The document discusses the US electoral college system. It explains that the electoral college assigns each state a number of votes equal to its number of representatives and senators. While the electoral college was established due to low literacy rates and lack of national campaigning in the 1700s, arguments are now made that it is outdated and can result in presidents being elected despite losing the nationwide popular vote. Alternative systems proposed include a straight popular vote or proportional allocation of electoral votes.

1. Electoral College: Is it still
necessary?

2. Overview
• What it is
• Why it was established
• Arguments for/against
• Other possible solutions

3. What is it
• System used by government to select the
president
• Each State has different number of “electoral
college” votes
• Same number of votes as seats in Congress
• For example: Texas has thirty-two members in the
House and two members in the Senate giving
them a total of thirty four Electoral College votes
• Popular vote determines which group votes

4. Why it was established:
• Low Literacy Rates
• Not well versed in politics
• No way to campaign the whole US

5. Pros/Cons
• Easier Campaign Route
• Outdated
• Literacy in 1800: 67% 2010: 99.1%
• Creates Chaos (Bush v Gore 2000)

6. Other Solutions
• Popular Vote
• Proportional Electoral College

7. References
• "electoral college." Compton's by Britannica, v 6.0. 27 Jan. 2009. eLibrary.
Web. 06 Oct. 2010.
• "Electoral Votes." Federal Election Commission Home Page. Web. 06 Oct.
2010. <http://www.fec.gov/pages/elecvote.htm>.
• Leip, David. "2000 Presidential General Election Results." Dave Leip's Atlas
of U.S. Presidential Elections. 2005. Web. 06 Oct. 2010.
<http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=2000>.
• Leip, David. "The Electoral College - Origin and History." Dave Leip's Atlas
of U.S. Presidential Elections. 2008. Web. 06 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.uselectionatlas.org/INFORMATION/INFORMATION/
electcollege_history.php>.
• State Department Documents / FIND. Electoral College System Affects U.S.
Campaign Strategies. State Department Documents / FIND, , 20 Aug. 2007.
eLibrary. Web. 06 Oct. 2010.
• http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_n4_v29/ai_18600988/
• http://www.mrdowling.com/800literacy.html