The Electoral College was established in 1787 to provide an indirect election of the President and Vice President by citizens voting for electors who then vote for the candidates. It was a compromise between having Congress decide or a popular vote. The number of electors each state has equals its Congressional representation. Most states use a winner-take-all system. Critics argue it can result in a candidate losing the national popular vote but winning the Electoral College.

1. The Electoral College
Lizzy
Lily
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2. Why was it established?
 The Electoral College was established
because they needed to find a way to appoint
a President and Vice President that would
settle everyone’s feather.
 Originally, three different options were
presented before they settled on an indirect
popular vote:
1. Have Congress vote,
2. Have State Legislature choose, and
3. Using a direct popular vote.

3. Electoral College Map

4. When was it established
The Electoral College was established in
the year of 1787.

5. Quote
 "A small number of
persons, selected by
their fellow citizens from
the general mass, will be
most likely to possess
the information and
discernment requisite to
such complicated
investigations.“-
Alexander Hamilton, the
Federalist Papers.

6. How does the Electoral College
work?
 A body of electors chosen by the voters in each state to
elect the President and vice President of the U.S.
 The number of electors is equal to the number of
members of congress each state has
 All electors pledged to the candidate who wins the most
votes in that state become electors for that state, except
Nebraska and Maine in which they divide up votes by
districts
 There are no laws making the elector vote to honor their
pledge but they almost always do

8. How to Win the Electoral Vote
 The electoral college consists of 538 electors
representing each states Congressional
delegation.
 A majority of 270 votes is required to win the
presidency.
 Your state’s entitled allotment of electors
equals the number of members in its
Congressional delegation: one for each
member in the House of Representatives
plus two for your Senators

9. Presidents who Have Won the
Electoral College but Lost the Popular
Vote

10. George W. Bush
2000: George W.
Bush lost the
popular vote by
540,000 votes,
but wont he
electoral vote by
5 votes

11. Rutherford B. Hayes
1876:
Rutherford B
Hayes lost the
popular vote by
250,000 votes
and won the
Electoral
College by 1
vote.

12. Benjamin Harrison
1888: Benjamin
Harrison lost the
popular vote by
90,000, but won
the electoral
college 233 to
168

13. John Quincy Adams
 1824:John Quincy
Adams. Adams lost
the popular vote by
38,000, both Cana
dates lost the
electoral vote, 99 to
84, neither reaching
the 131 needed to
win. The decision
was decided by the
house of
Representatives.

14. Criticisms
Failure to reflect the national popular vote
The winner takes all approach does not
show each districts option
Gives swing states to much power over
the election

15. Should we abolish the Electoral College?
 This is a hard topic with valid arguments on both sides.
 Cons
Not truly a democracy because it is not always the
same results as popular vote
Gives swing state too much power
Does not properly represent the districts but instead
the state as a whole
 Pros
Does not include outliers that could possible change
the outcome of the election
Provides a competitive election

16. Questions
1)What year was the Electoral College 4) The number of electoral votes is based
established? on?
a)1879 a) The population
b)1789 b)The number of senators
c)1787 c) The number of senators
d)1987 plus the representatives from
2)Why was the Electoral College the house
created? d)The number of house
a) To select Congress members representatives
b) To select a method of 5) Which of the following states do NOT
appointing a President and Vice use the winner takes all approach to
President electoral votes?
c) To select State Legislatures a) Maine
d) To make it easier to make b) Ohio
amendments c) NewYork
3) If neither candidate reaches the 6) Which type of states have more power
minimum number of electoral with the electoral college type of
votes to win the election (270) vote?
who decides the presidency
a) Swing States
a) The people re-vote
b)Non swing states
b) The senate c) both have the same amount of
c) The incumbent stays in office power
d) The house of Reps vote

17. Websites
 http://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/presidents-winning-without-popular-vote/
 http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/about.html
 http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/electoral.college/mo
re.html
 http://uselectionatlas.org/INFORMATION/INFORMATION/electcollege_histo
ry.php
 http://www.oregonrepublicanparty.org/AllQuotes/
 http://blogs.e-rockford.com/applesauce/2011/04/04/early-look-at-electoral-
college-in-2012-dems-232-votes-gop-191-tossups-115/
 http://www.theprovocation.net/2011/10/suddenly-republicans-want-to-do-
away.html
 http://www.nmpolitics.net/index/2011/03/time-for-a-review-of-the-electoral-
college/
 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/electoral+college
 http://www.examiner.com/article/an-updated-look-at-the-2012-electoral-
college-map-with-polls-13