ELECTING A ELECTING A REPRESENTATIVREPRESENTATIV

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2000 PRESIDENTIAL 2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONELECTION

The 2000 Presidential election was a polarizing The 2000 Presidential election was a polarizing time in American politics. The American people time in American politics. The American people were split between the Vice-President, Al Gore, were split between the Vice-President, Al Gore, and the Governor of Texas, George W. Bush.and the Governor of Texas, George W. Bush.

The popular vote was: The popular vote was: The Al Gore: 51,003,926 votesThe Al Gore: 51,003,926 votes George W. Bush: 50,456,062George W. Bush: 50,456,062

How did George W. Bush, who was behind by How did George W. Bush, who was behind by more than ½ million votes win the 2000 more than ½ million votes win the 2000 Presidential election?Presidential election?

And to the Republic…I And to the Republic…I thought we were a thought we were a

DemocracyDemocracy What is a Democracy?What is a Democracy? Etymology- From Greek root, demos, “people, Etymology- From Greek root, demos, “people,

mob, or the many” and kratos, “rule or power.”mob, or the many” and kratos, “rule or power.” Democracy is political structure by which the Democracy is political structure by which the

government is run for the people, by the people. government is run for the people, by the people. The power of rule is held my the populace.The power of rule is held my the populace.

Power in any other hands leads to tyranny.Power in any other hands leads to tyranny.

What is a Republic?What is a Republic? A theory of government stating that government A theory of government stating that government

must be based on popular consent, be limited in must be based on popular consent, be limited in its power, and protected against the majority.its power, and protected against the majority.

AHHH!!! THE MAJORITYAHHH!!! THE MAJORITY The Founding Fathers feared the majority of the population The Founding Fathers feared the majority of the population

because:because:

Direct democracy meant that the people had to actively and directly rule Direct democracy meant that the people had to actively and directly rule themselves without intermediaries, representatives, or leaders.themselves without intermediaries, representatives, or leaders.

During the 18During the 18thth century, illiteracy, communication, and education did not century, illiteracy, communication, and education did not exist in the way it does today, and this truly scared the educated elite.exist in the way it does today, and this truly scared the educated elite.

It is not unknown for the majority to stifle the freedoms of the minority or It is not unknown for the majority to stifle the freedoms of the minority or groups and individuals who dared to be different (race, religion, sexuality, groups and individuals who dared to be different (race, religion, sexuality, etc).etc).

A republican form of government was thought to be able to protect against A republican form of government was thought to be able to protect against the majority, as well as, represent them.the majority, as well as, represent them.

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

What is the Electoral College?What is the Electoral College? The Electoral College is made-up of officials which are chosen The Electoral College is made-up of officials which are chosen

by each state. by each state. There are 538 Electoral Votes. One vote for each Senator (100), There are 538 Electoral Votes. One vote for each Senator (100),

one vote for each Representative (435), and three votes for the one vote for each Representative (435), and three votes for the District of Columbia. District of Columbia.

Each state has a different number of votes depending on their Each state has a different number of votes depending on their number of representatives.number of representatives.

Electoral College officials Electoral College officials do notdo not have to submit their vote on have to submit their vote on the basis of the popular vote.the basis of the popular vote.

To win the election, a candidate needs a majority of electoral To win the election, a candidate needs a majority of electoral votes. 538/2=269 So a candidate needs 270 votes. Otherwise votes. 538/2=269 So a candidate needs 270 votes. Otherwise the vote goes to the House of Representatives.the vote goes to the House of Representatives.

THE 2006 ELECTORAL THE 2006 ELECTORAL COLLEGE MAPCOLLEGE MAP

WHY USE THE ELECTORAL WHY USE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE?COLLEGE? The Electoral College was an attempt to minimize the power of The Electoral College was an attempt to minimize the power of

democracy, and establish America further as a Republic.democracy, and establish America further as a Republic.

At the time of the Constitution, the members of the Constitutional At the time of the Constitution, the members of the Constitutional Convention had not envisioned America as a two-party system, but a Convention had not envisioned America as a two-party system, but a multi-party system.multi-party system.

While the two-party system got its roots in the Constitutional While the two-party system got its roots in the Constitutional Convention with the federalists and anti-federalists, it became more Convention with the federalists and anti-federalists, it became more apparent in the election of 1796.apparent in the election of 1796.

Originally, the Continental Congress felt that with a multi-party Originally, the Continental Congress felt that with a multi-party system, there would never be a majority winner in the Electoral system, there would never be a majority winner in the Electoral College, and therefore, the House would get the vote for the president College, and therefore, the House would get the vote for the president in the end of the day. Keeping the educated elite in control of the in the end of the day. Keeping the educated elite in control of the Executive branch.Executive branch.

In the end, the Electoral College’s design created the two-party In the end, the Electoral College’s design created the two-party system.system.

CONCLUSION TO 2000 RACECONCLUSION TO 2000 RACE

BUSH WON ON ELECTORAL VOTES:BUSH WON ON ELECTORAL VOTES:

BUSH- 271 ELECTORAL VOTESBUSH- 271 ELECTORAL VOTES GORE-266 ELECTORAL VOTESGORE-266 ELECTORAL VOTES

Do you think that the Electoral College Do you think that the Electoral College is out of date?is out of date?

THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ELECTION: THE ELECTION OF ELECTION: THE ELECTION OF

18241824 Candidates:Candidates: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and William John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and William

CrawfordCrawford

Electoral Votes:Electoral Votes: Adams- 84 VotesAdams- 84 Votes Jackson- 99 VotesJackson- 99 Votes

Clay- 37 VotesClay- 37 Votes Crawford- 41 VotesCrawford- 41 Votes Jackson also won the popular vote as well, but no candidate won Jackson also won the popular vote as well, but no candidate won

a majority of Electoral College votes. Therefore, Congress was a majority of Electoral College votes. Therefore, Congress was given the job choosing the President.given the job choosing the President.

John Q. Adams won the Election of 1824 John Q. Adams won the Election of 1824 in what has become known as the in what has become known as the “corrupt bargain.”“corrupt bargain.”

Voter TurnoutVoter Turnout

2004 vs. 20062004 vs. 2006 Number of voters in 2004- 123,535,883Number of voters in 2004- 123,535,883 Number of voters in 2006- 85,724,135Number of voters in 2006- 85,724,135 Why the drop in voter turnout?Why the drop in voter turnout?

What is a midterm-election?What is a midterm-election?

Why are all elections important?Why are all elections important?

WHY VOTE?WHY VOTE? IS VOTING A RIGHT OR A GIFT?IS VOTING A RIGHT OR A GIFT?

AS A MEMBER OF A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, IS IT AS A MEMBER OF A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, IS IT YOUR DUTY TO VOTE?YOUR DUTY TO VOTE?

““MY VOTE DOESN’T COUNT.”MY VOTE DOESN’T COUNT.”

YOUR VOTE COUNTSYOUR VOTE COUNTS Did you know:Did you know:

That several of our states, including California, Idaho, Oregon, That several of our states, including California, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington, became states by just ONE vote? Texas and Washington, became states by just ONE vote?

That in 1948, Lyndon B. Johnson, our 36th president, became a That in 1948, Lyndon B. Johnson, our 36th president, became a U.S. senator by a ONE vote margin? U.S. senator by a ONE vote margin?

And that same year, if Thomas E. Dewey had gotten ONE vote And that same year, if Thomas E. Dewey had gotten ONE vote more per precinct in Ohio and California, the presidential election more per precinct in Ohio and California, the presidential election would have been thrown to the U.S. House of Representatives, would have been thrown to the U.S. House of Representatives, where Dewey enjoyed more support than his rival -- incumbent where Dewey enjoyed more support than his rival -- incumbent Harry S. Truman? In fact, Dewey was expected to win the general Harry S. Truman? In fact, Dewey was expected to win the general election by a landslide, so most Republicans stayed home. Only election by a landslide, so most Republicans stayed home. Only 51.5 percent of the electorate voted in 1948, and Truman defeated 51.5 percent of the electorate voted in 1948, and Truman defeated Dewey. Dewey.

Not convinced?Not convinced? In the 1960 presidential election, ONE additional vote per precinct In the 1960 presidential election, ONE additional vote per precinct

in Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey and Texas would have denied in Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey and Texas would have denied John F. Kennedy the presidency and put Richard M. Nixon in office John F. Kennedy the presidency and put Richard M. Nixon in office eight years earlier.eight years earlier.

In recent years, the outcomes of many state and congressional In recent years, the outcomes of many state and congressional races have been reversed as recounts have shifted a handful of races have been reversed as recounts have shifted a handful of votes from one candidate to another. votes from one candidate to another.

GET OUT AND GET OUT AND VOTE!!!VOTE!!!

TELL YOUR TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FRIENDS AND

FAMILY, “VOTE!!!!”FAMILY, “VOTE!!!!”