecommendation.IfanyCommitteerecommendsanalternative,allowotherstoaskquestionsforclarification.Onceallgroupshaveshared,reviewthetallyofhowmanyCommitteesdecidedinfavoroftheElectoralCollege,andhowmanyposedanalternative.Allowtheclasstothenvoteonwhichalternativetheythinkwouldbethebestreplacementanddiscusstheresults.Asaclosingquestionaskstudentstoanswer,“So,doesyourvotereallycount?”

AdditionalActivities• DividestudentsintopairsandprovidethemwiththeattachedWikipediaentryabouttheBayh-Celler

Amendment,whichistheclosesttheUnitedStatesCongresshasevercometoabolishingtheElectoralCollege.Afterreading,pairsshoulddiscusstheattachedquestions.

PresidentialElectionof2000,ElectoralandPopularVoteSummary

GeorgeW.Bush

AlbertA.Gore,Jr.

RalphNader Electoralvotes

Popularvote %

Popularvote %

Popularvote % R D G

Alabama 941,173 56% 692,611 42% 18,323 1% 9

Alaska 167,398 59 79,004 28 28,747 10 3

Arizona 781,652 51 685,341 45 45,645 3 8

Arkansas 472,940 51 422,768 46 13,421 1 6

California 4,567,429 42 5,861,203 53 418,707 4 54

Colorado 883,748 51 738,227 42 91,434 5 8

Connecticut 561,094 38 816,015 56 64,452 4 8

Delaware 137,288 42 180,068 55 8,307 3 3

DC 18,073 9 171,923 85 10,576 5 21

Florida 2,912,790 49 2,912,253 49 97,488 2 25

Georgia 1,419,720 55 1,116,230 43 13,4322 1 13

Hawaii 137,845 37 205,286 56 21,623 6 4

Idaho 336,937 67 138,637 28 12,2922 2 4

Illinois 2,019,421 43 2,589,026 55 103,759 2 22

Indiana 1,245,836 57 901,980 41 18,5312 1 12

Iowa 634,373 48 638,517 49 29,374 2 7

Kansas 622,332 58 399,276 37 36,086 3 6

Kentucky 872,492 57 638,898 41 23,192 2 8

Louisiana 927,871 53 792,344 45 20,473 1 9

Maine 286,616 44 319,951 49 37,127 6 4

Maryland 813,797 40 1,145,782 56 53,768 3 10

Massachusetts 878,502 33 1,616,487 60 173,564 6 12

Michigan 1,953,139 46 2,170,418 51 84,165 2 18

Minnesota 1,109,659 46 1,168,266 48 126,696 5 10

Mississippi 572,844 58 404,614 41 8,122 1 7

Missouri 1,189,924 50 1,111,138 47 38,515 2 11

Montana 240,178 58 137,126 33 24,437 6 3

Nebraska 433,862 62 231,780 33 24,540 4 5

Nevada 301,575 50 279,978 46 15,008 2 4

NewHampshire 273,559 48 266,348 47 22,198 4 4

NewJersey 1,284,173 40 1,788,850 56 94,554 3 15

NewMexico 286,417 48 286,783 48 21,251 4 5

NewYork 2,403,374 35 4,107,697 60 244,030 4 33

NorthCarolina 1,631,163 56 1,257,692 43 — — 14

NorthDakota 174,852 61 95,284 33 9,486 3 3

Ohio 2,351,209 50 2,186,190 46 117,857 3 21

Oklahoma 744,337 60 474,276 38 — — 8

Oregon 713,577 47 720,342 47 77,357 5 7

Pennsylvania 2,281,127 46 2,485,967 51 103,392 2 23

RhodeIsland 130,555 32 249,508 61 25,052 6 4

SouthCarolina 785,937 57 565,561 41 20,200 1 8

SouthDakota 190,700 60 118,804 38 — — 3

Tennessee 1,061,949 51 981,720 47 19,781 1 11

Texas 3,799,639 59 2,433,746 38 137,994 2 32

Utah 515,096 67 203,053 26 35,850 5 5

Vermont 119,775 41 149,022 51 20,374 7 3

Virginia 1,437,490 52 1,217,290 44 59,398 2 13

Washington 1,108,864 45 1,247,652 50 103,002 4 11

WestVirginia 336,475 52 295,497 46 10,680 2 5

Wisconsin 1,237,279 48 1,242,987 48 94,070 4 11

Wyoming 147,947 68 60,481 28 4,6252 2 3

Total 50,456,002 47.87% 50,999,897 48.38% 2,882,955 2.74% 271 266

NOTE:Totalelectoralvotes=538.Totalelectoralvotesneededtowin=270.Dash(—)indicatesnotonballot.

Percentagesmaynotaddupto100%duetoroundingandothercandidates.

1.TheDistrictofColumbiahas3votes.Therewas1abstention.2.Write-invotes.(source:http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0876793.html)

Name:_____________________________________________________

ComparingtheFramers’MethodsofElectionDirections:Usingthearticlesprovided,completefollowinggraphicorganizerandreadingcomprehensionquestions.

Answer:

1. Howmanyelectorsarethereandhowaretheychosen?

2. Explainthe“winner-take-all”system.

3. Whatisa“faithlesselector?”Whatisthepotentialproblemwiththistypeofelector?4. Basedonwhatyouhavelearned,doyouthinktheElectoralCollegeisthebestwayto

determineelections,orwouldanothersystemworkbetter?Explain.

PossibleMethodsofElectingaPresident

Advantages

Disadvantages

1) CongresschoosesthePresident

2) StateLegislatureschoosethePresident

3) Presidentiselectedbydirect/popularvote

4) ElectoralCollege

ComparingtheFramers’MethodsofElection

(Teacher’sGuide)

1. Thereare538total.EachstateisallocatedanumberofElectorsequaltothenumberofitsU.S.Representatives(whichisbasedonpopulation)plusitstwosenators(inNCthetotalelectoralvotesis15).ThepoliticalpartiesofeachstatesubmitalistofindividualspledgedtotheircandidatesforpresidentthatisequalinnumbertothenumberofelectoralvotesforthestatetotheState’schiefelectionofficial.Eachpartydeterminesitsownwayofchoosingitselectors.

2.AmethodofcountingvoteswherethecandidatewhowinsthemostvoteswinstheentireallotmentofElectoralCollegevotesforthatstate3.AnElectorwhogoesagainstthepopularvoteinastate.

PossibleMethodsofElectingaPresident

PossibleAdvantages

PossibleDisadvantages

1) CongresschoosesthePresident

-ensuresthat“reasonablyinformed”peoplearevoting-Congressissupposedtorepresentthepeople-lesschanceofmiscounting/easiertocoordinate-ensuresstatesareadequatelyrepresentedbypopulation

-suspicionofpossiblecorruption,i.e.bribes-fearsofdividingtheCongress-fearofupsettingbalanceofpower

2) StateLegislatureschoosethePresident

-givesequalrepresentationtopeople-lesschanceofmiscounting/easiertocoordinate

-fearthatFederalauthoritywouldbecompromisedinexchangeforvotes(mightweakenexecutivebranch)

3) Presidentiselectedbydirect/popularvote

-representativesdon’talways“represent”accurately-avenueformajorityrule-ensuresthatvoteisactuallyforintendedcandidate

-impractical;difficulttogeteveryone’svote-waytoomuchroomforerrorand/orcorruption(thinkFlorida,2000)

4) ElectoralCollege

(seeprosinArticle#1)

(seeconsinarticle#1)

WhatistheElectoralCollege???SantaCruzCountyElectionsDepartmentMarch2000

OriginsoftheElectoralCollege

MembersoftheConstitutionalConventionexploredmanypossiblemethodsofchoosingapresident.OnesuggestionwastohavetheCongresschoosethepresident.AsecondsuggestionwastohavetheStateLegislaturesselectthepresident.Athirdsuggestionwastoelectthepresidentbyadirectpopularvote.Thefirstsuggestionwasvoteddownduetosuspicionofcorruption,fearsofirrevocablydividingtheCongressandconcernsofupsettingthebalanceofpowerbetweentheexecutiveandthelegislativebranches.ThesecondideawasvoteddownbecausetheFramersfeltthatfederalauthoritywouldbecompromisedinexchangeforvotes.Andthethirdideawasrejectedoutofconcernthatthevoterswouldonlyselectcandidatesfromtheirstatewithoutadequateinformationaboutcandidatesoutsideofthestate.TheprevailingsuggestionwastohaveaCollegeofElectorsselectapresidentthroughanindirectelection.Originally,thepurposeoftheCollegeofElectorswastohavethemostknowledgeableandinformedindividualsfromeachstateoftheUnioncasttheirvotesforthepresidentassumingthattheyvotedsolelyonthebasisofmerit.

Throughoutitshistory,theElectoralCollegehasgonethroughonlytwomajorchanges.InthefirstdesignoftheElectoralCollege:

• EachState’sElectorsnumberedtheirtwoU.S.Senators(2)plusitsnumberofU.S.Representatives.

• TheState’sselectedthemannerinwhichtheirElectorswerechosen,howevermembersofCongressandfederalemployeeswereprohibitedfromservingasElectors.

• Electorswererequiredtomeetintheirstate.• Eachelectorwasrequiredtocasttwovotesforthepresidentandatleastoneofthosevoteshad

tobeforacandidateoutsideoftheirstate.• Thecandidatewiththemostelectoralvotesbecamepresidentandthecandidatewhoreceived

thenextgreatestnumberofelectoralvotesbecamevicepresident.

ThissystemwasmeanttoworkinasystemwithoutpoliticalpartiesandnationalcampaignsandtheintroductionofwhichforcedacouplefeaturesoftheElectoralCollegetochange.

TheseconddesignoftheElectoralCollegecameaboutinthepresidentialelectionof1800whentheElectorsoftheDemocratic-RepublicanPartygaveThomasJeffersonandAaronBurranequalnumberofelectoralvotes.ThetiebreakingdecisionwasmadeintheHouseofRepresentativesresultingintheelectionofThomasJefferson.Topreventatiefromoccurringagain,the12thAmendmentwaspassedrequiringeachelectortocastonlyonevotefortheofficeofpresidentandanotherfortheofficeofvicepresident.The12thAmendmentalsostatesthatifnoonereceivesanabsolutemajorityofelectoralvotesforpresidenttheHouseofRepresentativeswillcastthedecidingvotefromthetopthreecandidates.

Pro’sandCon’softheElectoralCollege

Initsover200yearhistory,theelectoralcollegehasreceiveditsshareofcriticismandpraise.ThefollowingisalistofthemostfrequentlymadecommentsoftheElectoralCollege.

Pro’s:

• Requiresadistributionofpopularsupporttobeelectedpresident-thewinningcandidatemustdemonstratebothasufficientpopularsupporttogovernaswellasasufficientdistributionofthatsupporttogovern

• Strengthensthestatusofminoritygroups-thevotesofsmallminoritieswithinastatemaymakethedifferencebetweenwinningallofastate’selectoralvotesornoneofthem.

• Enhancesthepoliticalstabilityofthenationbypromotingatwo-partysystem-protectsthatpresidencyfromimpassionedbuttransitorythirdpartymovementsandforcesthemajorpartiestoabsorbtheinterestsofminorities.

• Maintainsthefederalsystemofgovernmentandrepresentation

Con’s:

• Thereisapossibilityofelectingaminoritypresident-onewayforthistohappenwouldbeifthecountrywassodeeplydividedpoliticallythatthreeormorepresidentialcandidatessplitthevoteandnooneobtainedanecessarymajority

• Thereisariskofhaving"faithless"Electors-Electorswhowon’tbeloyaltotheirpartyorcandidate• TheElectoralCollegemaydepressvoterturnout-becauseeachstateisonlyentitledtosomanyelectoral

votesregardlessofvoterturnout,thereisnoincentiveforstatestoencouragevoterparticipation• Doesnotaccuratelyreflectthenationalpopularwillbecauseitdoesnotelectacandidatebyadirect

popularvote

Howmanyelectoralvotesdoeseachstatehave?(Updatedtoreflectthe2010census)

AL:9AK:3AZ:11AR:6CA:55CO:9CT:7DE:3DC:3FL:29

GA:16HI:4ID:4IL:20IN:11IA:6KS:6KY:8LA:8ME:4

MD:10MA:11MI:16MN:10MS:6MO:10MT:3NE:5NV:6NH:4

NJ:14NM:5NY:29NC:15ND:3OH:18OK:7OR:7PA:20RI:4

SC:9SD:3TN:11TX:38UT:6VT:3VA:13WA:12WV:5WI:10WY:3

TOTAL:538

TheElectoralCollegeToday• EachstateisallocatedanumberofElectorsequaltothenumberofitsU.S.

Representativesplusitstwosenators.

• ThepoliticalpartiesofeachstatesubmitalistofindividualspledgedtotheircandidatesforpresidentthatisequalinnumbertothenumberofelectoralvotesforthestatetotheState’schiefelectionofficial.Eachpartydeterminesitsownwayofchoosingitselectors.

• MembersoftheCongressoremployeesoftheFederalgovernmentareprohibitedfromservingasElectors.

• Afterthepartiesholdtheircaucusesandthestatesholdtheirprimaries,themajorpartiesnominatetheircandidatefortheOfficeofPresident.Thenamesarethensubmittedtothestate’schiefelectionofficial(inCA,theSecretaryofState)astheywillappearonthegeneralelectionballot.

• OntheTuesdayfollowingthefirstMondayofthemonthofNovember,registeredvotersineachstatecasttheirballotsfortheOfficeofPresidentandVicePresident.

• WhicheverpresidentialcandidategetsthemostpopularvotesinaStatewinsalloftheElectors(knownas“winnertakesall”)forthatstateexceptforthestatesofMaineandNebraskawhichawardelectoralvotesproportionately.

• OntheMondayfollowingthesecondWednesdayofDecember,eachstate’selectorsmeetintheirrespectivestateandcasttheirelectoralvotes(oneforPresidentandoneforVicePresident).

• EachElectormustcastatleastoneoftheirtwovotes(seeabove)forapersonoutsideoftheirstateinordertopreventtheelectionofapresidentandvicepresidentfromthesamestate(however,thepresidentialandvicepresidentialcandidateschooseeachotherasrunning-matesandareonthesameticketinthepopularvote).

• TheelectoralvotesaresealedandsenttothePresidentoftheU.S.SenateandarereadaloudtobothHousesofCongressonJanuary6.

• Thecandidatewiththemostelectoralvotes,providedthereisanabsolutemajority(overonehalfofthetotalvote)isdeclaredpresident.

• IfnoonecandidatereceivesanabsolutemajorityofelectoralvotestheU.S.HouseofRepresentativesselectsthePresidentfromthetopthreevote-getters.

• OnJanuary20,atnoon,theelectedpresidentandvicepresidentareswornintooffice.

DoesMyVoteCount?UnderstandingtheElectoralCollegebyDavidWalbert,LEARNNC

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/lessons/davidwalbert7232004-02/electoralcollege.html

No,theelectoralcollegeisnottheworstteamintheACC.It'sthegroupofpeoplewhoactuallyelectthepresidentoftheUnitedStates.HowtheelectoralcollegeworksisoneofthemorecomplicatedpartsoftheAmericanelectoralprocess—orcanbe,atleast,whenthingsdon'tgosmoothly.Thisguidewillexplainhowtheelectoralcollegeworks;discusstheoriginsanddevelopmentoftheelectoralcollegeassomecontroversialelections;andexaminehowmuchyourvoteactually"weighs"inanelection.I.HowtheelectoralcollegeworksThepeopleoftheUnitedStateselectapresidenteveryfouryears,butnotdirectly.Here'showitworks.

1. InNovemberofapresidentialelectionyear,eachstateholdsanelectionforpresidentinwhichalleligiblecitizensmayvote.Citizensvotefora"ticket"ofcandidatesthatincludesacandidateforpresidentandacandidateforvicepresident.

2. Theoutcomeofthevoteineachstatedeterminesaslateofelectorswhothen,inturn,maketheactualchoiceofpresidentandvicepresident.EachstatehasasmanyelectorsasithassenatorsandmembersoftheHouseofRepresentatives,foratotalof538.(TheDistrictofColumbiagetsthreeelectorseventhoughithasnorepresentationinCongress.)

3. InDecember,theelectorsmeetintheirrespectivestatecapitolstocasttheirballotsforpresidentandvicepresident.Statesmayormaynotrequiretheirelectorstovotewiththepopularmajority,andtheymayormaynotgivealloftheirelectorstothewinnerofthestatewidepopularvote.

4. Theseballotsareopened,counted,andcertifiedbyajointsessionofCongressinJanuary.

Ifnocandidatewinsamajorityoftheelectoralvotesorifthetoptwocandidatesaretied,theHouseofRepresentativesselectsapresidentfromamongthefivecandidateswiththemostvotes.Eachstate'sdelegationhasasinglevote.TheSenateselectsavicepresidentbythesameprocess.(Thishasn'thappenedsince1876,butitalmosthappenedin2000.)Whatdoesthismeaninpractice?Itmeans,aseveryonelearnedorwasremindedin2000,thatthecandidatewhoreceivesthemostvotesnationwidedoesnotnecessarilybecomepresident.Thereisnonationalelectionforpresident,onlyseparatestateelections.Foracandidatetobecomepresident,heorshemustwinenoughstateelectionstogarneramajorityofelectoralvotes.Presidentialcampaigns,therefore,focusonwinningstates,notonwinninganationalmajority.Italsomeansthat—atleastintheory—electorscanthwartthepopularwillandvoteforacandidatenotsupportedbythevotersoftheirstate.Inpractice,however,electorsarepledgedtocasttheirvotesinaccordancewiththepopularvote,and"faithlesselectors"whogoagainstthepopularvoteareextremelyrare.Hadtherebeenafaithlesselectorin2000,however,AlGoremighthavebecomepresident!(Seethehistoricalperspectivebelowformoreaboutthis.)II.Whynotapopularvote?Whenwe'redebatingwhethersomeaspectoftheConstitutionmakessense,it'susefulsometimestothinkoftheConstitutionasanexperiment—asaworkinprogress.Someofitsoriginalframersreferredtoitthatway,asaGreatExperimentindemocracy.In1787,norepublicliketheUnitedStatesexistedanywhereintheworld.The"foundingfathers"weremakingthingsupastheywentalong,lookingathistory,philosophy,andwhattheydidanddidn'tlikeaboutexistinggovernmentsinEuropeandAmerica.Andnotallofthemagreed—infact,manyofthemdisagreedcompletely,evenonimportantissuessuchashowmuchpowerthepeopleshouldhave.Theelectoralcollegewasacompromiseontwoimportantissues.Thefirstwashowmuchpowerthepeopleshouldhave,andthesecondwashowmuchpowersmallandlargestatesshouldhave.

Powertothepeople?In1787,itwasn'tatallclearwhetherdemocracywouldwork.Infact"democracy"wasabitofadirtywordinsomepeople'sminds:itraisedfearsofmobrule,asinfacthadhappenedinafewplacesduringandaftertheRevolution.TheUnitedStateswasintendedasarepublic,inwhichthepeoplewouldgovernthemselvesonlythroughelectedrepresentatives.Becausetheroleofthepresidentwassoimportant,mostoftheframersthoughtthatthepeoplecouldn'tbetrustedtoelectthepresidentdirectly.Instead,theyshouldelectelectors,whowouldconveneasa"collegeofelectors"toconsidertheavailablecandidatesandpickthebestmanforthejob.Powertothestates!BeforetheRevolution,theBritishcolonistsdidn'thavemuchconsciousnessofbeingAmericans.TheymayhaveidentifiedthemselvesinsteadwiththeBritishEmpireandwiththeirowncolonies.EvenaftertheRevolution,loyaltytoone'sstateoftenstillcamefirst.TheConstitutionwasintendedtounitethestatesunderasinglenationalgovernment—butnotentirely.SmallstateslikeNewJerseyfearedthatiftheyformedaunionwiththeothertwelvestates,they'dbeswallowedupundertheinfluenceofmorepopulousstateslikeVirginiaandNewYork.VirginiaandNewYork,ofcourse,thoughtthattheyshouldhavethemostinfluence.That'swhythestateshaveequalrepresentationintheSenatebutrepresentationbypopulationintheHouseofRepresentatives:it'sacompromisethatallowedlargestatestogettheirduebutstillallowedsmallstatestokeeptheiridentitiesandfightfortheirinterests.Whenitcametovotingforpresident,theframersoftheConstitutiondecidedthatthestatesshoulddothevoting,notthepeople.Remember,therewasnoconsciousnessoftheUnitedStatesasasinglenation;itwas,literally,aunionofseparatestates.Sovotingforpresidentwastotakeplacebystate,sothateachstatecouldhaveitssay.ThecompromisebetweenbigandsmallstateswasextendedtotheElectoralCollege,sothateachstatehasasmanyelectorsasithassenatorsandmembersoftheHouseofRepresentativescombined.Bigstatesstillhavethemostinfluence,butsmallstatesaren'tcompletelylostinthenationalvote.AworkinprogressItwasuptothestatestodecidehowtheyoughttovotefortheirelectors—andtoagreatextentstillis,infact.Thereisnonationalelectionforpresident,butratherfifty-oneseparateelections,oneineachstateandoneintheDistrictofColumbia.Inthebeginning,statelegislaturesvotedforelectors,whointurnvotedforthepresidentandvicepresident.Electorswerefreetovoteforthecandidateoftheirchoice,butovertimetheywereincreasinglyelectedbecausetheysupportedaparticularcandidate.By1832,everystatebutSouthCarolinahelddirectelectionsforpresident,andelectorswereeffectivelyboundtovoteforaparticularcandidate.(SouthCarolinaheldoutuntil1864.)Today,ofcourse,everystateallowscitizenstovotedirectlyforelectors—asrepresentedontheballotbythecandidateswithwhichtheyareassociated—buttheelectorsarestillnotlegallyboundtovoteforanyparticularcandidate.Anelectorcould,intheory,throwhisorhervotetoanycandidate!Sinceeachcandidatehashisorherownslateofelectors,however,andsincetheelectorsarechosennotonlyfortheirloyaltybutbecausetheytaketheirresponsibilityseriously,thisalmostneverhappens.(Itlasthappenedin1988,whenithadnoimpactontheoutcomeoftheelection.)Somestateshavelawsrequiringelectorstocasttheirvotesaccordingtothepopularvote.Inaddition,astatedoesn'thavetothrowallofitselectorsbehindthecandidatethatreceivesthemostpopularvotesinthatstate.Twostates,MaineandNebraska,assignoneelectortothewinnerofeachCongressionaldistrictandtheremainingtwoelectorstothecandidatewiththemostvotesstatewide.Afterthe2000election,therewassomedebateaboutwhetherthatsystemwouldbemorefairthanthewinner-take-allsystemusedbytheother48statesandtheDistrictofColumbia.TheoriginalConstitutionalsodidn'ttakeintoaccountthedevelopmentofpoliticalparties.Electorsweretovotefortwocandidatesforpresident.Themanwiththehighestnumberofvotesthatwasamajoritybecamepresident,andthemanwiththesecondhighestnumberofvotesbecamevicepresident.In1800,however,theDemocratic-RepublicanPartynominatedThomasJeffersonforpresidentandAaronBurrforvicepresident,andbecausetherewasnoseparatevotingforthetwooffices,thetwomentiedintheElectoralCollege.TheHouseofRepresentativeshadtodecidetheissue.Afterwards,the12thAmendmenttotheConstitutionwaspassed,changingthesystemtotheonedescribedinpartI,above.

III.Thepeoplevs.theelectors(morehistoricalperspectives)Aseveryonelearnedorwasremindedofintheelectionof2000,theConstitutiondoesn'tsaythatthecandidatewiththemostpopularsupporthasanyclaimonthePresidency.Itsaysthatthecandidatewiththemostelectoralvoteswillbecomepresident.SoGeorgeW.Bushwontheelectionfairandsquare,bytherulessetforthintheConstitution.Actually,thelastpresidenttobeelectedbyamajorityofthevoterswasGeorgeH.W.Bushin1988.In1992and1996,BillClintonwonwithaplurality—morethananyothercandidate,butlessthanhalfofthetotalvote—becausetherewerethreemajorcandidates.Becausethethirdcandidate,H.RossPerot,failedtowinamajorityanywhere,hedidn'twinanyelectoralvotes,andClintonwasabletowinamajorityoftheelectoralvoteswithoutwinningamajorityofthepopularvote.

GeorgeW.Bushwasn'tthefirstcandidatetobecomepresidentdespitelosingthepopularvote,either.Italsohappenedin1824,1876,and1888,andeachtime,adebateensuedaboutwhethertheoutcomewasfairorright.

• In1824,AndrewJacksonwonthemostpopularvotes(atleastinstateswherepopularelectionswereheld),butnocandidatewonamajorityoftheelectoralvotes.TheHouseofRepresentativesselectedJohnQuincyAdamsaspresident.(Jacksonwontheelectionfouryearslater.)

• In1876,DemocraticcandidateSamuelTildennarrowlywonthepopularvoteoverRepublicancandidateRutherfordB.Hayes,buttwentycontestedelectoralvotespreventedeithermanfromwinningamajorityofelectors.InacompromisethatendedthefederaloccupationoftheSouththathadbegunaftertheCivilWar,CongresscertifiedalltwentycontestedvotesashavingbeencastforHayes.

• In1888,RepublicanBenjaminHarrisoneasilywonamajorityoftheelectoralvotedespitelosingthepopularvotetohisopponent,DemocratGroverCleveland.Cleveland'ssupportwaslargelyregional:hewonlargemajoritiesinseveralsouthernstates,whichraisedhispopularvotetotalsbutwonhimfewelectoralvotes.Harrisonwonnarrowmajoritiesinmostotherstates,however,andwontheelectoralvote233to168.

• Andin2000,DemocratAlGorewonanarrowpluralityofthepopularvotebutlosttheelectoralvotetoRepublicanGeorgeW.Bush,271to266.ThevotewassoclosethatGore,thinkinghehadlost,conceded,thenretractedhisconcessionasmorevoteswerecounted.BecausethevoteinFlorida,adecisivestate,wassoclose,multiplerecountswereheld,andtheSupremeCourthadtosettlealawsuitoverwhetherrecountsshouldcontinue.

IV.Doesmyvotecount?Yes,yourvotecounts.Somepeoplehavecomplainedsince2000thatifthewinnerofthepopularvotedoesn'tbecomepresident,theirvotedoesn'treallycount,sowhyvoteatall?Buteveryvotedoescount;itjustcountsinamorecomplicatedway.Whenyouvoteforpresident,rememberthatyou'revotinginastateelection,notanationalelection.Soyourvotecountsjustasmuchasanyoneelse'sinyourstate—butitmaycountmoreorlessthanthatofsomeonelivinginanotherstate!What'savoteworth?Whydoestheactualweightofyourvotevarybystate?RememberthateverystategetsanumberofelectorsthatisthetotalofallofitsrepresentativesinCongress,bothintheHouseofRepresentativesandintheSenate.TheHouseofRepresentativesisdividedapproximatelybypopulation—bigstateshavethemostrepresentatives,smallstateshavethefewest—buteverystatehasexactlytwosenators,regardlessofsize.Thatmeansthatwhilebigstateshavemoreelectorsthansmallstates,theydon'thaveasmanymoreastheywouldbasedonpopulationalone.Considerthreestates:California(thestatewiththebiggestpopulation),NorthCarolina(amedium-sizedstate),andAlaska(withoneofthesmallestpopulations).Thistableshowstheirpopulationandnumberofelectoralvotesin2010.Thefourthcolumnshowsthenumberofresidentsperelector(populationdividedbyelectoralvotes),andthelastcolumnshowstheweightofanindividualvoteinthegivenstate—thatis,howthenumberofresidentsperelectorcomparestothenationalaverage.

Population Electoralvotes Residentsperelector WeightofvoteCalifornia 37,253,956 55 677,344 0.84NorthCarolina 9,535,483 15 635,698 0.90

Alaska 710,231 3 236,743 2.42UnitedStates 308,745,538 538 573,876 1.00Asyoucansee,Alaska,averysmallstate,hasfarfewerresidentsperelectoralvotethanthenationalaverage,soindividualvotescastinAlaskacountmorethanthenationalaverage—twiceasmuch,infact!AvoterinCaliforniahasalittlelessinfluencethantheaverageAmerican,about84%asmuch.AvoterinNorthCarolinahasabout90%theinfluenceoftheaverageAmerican.(Youcancalculateweightofvoteinagivenstatebydividingthenationalaverageofresidentsperelectorbythatstate'sresidentsperelector.Sincewe'recomparingeachstatetothenationalaverage,theweightofvotefortheentireUnitedStatesisexactly1.)

AparadoxWhileeveryAmerican'svotecounts,then,yourvotecountsmoreifyouliveinasmallstatelikeAlaskathanitdoesifyouliveinabigstatelikeCalifornia.Thisseemslikeaparadox,becauseclearlyabigstateasawholehasmoreinfluencethanasmallstate.Ifyou'rerunningforpresident,youaremoreconcernedaboutwinningCalifornia,withits54electoralvotes,thanyouareaboutwinningAlaskawithits3electoralvotes.Asamatterofstrategy,you'dprobablyspendmoretimeandmoneycampaigninginthebigstatesthaninsmallerstates.Asaresult,residentsofbigstatestendtogetmoreattentioninpresidentialelectionsthanresidentsofsmallstates,andsosmall-statersmayfeelleftoutandunimportant.Yetinreality,eachindividualvoterhaslessinfluenceinabigstatethaninasmallstate.Source:http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/lessons/davidwalbert7232004-02/electoralcollege.htmlNote:“ResidentsPerElector”ChartUpdatedbytheNCCivicEducationConsortiumtoreflectthe2010Census.

TheBayh-CellerAmendmentTheclosestthecountryhasevercometoabolishingtheElectoralCollegeoccurredduringthe91stCongress.Thepresidentialelectionof1968endedwithRichardNixonreceiving301electoralvotestoHubertHumphrey's191.Yet,Nixonhadonlyreceived511,944morepopularvotesthanHumphrey,equatingtolessthan1%ofthenationaltotal.GeorgeWallacereceivedtheremaining46electoralvoteswithonly13.5%ofthepopularvote.RepresentativeEmanuelCeller,ChairmanoftheU.S.HouseofRepresentativesJudiciaryCommittee,respondedtopublicconcernsoverthedisparitybetweenthepopularvoteandelectoralvotebyintroducingHouseJointResolution681,aproposedConstitutionalamendmentwhichwouldhaveabolishedtheElectoralCollegeandreplaceditwithasystemwhereinthepairofcandidateswhowonatleast40%ofthenationalpopularvotewouldwinthePresidencyandVicePresidencyrespectively.Ifnopairreceived40%ofthepopularvote,arunoffelectionwouldbeheldinwhichthechoiceofPresidentandVicePresidentwouldbemadefromthetwopairsofpersonswhohadreceivedthehighestnumberofvotesinthefirstelection.Theword"pair"wasdefinedas"twopersonswhoshallhaveconsentedtothejoiningoftheirnamesascandidatesfortheofficesofPresidentandVicePresident."OnApril29,1969,theHouseJudiciaryCommitteevotedfavorably,28–6,toapprovetheproposal.DebateontheproposalbeforethefullHouseofRepresentativesendedonSeptember11,1969andwaseventuallypassedwithbipartisansupportonSeptember18,1969,beingapprovedbyavoteof339to70.OnSeptember30,1969,PresidentRichardNixongavehisendorsementforadoptionoftheproposal,encouragingtheSenatetopassitsversionoftheproposalwhichhadbeensponsoredasSenateJointResolution1bySenatorBirchBayh.InitsOctober8,1969edition,theNewYorkTimesreportedthat30statelegislatureswere"eithercertainorlikelytoapproveaconstitutionalamendmentembodyingthedirectelectionplanifitpassesitsfinalCongressionaltestintheSenate."Ratificationof38statelegislatureswouldhavebeenneededforadoption.Thepaperalsoreportedthat6otherstateshadyettostateapreference,6wereleaningtowardoppositionand8weresolidlyopposed.OnAugust14,1970,theSenateJudiciaryCommitteesentitsreportadvocatingpassageoftheproposaltothefullSenate.TheJudiciaryCommitteehadapprovedtheproposalbyavoteof11to6.Thesixmemberswhoopposedtheplan,DemocraticSenatorsJamesEastlandofMississippi,JohnLittleMcClellanofArkansasandSamErvinofNorthCarolinaalongwithRepublicanSenatorsRomanHruskaofNebraska,HiramFongofHawaiiandStromThurmondofSouthCarolina,allarguedthatalthoughthepresentsystemhadpotentialloopholes,ithadworkedwellthroughouttheyears.SenatorBayhindicatedthatsupportersofthemeasurewereaboutadozenvotesshyfromthe67neededfortheproposaltopassthefullSenate.HecalleduponPresidentNixontoattempttopersuadeundecidedRepublicanSenatorstosupporttheproposal.However,Nixon,whilenotrenegingonhispreviousendorsement,chosenottomakeanyfurtherpersonalappealstobacktheproposal.OpendebateontheproposalfinallyreachedtheSenateflooronTuesday,September8,1970,butwasquicklyfacedwithafilibuster.TheleadobjectorstotheproposalweremostlySouthernSenatorsandconservativesfromsmallstates,bothDemocratsandRepublicans,whoarguedabolishingtheElectoralCollegewouldreducetheirstates'politicalinfluence.OnSeptember17,1970,amotionforcloture,whichwouldhaveendedthefilibuster,failedtoreceivethe67votes,ortwo-thirdsofthoseSenatorsvoting,necessarytopass.Thevotewas54to36infavorofthemotion.AsecondmotionforcloturewasheldonSeptember29,1970,thistimefailing53to34,orfivevotesshortoftherequiredtwo-thirds.Thereafter,theSenateMajorityLeader,MikeMansfieldofMontana,movedtolaytheproposalasidesothattheSenatecouldattendtootherbusiness.However,theproposalwasneverconsideredagainanddiedwhenthe91stCongressofficiallyendedonJanuary3,1971.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States)Afterreadingtheabovearticle,discussthefollowingquestionsinpairs:

• WhatpromptedtheintroductionoftheBayh-CellerAmendment?• WhatdidtheBayh-CellerAmendmentPropose?• WhosupportedtheBayh-CellerAmendment?WhoopposedtheBayh-CellerAmendment?Why?• Howdidtheargumentsofboththesupportersoftheamendmentandopponentsoftheamendment

mirrorthoseoftheFoundingFathers?• WhydidtheBayh-CellerAmendmentfailintheSenate?Whatiscloture?• DoyouagreewiththeBayh-CallerAmendmentordoyouthinktheElectoralCollegeshouldremain

intact?Whyorwhynot?