presidential elections mr. lawrence american gov’t
TRANSCRIPT
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