article ii – the executive branch - the electoral college u.s. history i
TRANSCRIPT
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