PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Mr. Lawrence American Gov’t

The Original System: Electoral College

In Article II, Section I of the Constitution establishes the Electoral College: Each state has as many

Electoral College votes as they do Representatives and Senators.

The Electors would meet and cast a vote for two Presidential candidates

States could choose to hold a popular vote or not

The One who received the most votes became President and second place was VP

Elections Today

The Electoral College is still used today however, now every state has a popular vote. Each state has as many

electoral votes as they do Senators and Representatives however they now have a winner takes all policy

There are 538 Electoral votes

A candidate will need 270 of these votes to win the election

The Birth of Political Parties

Grew in Power at the end of George Washington’s Presidency Washington warned that

these new Parties would Destroy American Democracy

These parties would support a Presidential Candidate helping him campaign

In return the Presidential Candidate was expected to advance the Parties Ideology.

Problems with the Modern Election System

Winner Takes All

Third Party Candidates

Election by the House

Popular Vote

Uneducated Voters