starter activity

Why do you think the US have an electoral college system rather than direct elections?

How powerful is How powerful is the Electoral the Electoral

College?College?Examining the workings of Examining the workings of the Electoral College and the Electoral College and assess its strengths and assess its strengths and

weaknessesweaknesses

Aims

The general election The general election campaigncampaign

End of ‘End of ‘intra-partyintra-party’ start of ‘’ start of ‘inter-inter-partyparty’ campaign’ campaign

Begins on Labor Day (1Begins on Labor Day (1stst Mon in Mon in Sept)Sept)

Runs 8-9 weeksRuns 8-9 weeks TV debates, tours of states with high TV debates, tours of states with high

no. of Electoral College votes or no. of Electoral College votes or ‘‘swing statesswing states’’

Electoral College – how it Electoral College – how it worksworks

Each state awarded set no. of electoral Each state awarded set no. of electoral college votes, e.g. California 55, Nevada 4college votes, e.g. California 55, Nevada 4

No. of ECVs matches no. of seats that No. of ECVs matches no. of seats that state has in Congressstate has in Congress

Total of 538 ECVsTotal of 538 ECVs Candidate must win absolute majority Candidate must win absolute majority

(270 or more)(270 or more) Winner takes all process, i.e. candidate Winner takes all process, i.e. candidate

with largest share of votes in each state with largest share of votes in each state takes all the ECVs in that statetakes all the ECVs in that state

Worse case scenariosWorse case scenarios

Vice-president announces resultVice-president announces result If no clear majority, president elected by If no clear majority, president elected by

House of Representatives (each state House of Representatives (each state having one vote, i.e. 50 votes in total)having one vote, i.e. 50 votes in total)

Winner would gain 26 votesWinner would gain 26 votes Ballotting continues until majority Ballotting continues until majority

achievedachieved Vice president elected by Senate, each Vice president elected by Senate, each

senator given 1 votes (i.e. majority of 51 senator given 1 votes (i.e. majority of 51 required)required)

Your taskYour task

Complete a scales chart recording Complete a scales chart recording the advantages and disadvantages of the advantages and disadvantages of having electoral colleges.having electoral colleges.

Possible reformsPossible reforms

Maine System – votes allocated Maine System – votes allocated according to Congressional districts according to Congressional districts won (similar to constituencies) and 2 won (similar to constituencies) and 2 additional votes for winning the additional votes for winning the statestate

BUT – results only marginally BUT – results only marginally different & sometimes less different & sometimes less proportionateproportionate

Possible reformsPossible reforms

Allocation of Electoral College votes Allocation of Electoral College votes in proportion to popular votein proportion to popular vote

Fairer to third and smaller partiesFairer to third and smaller parties BUT less likely that one candidate BUT less likely that one candidate

would gain a clear majoritywould gain a clear majority Would require setting of a threshold Would require setting of a threshold

to limit unelectable candidates & to limit unelectable candidates & abolition of requirement of a majorityabolition of requirement of a majority

Possible reformsPossible reforms

Automatic plan – abolishing electors Automatic plan – abolishing electors and making allocation of votes and making allocation of votes automaticautomatic

Direct election plan – popular with Direct election plan – popular with voters (61%, 2000) but increases voters (61%, 2000) but increases likelihood of recounts such as likelihood of recounts such as Florida, 2000Florida, 2000

PlenaryPlenary

How is the number of electoral How is the number of electoral college votes counted?college votes counted?

List 2 advantages & 3 disadvantages List 2 advantages & 3 disadvantages with the systemwith the system

Give 2 examples of how it might be Give 2 examples of how it might be reformedreformed