U. S. Constitution - Selecting the President | |||||||||
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The Virginia Plan offered by James Madison and the New Jersey Plan from William Patterson called for the President to be selected by the legislature. Some delegates believed that the direct popular election of the President would be dominated by the larger states.
1. How does the Electoral College actually work?
What is the winner-takes-all rule?
2. Based on question 1, who actually elects the President?
What happens if no presidential candidate gets 270 electoral votes?
3. How many Electoral votes does your state have?
How is this number determined?
4. How does the Electoral plan empower the smaller states?
5. Has there ever been a "faithless elector" from your state?
Explain whether you support or dispute that faithless elector's decision.
6. According to The U.S. Electoral College Calculator, a person can win the presidential election Use NARA's Electoral College information:
Is your state one of these states?
Name a Presidential election where the person who won the greatest number of popular votes
7. Many grassroots organizations are calling for changing how the U.S. President is chosen. They favor a shift towards a more direct election. National Popular Vote How would this change be accomplish?
8. Give an example of a change that has been made in the U.S. Constitution regarding elections and the office of President.
Essay : Write a 5 paragraph essay Is it time for the popular, direct election of the President and Vice President?
"The real rulers in Washington are invisible and exercise power from behind the scenes." Justice Felix Frankfurter Resources: Constitutional Topic: The Electoral College USConstitution.net "The Electoral College", William C. Kimberling, Deputy Director FEC Office of Election Administration (pdf) The American Electoral College by Ellis Katz The Electoral College in the 21st Century - http://www.fairvote.org/?page=1729 How the Electoral College Works - Ch 2. http://www.every-vote-equal.com/tableofcontents.htm History of US Presidential Elections - http://www.multied.com/elections/ FAQ - U.S. Electoral College - NARA National Popular Vote - A Plan to Make Each Vote Count Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789 - Library of Congress The Charters of Freedom - National Archives The Yes Men - democracy for sale - Try your hand at this approach to dealing with a problem facing you today. "All power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people. That government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty and the right of acquiring property, and generally of pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. That the people have an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform or change their government whenever it be found adverse or inadequate to the purpose of its institution." James Madison
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