AP Gov: Electoral College
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the electoral college favors __
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small states
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total number of electors. how is this number determined? number each state receives? number needed to become president/vp?
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538. 435 representatives + 100 senators + 3 for DC. each state receives the same number of members in congress (minimum 3). majority needed: 270.
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What happens in November?
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Selection of state electoral slates
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When are the electoral slates chosen? Who are the electors?
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Tuesday after the first Monday of November (general election day). They are nominated by their own party, the parties will pick somebody that is a party activist, and they cannot be federal officials.
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How do people vote for the President and VP?
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Looks like a direct popular vote, but isn't. The group that is chosen to actually vote for the President is called the electoral slate. Each state must pick their slate. The electors vote in the electoral college.
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How electoral slate is determined in all but 2 states (plus DC)
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winner take all based on plurality vote. popular vote. candidate with the most votes gets all electors in that state (not necessarily majority)
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How electoral slate is determined in Maine and Nebraska
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proportional voting, not winner take all. allocate votes to the winner of each congressional district, plus two for the winner of the state as a whole.
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What happens in December?
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Electoral College Day
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when is electoral college day? where?
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monday after second wednesday in december. state capitol buildings (in the city capital).
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how do electors vote?
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vote for president and vp separately. expected to vote for party's candidate, but could vote whoever if they wanted.
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restrictions of voting
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cannot vote for more than one person from their state.
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what are done with the ballots?
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signed and sent to congress (president of the senate). not a secret ballot
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What happens in January?
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Electoral votes counted, winners determined, oaths of office administered
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When and where are the votes counted?
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January 3rd typically before a joint session of Congress (new congress?)
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What is needed to declare winners
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270 votes (majority)
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What happens if no one wins the Presidency?
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House will choose from the top 3 who received electoral votes. Each state gets one vote. Quorum: 2/3 of the states have to vote. Majority wins. DC has no vote. (has happened twice: 1800, 1824)
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What happens if nobody wins the VP?
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Senate chooses from the top 2. Each senator gets one vote. Quorum: 2/3 of the senate has to vote. Majority.
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when are the oaths of office administered and by whom?
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January 20th at noon (when the president's term ends). Chief Justice.
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Vacancy between November (general election) and december (election)
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Presidency: electors haven't voted. party provides new candidate. electors decide new person to vote for. (probably won't elevate VP). VP: same?
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Vacancy between December (election) and January 20th
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presidency: vp is sworn in, electors had already voted VP: the President picks new VP
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Vacancy after January 20th (oaths)
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President: VP takes on role. (line of succession) VP: President nominates, Senate approves. Double: Succession (Speaker, Pro Temp, Sec State, Sec Treasury, Sec Defense, Attorney General, etc)
