Electoral College info

1. Yet another issue that was difficult
for delegates creating the
constitution to resolve…
How should a chief
executive (also known as
president) be chosen?

2. Initially, during the constitutional
convention, many delegates wanted
one “fierce chief executive” to run the
executive branch….

3. A silence fell over the convention
when this was proposed…
• Why do you think people were concerned
with one single executive?

4. ANSWER CHECKER:
It seems that people were likely
concerned because they thought of
King George III of England. They did
not want a single person to have too
much power again!

5. In spite of arguments, delegates
eventually decided to have a single
executive they called the president.
• A vice president would be elected in
case the president died in office….

6. How would they choose these leaders?
-Some delegates wanted Congress to
appoint the president.
-Others objected (Meaning that
they__________)
-Some said the people should elect
president, but people like James Madison
thought people might elect candidates from
their own states….Then, no one would ever
be elected from smaller states since the
population was less.

7. The solution was : The Electoral College!
• Neither Congress nor just the
people would elect president!
• Instead, the Electoral College
would elect government leaders!
– The Electoral College is made of
electors who cast votes to elect
president/vice president every 4
years.

8. • This is how the
Electoral College used to
Look! The names of states
were on one side and
The count was under each
person’s name.

9. Each state has as many electors in the
Electoral College as the number of
senators and representatives it sends
to congress.
• The votes cast by electors are called electoral
votes!
• Today, people choose their electors when they
vote in the presidential elections
• Then, electors cast ballots for president and
vice president on a date chosen by Congress.

10. The Electoral College system still
affects presidential elections today.
• In most states, the candidate who gets the
most votes, (even if it is less that the
majority), gets the state’s electoral votes.
• As a result, a candidate can win a majority in
the Electoral College without necessarily
winning a majority of votes cast across the
country.

11. Use the map to answer questions..

12. Example in Today’s World…
• In the year 2000, George W. Bush won the
presidency over Al Gore by getting the most
Electoral College votes even though Gore
received more TOTAL votes than Bush in the
popular election….
• Interesting…..

13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O
US9mM8Xbbw