Ap Gov: Electoral college system – Flashcards
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Why do we have an electoral college?
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People were not trusted. Promotes federalism: gets states involved Promotes unity Minor groups (allows them to have a voice (protects minority interest)) Contributes to political stability
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Advantages
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Protects minority rights Promotes a two party system (D&R) Promotes federalism
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Flaws
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Winner of the popular vote may not be president Its too complicated (many people think their vote doesn't count) Swing States have too much power -Smaller States Have too much power also because they get three electoral votes always Faithless electors
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Why don't we abolish the electoral college.
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Because It will take a constitutional amendment (they are hard to get) Ensures a popular candidate Ensures someone will get a majority Tradition
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How many people are in the electoral college
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includes 538 electors, 535 for the total number of congressional members from the state, and three who represent Washington D.C.
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What amendment gave D.C. electoral votes
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the 23rd amendment
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What two states do not use the "winner take all system"
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Nebraska and Maine
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What is the "Winner take all System"
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system that promotes that who ever wins the plurality (most of the popular vote) receives all the electoral votes.
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What are faithless electors.
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electors who voted on the contrary to the people's decision, which is entirely legal in some states.
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who comprises of the electoral votes in a state
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*8 representatives, and 2 senators *Maryland example
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what happens if someone gets the plurality of the popular vote
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they receive all of the electoral votes
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how many electoral votes does someone need to win the presidency
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270 of the total 538
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who comprises of the total electoral college
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100 from the senate and 435 from the House of Reps
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who chooses the president if neither won 270 votes, and why
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The house of Representatives chooses the president, and they do that because they're closer to the people.
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What amendment changed the date the president is sworn into office
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the 20th, changed the date to January 20th
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Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to the number of U.S. Senators plus the number of its members in the House of representatives; the district of Columbia also receives electoral votes compliments of the 23rd amendment ratified in 1961; at the present time the District of columbia receives 3 electoral votes
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The political parties in each state submit to the state's chief election official a list of individuals "pledge" to their candidates for president and equal in number to the State's electoral vote
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After their caucuses and primaries (held during the winter and spring in each state) the political parties nominate their candidates for President and Vice President inter national conventions traditionally held in the summer preceding the general election. The two candidates begin to campaign in earnest.
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ON the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in years divisible by four, registered voters in their East Ballot for the party slate of electors representing their choice for President and Vice President. This year it will be Tuesday November eight
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Whichever party slate wins the most popular vote in the State wins ALL of the state's electoral votes and becomes the State's electors (Winner Takes All): with the exception of Maine and Nebraska (they divided their electors up according to popular vote) So yes, we do know on this date who has won the electoral College and the Official of President. But Not So Fast
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On the Monday following the second Wednesday in December, each State's winning slate of electors meet in their respective state capitals (Annapolis, Richmond, Harrisburg, Albany, Tallahassee) to cast their electoral votes for President and Vice President
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Each of the states electoral votes are sealed and transmitted from each state to the president of the United States Senate who January 6th opens and reads them before a Joint Session of Congress in Washington, D.C.
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The candidates for President and Vice President who win the most electoral votes, providing it is a majority of the Electoral college (270) become the president and Vice President
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In the event that no candidate obtains an absolute majority of Electoral College votes (270), the House of Representatives chooses the President and the U.S. Senate chooses the Vice President.
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At noon on January 20th, the President Elect and Vice President Elect are sworn into office by the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court in front of the United States Capital in Washington, D.C.
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When was the system created
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1787
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Whats another name for the slate of electors
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Panel
