Article II – The Executive Branch - The Electoral College

U.S. History I

What is IT?

• Group of men or women organized once every 4 years before the Presidential Election.

• Role is to elect the President.• Each State• Establishes an Indirect Presidential

Election• Electors = Senators + Representatives

WHY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE?

• Mistrust - George Mason, “it would be as unnatural to refer the choice of a proper character for chief magistrate to the people as it would to refer a trial of colors to a blind man.”

• Favor Elites• Vs. Campaigning• Vs. Political Parties• Keep voting cohesive. 4 million scattered.• Retain states’ voice (Even Small States)• Good reasons?

How the Votes are Tallied• Electors usually align with popular vote

(NJ Law).

• Winner-Take-All System (Most States)

• Race to 270 (538 Total Electors) – Counted by Senate

• No Majority?– House of Reps.– Top 3– States have = Vote (ONE)

The Electoral College Then & Now

• Then:– 2 People for President– 1st = President ----- 2nd = VP– Must vote for one Candidate from another

state

• Now:– 2 People (VP & Prez)– Run together on a SINGLE TICKET

What about the Popular Vote?

• Do the people actually elect the President?• Each vote by an individual American is a vote to

instruct the electors from your state to vote for the same candidate.

• Ex. - If you vote for a Republican candidate, you are really voting for an elector who will be pledged to vote for the same candidate.

• The candidate who receives the most popular votes in the state wins all the pledged votes of the states’ electors.

Problems Continued - 2000

• 1st Network Report (Gore - 7:50 p.m.)

• 10 p.m. - Florida - Bush 100,000 vote lead• 4:30 a.m. - Bush leads by 2000• Recounts begin - Bush lead down to 500.• Chad Problem (Confusing Ballots)• Absentee• Supreme Court• Recount fair in theory, but not in practice.• 12/9 Injunction - NO TIME by law for

Constitutional recount in Florida.

Bush Vs. Gore

• Electoral Vote– Bush = 271

– Gore = 266

– FLORIDA = 25 ELECTORAL VOTES

• Popular Vote– Gore = 50,999,897

– Bush = 50,456,002

Why the Change?The Election of 1800

• Tie Burr & TJ (running mates)

• Hamilton vs. Both• Election to House of

Reps.– Hamilton’s Influence– Duel

• Amendment 12 (2 Different Votes for President & VP)

The Election of 1824

• John Quincy Adams vs. Andrew Jackson

• Tie• House of Reps. -

Henry Clay• “Corrupt Bargain”• Result

Other Problems With the College

• 1876– Tilden - South (Popular) vs. Hayes – North (Electoral)

– House of Reps. Can’t Decide

– Congressional Committee

• Composition of Committee

• 5 From House and Senate; 5 From Supreme Court (7 & 7) (David Davis => Joseph Bradley)

– Aftermath - Sectional Problems

– Partisan victory secured for Hayes

Where Do You Stand?

• Arguments For:– Balance small states.

– Stability (2-party system)

– Prevents Blocs

– Retains Federalism• Importance of States

• Central Gov’t. does not control election

•Arguments Against:

• Minority President

• Decreases Voter Turnout

• Faithless Electors

• Never Changed Outcome