Correct Answer?

A state has 11 electoral votes. In a presidential election, the Democratic candidate receives 48 percent of that states popular vote, the Republican candidate receives 40 percent of the vote, and an independent candidate receives 12 percent of the vote. If the state is similar to most other states, how will the electoral votes most likely be allocated?

The Democratic candidate will receive 5 electoral votes, the Republican will receive 4, and the independent will receive 2 (B) The Democratic candidate will receive 6 electoral votes and the Republican will receive 5 (C) The Democratic candidate will receive all the 11 electoral votes (D) The votes will not be allocated until there has been a runoff election between the Democratic and Republican candidates (E) The House of Representatives will determine the allocation of the electoral votes
(A)

Electing the President

Unit 5 Notes

Possible Methods Turned Down

Congress Appoints the President

Afraid congress would be too powerful (violation of Checks & Balances in congress)

Direct Popular Vote a direct vote by the people

The people arent intelligent enough

not enough media most popular candidate may not be best

Electoral College & Voting Process Today

President is elected every 4 years (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012) Political parties choose nominees to run in each state

Nominees campaign from state to state to win their political partys nomination = Political Primaries

Democratic Primary Republican Primary

Hippocampus Video

2008 Republican Primary

Tommy Thompson, Sam Brownback, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter

Democratic Primaries 2008

Barrack Obama, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Hilary Clinton

Electoral College & Voting Process Today

Presidential Election

Voters in each state go to booths and vote for a specific candidate

Each states number of electors is based upon the number of total congressman that state has

Voters are actually voting on that candidates electors

Winner-takes-all on electoral votes

House + Senate = Electoral Votes

Candidate with the Majority wins NOT the candidate with the most votes

exception: Nebraska & Maine

1996 Electoral College

2008 Electoral College Map

Project 2012 Electoral College

Problems with Electoral College

Candidate could win popular vote but lose electoral vote Third-Party Candidates

Presidential Oath
I do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.