Electoral College Who Decides Founding Fathers Feared excessive

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Electoral College Who Decides?

Electoral College Who Decides?

Founding Fathers ¡ ¡ ¡ Feared excessive liberty/democracy Did not trust the citizens, referred

Founding Fathers ¡ ¡ ¡ Feared excessive liberty/democracy Did not trust the citizens, referred to as “mob” Felt that ordinary citizens were not qualified to choose their leaders Less populous states feared that presidential elections might be dominated by larger states Introduced a filter between the Prez & the peoplel The Electoral College

Founding Fathers were elites of society Memory of a colonial power & powerful king

Founding Fathers were elites of society Memory of a colonial power & powerful king still fresh in their minds ¡ Why would they substitute that power with another one & so close to home? ¡ Assigned task of formally voting for the Pres & V. P. to the EC ¡

Who are the Electors? Initially, Electoral College selected by each state’s legislature ¡ Pledged/bound

Who are the Electors? Initially, Electoral College selected by each state’s legislature ¡ Pledged/bound to support that party’s presidential candidate, if they are elected ¡ Changed by 17 th amendment ¡ l l Electors of the Electoral College to be elected by voters in each state EC is not a place, but a process

Electors ¡ However, since 1836 all states except South Carolina, had already began to

Electors ¡ However, since 1836 all states except South Carolina, had already began to extend statewide popular election of electors

How are Electors chosen ¡ ¡ Each political party elects its slate of electors

How are Electors chosen ¡ ¡ Each political party elects its slate of electors at their party’s convention, or at their party’s central committee Two-part process l 1. Each state selects its slate of potential Electors before the general election l 2. On Election Day, the voters in each state select their state's Electors by casting their ballots for President.

Candidates ¡ ¡ Article II of the Constitution: no Senator or Representative, or Person

Candidates ¡ ¡ Article II of the Constitution: no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector Process for selecting electors varies throughout the United States Political parties often nominate electors at their State party conventions Electors generally hold a leadership position in their party or were chosen to recognize years of loyal service to the party

Electors ¡ ¡ ¡ Could be drawn from State elected officials, party leaders or

Electors ¡ ¡ ¡ Could be drawn from State elected officials, party leaders or persons who have a personal or political affiliation with the Presidential candidate Voters in each State then choose the electors on the day of the general election Depending on the procedure in each State, Electors' names may or may not appear on the ballot below the name of the candidates running for President

2 nd. Wed. in December ¡ Between Nov 5 & Jan 6 of Pres

2 nd. Wed. in December ¡ Between Nov 5 & Jan 6 of Pres election the winning electors head to their state capital to formally cast their ballots for the next Pres & VP ¡ Ballots are then sent in January to Washington to be counted by Congress Jan 6 results are forwarded to Congress House of Reps, Senate and president of Senate as presiding officer meet to count the electoral votes. Pres and VP candidates receiving majority votes are then declared early January ¡ ¡ ¡

Electors ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ The slate of electors that wins then casts all

Electors ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ The slate of electors that wins then casts all the state’s electoral votes for the party’s presidential candidate Winner-take-all; Maine & Nebraska excepted Each state receives a number of electors equal to the number of the state’s senators & house of reps Total of 538 members for 50 states 435 = House of Reps 100 = Senate 3 = DC

If no clear winner emerges ¡ ¡ ¡ Top 3 candidates are submitted to

If no clear winner emerges ¡ ¡ ¡ Top 3 candidates are submitted to the House where each state would be permitted to cast 1 vote House then decides whether the win will be by straight majority, plurality of votes or some other formula In the event of a tie, the House selects the Pres (1800 a tie between Jefferson & Burr for Pres & VP resulted in the 12 th Amendment of 1804) 1824 a draw between 4 candidates; House chose Adams

Post 1824 two party system emerged as the dominant theme ¡ While it is

Post 1824 two party system emerged as the dominant theme ¡ While it is customary for the EC to abide with the popular vote, on 3 occasions it decided against the popular vote ¡ Most recent was in 2000 ¡

¡ Alabama 9 Alaska 3 Arizona 10 Arkansas 6 California 55 Colorado 9 Connecticut

¡ Alabama 9 Alaska 3 Arizona 10 Arkansas 6 California 55 Colorado 9 Connecticut 7 Delaware 3 D. C. 3 Florida 27 Georgia 15 Hawaii 4 Idaho 4 Illinois 21 Indiana 11 Iowa 7 Kansas 6 Kentucky 8 Louisiana 9 Maine 4 Maryland 10 Massachusetts 12 Michigan 17 Minnesota 10 Mississippi 6 Missouri 11 Montana 3 ¡ ¡ Nebraska 5 Nevada 5 New Hampshire 4 New Jersey 15 New Mexico 5 New York 31 North Carolina 15 North Dakota 3 Ohio 20 Oklahoma 7 Oregon 7 Pennsylvania 21 Rhode Island 4 South Carolina 8 South Dakota 3 Tennessee 11 Texas 34 Utah 5 Vermont 3 Virginia 13 Washington 11 West Virginia 5 Wisconsin 10 Wyoming 3 Total: 538 electoral college votes; 270 constituting a majority. These totals were be in effect for the 2004 & 2008 presidential elections. ) State and D. C. Appointment of 3 Electors

Small states’ unfair advantage ¡ ¡ ¡ Eg. 1 electoral vote in Wyoming is

Small states’ unfair advantage ¡ ¡ ¡ Eg. 1 electoral vote in Wyoming is allocated ) for every 69, 750 voters Californians is allocated 1 electoral vote for every 178, 946 voters However, while small states have an arithmetical advantage in the electoral college, Large states with larger populations control the largest blocs of electoral votes. The winner-take-all method of allocating electoral votes grants a larger bloc of electoral votes to more populous states District of Columbia granted 3 EC seats