Journal 1-13

Describe what you know about how someone wins election to be President in the US?

Generally speaking…which political party is more strict on border control?

1. Democrat
2. Republican
3. Libertarian
4. Progressive

Generally speaking…which political party would be more likely to support a mask requirement?

• Republican
• Democrat
• Libertarian
• Progressive

Generally speaking…which political party wants wealthy Americans to pay a higher percentage of income to taxes?

1. Democrat
2. Republican
3. Libertarian
4. Progressive

Explain these results�Election Year in 2016

• Hillary Clinton (D) vs. Donald Trump (R)

National Results:

Clinton: 65,844,954 votes

Trump: 62,979,879 votes

Who Wins?

What is the main job of the Executive branch?

1. Make the laws
2. Carry out the laws
3. Interpret the laws
4. Explain the laws

Who leads the Executive branch?

• President
• Vice-President
• Congress
• Supreme Court

Research and find…How many times has this happened AND what years?

• 5 (1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, 2016)
• How many people voted for Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton in 2016?
• Clinton: 65,844,954 votes
• Trump: 62,979,879 votes
• How many “points” needed to win election?
• 270
• What was “point” score of Trump v. Clinton?
• Trump: 306
• Clinton: 232

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Lesson Goals

1. I can explain how the US elects a President
2. I can identify definitions related to how we elect a President
3. I can explain how someone could get the most votes but lose a Presidential election
4. I can demonstrate my understanding by completing a sample of election results

Electoral College�Problem Solving Group Work

Using the information provided on the next 3 slides to come up with an Electoral College score for the 8 states given from the 2020 election. Answer the following…

1) Who wins the election based on these 8 states?

2) How many electoral votes does each candidate have based on these 8 states?

3) How many popular votes does each candidate have based on these 8 states?

BONUS: Assuming the same results within each state, what would the electoral vote count have been if these results were in 2008 (use 2008 electoral map)?

Jot your answers on a slip of paper WITH ALL group members. If you get low score try again on your own. You have until the unit is finished to raise your score.

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Electoral College

Electoral College- System by which we elect a President in the United States

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How does the President become the President??

Main Terms to Know…

• Popular Vote- Number of individual votes candidates get from people in the U.S.
• Electoral Vote- This is the number of votes that determines winner of the election. (points that a state is worth)
• Swing states- states with about = # of Democrats and Republicans

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How the Electoral College Works

• Main political parties select 1 candidate each to run…Primary or Caucus to determine the 1.
• Why would 2 candidates from the same party guarantee a loss?
• Popular vote held in each state and winner of state gets ALL electoral votes (points)
• Electoral Vote total each state is worth is same as # that state has in congress (Senate and House of Representatives combined) Example: If Iowa has 6 members in congress the state is worth 6 electoral votes.
• Whether a candidate wins a state by a lot or a little they get all electoral votes (points) of the state
• 270 electoral votes (points) wins election

Electoral College

• 5 times a candidate has won popular vote and lost election
• Census- population of each state figured every 10 years. This could change the number of electoral votes that state is worth. Example: Iowa was worth 7 electoral votes in 2008 election but only 6 in 2012 election
• Why?

What kind of votes determine the winner of a Presidential election?

1. Electoral votes
2. Popular votes
3. Congressional votes
4. Majority votes

How many electoral votes are needed to win a Presidential election?

1. 180
2. 230
3. 250
4. 270

2024 Election

• Questions to consider

1. How did they know whether MOST states would be won by Democrats or Republicans before the election?

2. What states were the swing states?
3. What are some states worth high point values (electoral votes)? Low values?

https://www.270towin.com/

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Is a President too powerful?

Cabinet- Group of people who advise the President

Checks and Balances- System of our government designed to make sure no single branch is too powerful

Impeachment- charges of wrongdoing against a public official that could lead to removal from office.

Review Video

Electoral College�Problem Solving Group Work

Using the information provided on the next 3 slides to come up with an Electoral College score for the 8 states given from the 2020 election. Answer the following…

1) Who wins the election based on these 8 states?

2) How many electoral votes does each candidate have based on these 8 states?

3) How many popular votes does each candidate have based on these 8 states?

BONUS: Assuming the same results within each state, what would the electoral vote count have been if these results were in 2008 (use 2008 electoral map)?

Jot your answers on a slip of paper WITH ALL group members. If you get low score try again on your own. You have until the unit is finished to raise your score.

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Missouri

Trump- 1,718,736

Biden- 1,253,014

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Pennsylvania

Trump- 3,378,263

Biden- 3,459,923

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Colorado

Trump- 1,364,607

Biden- 1,804,352

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Texas

Trump- 5,890,347

Biden- 5,259,126

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Virginia

Trump- 1,962,430

Biden- 2,413,568

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Arizona

Trump- 1,661,686

Biden- 1,672,143

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Iowa

Trump- 897,672

Biden- 759,061

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Georgia

Trump- 2,461,854

Biden- 2,473,633

2020 Election Results

Joseph Biden (D) vs. Donald Trump (R)

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2020 Electoral Map

2008

2000 Election: Very Close!!�Recount ordered in Florida

• Gore- 266 Electoral Votes
• Bush- 246 Electoral Votes
• Florida- Worth 25 Electoral Votes

2000 Election: Bush Wins Florida!

• Bush- 2,912,790 votes in Florida (48.85%) 271 EV
• Gore- 2,912,293 votes in Florida (48.84%) 266 EV

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