APUSH Electoral College – Flashcards
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What mechanism is used to select President and Vice President during a general election?
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The Electoral College
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When a person votes for President, what are they really voting for?
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a group of electors.
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Why does the Electoral College exist?
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The Founding Fathers believed the average American was inept.
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How does the Electoral College determine the number of electors from each state?
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Each state's electors = the total number of Representatives and Senators in U.S. Congress.
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How many electors does the District of Columbia have?
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3 electors (the minimum)
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How many total electoral votes are there?
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538 (435 Representatives, 100 Senators, 3 from D.C.)
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How many electoral votes must a candidate receive in order to win the Presidency?
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270 - the majority.
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How is the president selected if no single candidate receives 270 electoral votes?
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The House of Representatives selects the President - each state gets one vote.
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When has the House been used to determine the president?
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Twice - Thomas Jefferson in 1801 and John Quincy Adams in 1825
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Three Flaws of the Electoral College
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-Unequal representation for large and small states -A candidate who wins the popular vote could still lose the electoral college -Electors could go against the people's vote
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Presidential Election of 2000
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Gore won the Popular Vote. Bush won the Electoral Vote. It was disputed because of recounting controversies in Florida.
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What states are often Democratic?
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The coasts. (New York, Massachusetts, California, etc.)
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What states are often Republican?
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The middle and the south. (Texas, Utah, Kansas, etc - Bible Belt)
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What states are often swing states?
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Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida
