Homework Check - Why is there an electoral college?

Read the selection below from the section "States Had To Agree On A Plan."

The disagreement caused a good deal of trouble. It almost prevented the U.S. Constitution from being approved.

What does the phrase "a good deal" mean?

• quite a lot

• helpful news

• an agreement

• the simple end

Read the paragraph below from the introduction [paragraphs 1-3]

During the convention, there was a big disagreement. The delegates could not decide how many lawmakers each state should have in Congress. States with larger populations wanted representation based on population.

Fill in the blank. "Representation" is__

• the gifts that were given during meetings

• the disagreements about Congress

• the number of lawmakers for each state

• the states with very large populations

How does the Great Compromise affect smaller states?

• It gives them fewer bills or laws.

• It gives them more representatives.

• It gives them fewer votes in the Senate.

• It gives them more power in the Senate.

According to the section "Voice Of The Founding Fathers," WHY is the Senate unlikely to change?

• because big states want it to stay the same

• because it is protected in the Constitution

• because it helps major cities keep power

• because it is part of the Electoral College

What caused the Great Compromise?

• Delegates from the American states came together for the Constitutional Convention

• Bigger states were worried about the growth of pork barrel spending in smaller states.

• Smaller states wanted equal representation to keep big states from having more power

• Representatives wanted the Electoral College to be the group to elect the president.

What effect did the Great Compromise have on the balance of power in the Senate?

• It gave more power to states with small populations and rural areas.

• It gave more power to major cities as media and government centers.

• It gave fewer Electoral College votes to many bigger states.

• It gave fewer representatives to states with large populations.

The word "compromise" is essential to understanding congressional representation. Which sentence from the article explains what "compromise" means?

• The delegates could not agree on how many lawmakers each state should have in Congress.

• Delegates from both sides of the dispute vowed to reject the document if they did not get their way.

• The deal combined the proposals from two different plans.

• The plan was approved on July 23, 1787.

Read the following sentence from the section "Electoral Votes Can Sway Elections."

It makes sure that interests across the entire country are represented in Congress.

What is the meaning of the word "interests" as it is used in the sentence above?

• attractions and games

• concerns and issues

• hobbies and pastimes

• times and dates

Read the following selection from the section "Agreeing To A System Of Representation."

Delegates from larger states believed each state's representation in the newly proposed Senate should be proportionate to population. Under this system, states with larger populations would have more representatives in the Senate. States with smaller populations would have fewer representatives.

The word "proportionate" in the selection above tells the reader that______.

• the number of representatives was equal to a state's total population

• the number of representatives was based on a state's number of people

• the number of representatives would always stay the same once chosen

• the number of representatives would automatically change each year

Read the following selection from the selection.

"In the Senate when they're trying to get to 51 votes to pass a bill, every vote counts," he says. "That's when the smaller states can demand amendments and additions to bills to look out for their own state's interest." Such benefits are often referred to as "pork barrel" legislation.

Why did the author include this idea in the article?

• to elaborate on the way the Great Compromise affects states' power

• to introduce the fact that bills need at least 51 votes to pass the Senate

• to emphasize the importance of pork products in smaller states' wealth

• to illustrate the causes of disagreement about the Electoral College