C-SPAN.ORG

Lessons for teaching about the Electoral
College.
� Electoral College Overview
� Electoral College Pro's and Con's
� Electoral College & Campaign Strategy
� Electoral College Flash Cards
Topics & standards covered: Campaigns,
elections, Electoral College, political parties, political communication.



	The Electoral College system, the means by which the president is selected in the United States, has evolved somewhat since the founders' original design. However, since the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution, the system has remained relatively unchanged, although controversial. More Information National Archives Briefing on Electoral College, "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Electoral College But Were Afraid to Ask." 10/19/2004 (45 min). Gary Gregg, Editor, "Securing Democracy: Why We Have an Electoral College." 11/8/2001(40 min).



	On the day after Election Day 2000, the disputed vote count in the state of Florida, and the close electoral results, left the presidential election up in the air. In the end, George W. Bush (R) won Florida's electoral votes and thus the election, yet Al Gore (D) won the popular vote nationwide. A debate about the value of the Electoral College was renewed. The 2004 campaign has been competitive, especially in "battleground" states where the vote is too close to predict. It is expected to be a similarly close election. Looking back on the campaign and forward to Election Day, consider the question: Should we keep or abolish the Electoral College? Reasons to keep the Electoral College? * In 48 of the 50 states, if a candidate wins the popular vote, they receive all of that states electoral votes. This forces the Democrats and Republicans to develop platforms that are diverse and inclusive in an attempt to attract as many voters as possible. See more reasons to keep the Electoral College. Reasons to abolish the Electoral College? * The candidate who receives the most popular votes can lose the election (e.g. 1876 & 2000). Critics of the Electoral College would argue that the current system is inconsistent with the values of a democracy. See more reasons to abolish the Electoral College.



	This activity lets students act as campaign strategists and design plans of attack for accumulating the 270 votes needed to win the presidency. The scenarios listed below can be used in conjunction with C-SPAN's 2004 Electoral College Map and Electoral College results from 2000 and the 2000 vote breakdown sheet. Some scenarios will have multiple correct answers. 1. Win 270 electoral votes without winning California, Texas, or New York. 2. Win 270 electoral votes by winning only states that have 12 or more electoral votes. More Electoral College & Campaign Strategy Scenarios

1. Make flash cards. Cut along the dotted lines and paste each "state" card back-to-back to its corresponding Electoral College count card. Students can use these cards to familiarize themselves with the Electoral College and test their knowledge. (Level: Beginner)

2. Play concentration. Cut along the dotted lines. Then, study the votes assigned to each state. Turn all the cards face down. Try matching states and Electoral College counts. (Level: Beginner)