The Electoral College (5f)

Page 45

Why did the teacher put on sunglasses?

Because her students were so bright!

Standard 5f

Essential Understandings: The Electoral College process is used to select the president and vice president.

Essential Questions: How does the Electoral College select the president and vice president?

Vocabulary: Electoral College, winner-take-all, two-party system

Candy Questions

In what document

would you find a list of powers

that a city has?

At what level of

government do people have the

most influence?

Which early American document

affirmed the individual worth and dignity of all

people?

Which purpose of

government is illustrated

here?

Who may propose an amendment

to the Virginia State Constitution?

How many times has the U.S.

Constitution been

changed?

Which purpose of

government according to the Preamble is fulfilled by our judicial

system?

Where do local

governments get their power?

Which document

first established the idea that all people are equal under

the law?

Which fundamental foundational

principle means that we elect

people to make the laws and

run the government for

us?

The Electoral College process is used to select the

President and the Vice President of the United

States.

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/presidentialelection/

The slate of electors for each state is chosen by popular vote.

Most states have a winner take all system.

The electors meet to vote for President and Vice President.

The winner-take-all system leads to the targeting of large states

for campaigning, although candidates must pay attention to

small states whose electoral votes may make the difference

in tight elections.

The number of electors of each state is based on the state’s Congressional

representation. 100 Senate

435 House of Reps

3 for D.C.538 total

The requirements for a majority vote to win in the

electoral college favors a two-party system.

On the left side of your notebook, you will fill in an electoral map with Election 2012 results.

1) Lightly color states that Obama won blue. Lightly color states that Romney won red.

2)Add to find the total electoral votes that each candidate won. Write total across bottom.

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/election-map-2012/president/