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Objectives

Objectives . Assess information on Electoral College, and draw your own conclusions as to whether or not it should be reformed. Question: Should the Presidency be decided by popular vote of all citizens?. Structure of Electoral College.

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Objectives

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  1. Objectives • Assess information on Electoral College, and draw your own conclusions as to whether or not it should be reformed. • Question: Should the Presidency be decided by popular vote of all citizens?

  2. Structure of Electoral College • # Electors per state = # Members of Congress per state (Reps + 2 Senators) • 538 Electoral votes (270 needed for win) • Winner Takes All: • All electors in a state vote for whoever wins the state • except Maine & Nebraska (district system) • How many Electors does Pennsylvania have?

  3. Impacts on the Political System? • Con: “Faithless” Electors • Pro/Con: “Winner Takes All” impacts: • Candidates may focus on large “swing” states & ignore other states • Con? Discourages 3rd parties who rarely get EC votes (e.g. Green & Libertarian parties) • Pro? Fosters 2-Party System (stability & moderation)

  4. 1968 Election: George Wallace ran as an Independent. With 13.5% of the national popular vote, he won 45 Electoral College votes. His regional support base was the reason. 1992 Election: Ross Perot ran as an Independent. With 18.9% of the national popular vote, he won 0 Electoral College votes. Source: presidentelect.org

  5. CON: Candidate may win despite losing the popular vote, due to “winner takes all” • How is that possible?? • 1st Scenario: • Winning candidate wins by narrow margins in several states, but has big losses in other states • 2000: Bush 271 vs. Gore 266 • Gore had over 500,000 more popular votes than Bush, but lost by 537 votes in Florida • Election results since 1964 Florida Recount

  6. CONS: Candidate may win despite losing the popular vote If no Presidential candidate wins a majority… House of Rep’s chooses Pres. from top 3 (Each state gets only one vote) • Senate chooses Vice President from top 2 • If no President by Jan. 20, then presidential succession order =Speaker of House, President Pro Tempore, Secretary of State, other Cabinet Secretaries

  7. Pros: • Promotes Federalism: • Must campaign by states • can’t win by focusing only on a few regions • smaller states get a boost • Fosters Intentions of Founding Fathers • It was a Constitutional Compromise • Fosters Two-Party System • More stability (fewer 3rd party upsets)

  8. Pros? Cons? • Con: Public Opinion (more people oppose it) • Pro? Con?: Votes of All Citizens Don’t Count Equally (Smaller states “overrepresented”?) • E.g. 2004: • 1 WY Elector = 165,101 votes • 1 CA Elector = 617,000 votes • Con: Lack of Legitimacy for officeholder if they won election, but lost the popular vote

  9. Reform Proposals: • 1) District Plan Pros/Cons: • No winner takes all • Presidential election decided by gerrymandered district maps • Winner of Popular vote could still lose election • No Constitutional Amendment required, but up to each state

  10. Reform Proposals • 2) Proportional Plan • % of state popular vote = % of Electors given • No winner takes all • Winner of popular vote could still lose • More 3rd party votes increase chances of vote being sent to House of Rep’s

  11. Reform Proposals • 3) Direct Popular Election • All votes count equally • Clear winner = leader with legitimacy • Hard to amend Constitution • Costs too much $ to campaign?

  12. Choices: • 1) Keep Electoral College as is • 2) District Plan • 3) Proportional Plan • 4) Direct Popular Election • Directions: • Discuss pros/cons of each. • Choose your corner • Prepare arguemtns to persuade people • Prepare arguments for informal debate

  13. Should the Electoral College be reformed? If yes, how?Informal Debate:* Make a list of pros and cons.* Choose a side.* Defend and Explain your position.

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