Electoral College Lessons Packet PDF

From our Challenge of Democracy: Governance series TWO LESSONS TO GET YOUR STUDENTS READY FOR ELECTION 2020 270 Votes to Win: The Electoral College in the U.S. Slavery and the Electoral College This publication is made possible by a generou...

From our Challenge of Democracy: Governance series TWO LESSONS TO GET YOUR STUDENTS READY FOR ELECTION 2020 270 Votes to Win: The Electoral College in the U.S. Slavery and the Electoral College This publication is made possible by a generous grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation  THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRACY: GOVERNANCE 270 Votes to Win: The Electoral College in the United States Overview Standards and Topics Topics: presidential elections, Electoral College, 12th Amendment, voting Objectives Materials © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 1 270 Votes to Win Procedure ― © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 2 270 Votes to Win  HANDOUT A 270 Votes to Win: The Electoral College in the United States The instructions on this Summit County, Ohio absentee ballot – Origins of the Electoral College from the 2012 presidential election – explain that the voter is choosing electors associated with a certain ticket. © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 3 270 Votes to Win Changes Under the 12th Amendment The Electoral College Today © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 4 270 Votes to Win  Examples of Close Plurality Winner-Take-All Results from the 2016 Presidential Election Electoral % of Popular Vote % of Popular Vote All Electoral College College Votes Trump (R) Clinton (D) votes awarded to: Michigan 16 47.6 47.3 Trump Minnesota 10 45.4 46.9 Clinton Writing & Discussion © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 5 270 Votes to Win  HANDOUT B What Should We Do About the Electoral College? Arguments Against the Electoral College ― ― ― ― ― ― ― ― ― © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 6 270 Votes to Win Arguments in Favor of the Electoral College © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 7 270 Votes to Win  Possibilities for abolishing or changing (or keeping) the Electoral College Option #1: Amend the Constitution to eliminate the Electoral College and switch to a national popular vote. Option #2: Amend the Constitution to eliminate the Electoral College and switch to a majority popular vote with a run-off election. Option #3: Keep the Electoral College, but urge states to switch to district electoral votes. Option #4: Urge states to adopt the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Option #5: Retain the Electoral College as it is. © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 8 270 Votes to Win  THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRACY: GOVERNANCE Slavery and the Electoral College Overview Standards and Topics Topics: Electoral College, slavery, three-fifths compromise, 12th Amendment, U.S. Constitution, Constitutional Convention Objectives © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 1 Slavery and the Electoral College Materials Procedure © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 2 Slavery and the Electoral College  © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 3 Slavery and the Electoral College  HANDOUT A Slavery and the Electoral College Wikimedia Commons Samuel Thatcher was a Federalist representative in Congress In 1803 when he called for repeal of the three-fifths compromise. © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 4 Slavery and the Electoral College For Discussion © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 5 Slavery and the Electoral College  HANDOUT B CIVIL CONVERSATION GUIDE Step 1: Read. Step 2: Think about the reading to prepare for the discussion. © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 6 Slavery and the Electoral College  Step 3: Discuss and listen. RULES FOR CIVIL CONVERSATION 1. Everyone in your group should participate in the conversation. 2. Listen carefully to what others are saying. 3. Ask clarifying questions if you do not understand a point raised. 4. Be respectful of what others are saying. 5. Refer to the text to support your ideas. Step 4: After your conversation… © 2019 Constitutional Rights Foundation 7 Slavery and the Electoral College