TOPIC 5 EXECUTIVE BRANCH INTRO 'THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE'

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a representative democracy?

• A system where citizens vote directly on all laws

• A system where elected officials represent a group of people

• A government run by a single ruler

• A system where only the wealthy can vote

Open Ended

Why do you think the United States uses both the Electoral College and the popular vote in presidential elections?

Open Ended

How does the Electoral College elect a U.S. President?

Open Ended

What is the difference between the popular vote and the electoral vote in a U.S. presidential election?

Open Ended

Explain why the candidate with the most popular votes does not always become President in the United States.

Fill in the Blanks

A candidate needs

electoral votes to win the U.S. presidential election.

Multiple Choice

In the 2000 presidential election, how many electoral votes did George W. Bush receive?

• 266

• 270

• 271

• 273

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements about the 2000 U.S. presidential election is correct?

• Al Gore won both the popular vote and the electoral vote.

• George W. Bush won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote.

• Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote.

• George W. Bush won both the popular vote and the electoral vote.

Multiple Choice

What is the main purpose of voting for electors in a U.S. presidential election?

• To directly elect the President

• To choose representatives for Congress

• To select members of the Supreme Court

• To vote for presidential electors who represent political parties

Open Ended

Explain the difference between the two types of 'college' shown in the second image and why the term 'Electoral College' might be confusing.

Multiple Choice

Which factors determine the total number of electors a state receives?

• State's population and number of Senators

• State's area and number of Representatives

• State's GDP and number of Representatives

• State's population and number of Supreme Court justices

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blank: Each state receives

electors automatically because every state has two senators.

Open Ended

Who are electors and what pledge do they make when chosen by their party?

Multiple Choice

Why are members of Congress, federal employees, and Supreme Court justices not allowed to serve as electors?

• To prevent conflicts of interest and maintain balance of power

• Because they are too busy with their jobs

• Because they are not citizens

• To allow only party leaders to serve as electors

Multiple Choice

Which state had the highest number of electoral votes in the 2012 U.S. presidential election?

• Texas

• California

• New York

• Florida

Open Ended

Compare the number of electoral votes between Alaska and Texas. What factors contribute to the difference in their electoral votes?

Multiple Choice

Based on the population-to-electoral vote ratio, which state has more voting power per person: Alaska or Texas?

• Alaska

• Texas

• They are equal

• Cannot be determined

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best describes how electoral votes are awarded in Texas during a presidential election?

• Electoral votes are split between candidates based on the popular vote.

• All electoral votes go to the candidate who wins the popular vote.

• Electoral votes are awarded by congressional district.

• Electoral votes are given to both major party candidates.

Multiple Select

Select all statements that are true about how electors vote in Texas.

• Republican electors cast their votes if the Republican candidate wins the popular vote.

• Democratic electors cast their votes if the Democratic candidate wins the popular vote.

• Electors meet at the state capitol to place their votes.

• All electors cast votes regardless of the popular vote outcome.

Open Ended

If you were running for President of the United States, which states would you spend the most amount of time campaigning in? Explain your reasoning.

Multiple Choice

Which states have the highest number of electoral votes, and why might this influence where presidential candidates focus their campaigns?

• California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York; because they have the most electoral votes

• Montana, Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, Delaware; because they are small states

• Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa; because they are in the Midwest

• Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi; because they are in the South

Multiple Choice

Which of the following states have historically always voted Democrat?

• Maine, New York, California, Washington

• Texas, Utah, Alabama, Mississippi

• Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia

• Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska

Fill in the Blanks

The Electoral College is debated each time a candidate wins the popular vote but loses the

vote.

Fill in the Blanks

The term used for the group that officially elects the President of the United States is the

.

Open Ended

What is one question you still have about the differences between the Electoral College and the popular vote?