Electoral College: Lecture

Question 1

How does the Electoral College work?

Answer 1

538 total electoral votes: # of House of Representatives (435) + # of Senators (100) + DC (3) = 538

Question 2

How are Electoral votes distributed to the states? How does a state know how many votes it should have?

Answer 2

The state’s population. It would know how many votes by taking a census.

2 minimum for each state + the # of HOR from the state

Question 3

What are the fewest EC votes a state can have?

Answer 3

Three

Question 4

How many electoral votes are needed to win the Presidency?

Answer 4

270 votes (majority)

Question 5

What is partisan realignment? How have different regions changed overtime (South, New England, Far West)?

Answer 5

A set of sharp changes in party related ideology, issues, leaders, regional bases, demographic bases, and/or structure of power within a government.

Question 6

What are the main criticisms and defenses of the Electoral College?

Answer 6

Criticisms: A candidate could win the popular vote but lose the election, “faith-less” electors, may depress voter turnout, prevents one direct national popular vote, prefer direct democracy wants unhindered national majority

Defenses: Constitutional vs. Popular majorities, preserves minority/regional differences, produces a clear winner, there are 50 state level popular votes, resists “simplistic democracy” worried about factions