Lecture set from high school American Government class describing the makeup and function of the Electoral College

1. The Electoral College
The final Step to Choosing a President

2. Objectives
Students will identify functions of the
Electoral College and how it has changed
over time

3. Vocabulary
Electoral College: Group of persons chosen in each
State and the District of Columbia every four
years who make a formal selection of the
President and Vice President
Electoral votes: Votes cast by electors in the
electoral College

4. The Framers Plan
• Each state has
presidential electors as
it had in Congress
(538, District of
Columbia)
• Electors chosen by the
state as they wish
• Each elector casts two
votes, each for a
different person

5. The Framers Plan (Con’t)
• The votes are opened and
counted before a joint session
of Congress
• Most votes, if a majority,
becomes President
• 2nd becomes VP
• If tie or no majority,
President is chosen by the
House
• If a tie there, chosen by the
Senate

6. Election of 1800
• Two parties - tie between
Thomas Jefferson and
Aaron Burr
• 12th Amendment (1804):
President and Vice-
President run together

7. Electoral College Calendar
• Spring of Election Year: each political party
chooses electors for their states (2 sets, one for
each party)
• November: Election Day - popular vote takes
place
• December: Electoral College meets. The electors
representing the party that won the popular vote
go to Washington D.C. and cast their votes*
• January: When Congress opens their sessions for
the year - the electoral ballots are counted