The Electoral CollegeThe final Step to Choosing a President

Objectives

Students will identify functions of the Electoral College and how it has changed over time

Vocabulary

Electoral College: Group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President

Electoral votes: Votes cast by electors in the electoral College

The Framers Plan

• Each state has presidential electors as it had in Congress (538, District of Columbia)

• Electors chosen by the state as they wish

• Each elector casts two votes, each for a different person

The Framers Plan (Con’t)

• The votes are opened and counted before a joint session of Congress

• Most votes, if a majority, becomes President

• 2nd becomes VP

• If tie or no majority, President is chosen by the House

• If a tie there, chosen by the Senate

Election of 1800

• Two parties - tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr

• 12th Amendment (1804): President and Vice-President run together

Electoral College Calendar

• Spring of Election Year: each political party chooses electors for their states (2 sets, one for each party)

• November: Election Day - popular vote takes place

• December: Electoral College meets. The electors representing the party that won the popular vote go to Washington D.C. and cast their votes*

• January: When Congress opens their sessions for the year - the electoral ballots are counted