Graduating from Electoral College
Critical Analysis
What portion of Americans say we should amend the Constitution so the candidate who receives the most votes wins?
Identify one trend you see in the data.
What is the most important cause of that trend?
Explain the most important consequence of that trend.
Describe how party identification impacts opinion on abolishing the electoral college:
Describe how residency in a battleground state (swing state) impacts opinion on abolishing the electoral college:*
If Congress votes to amend the Constitution to abolish the Electoral College what portion of U.S. states would have to ratify the Amendment for it to pass?
A majority of Americans want to abolish the electoral college. Considering the data from the chart and the difficulties of the Amendment process, do you think it is likely that the U.S. will amend the Constitution to abolish the Electoral College?
Hypothetically, could we amend the Constitution to abolish the Constitution?
The 2000 election and the 2016 election were won by the candidate who got the least popular votes. Did that impact the results of the poll above?
Would you prefer to amend the Constitution so the candidate who receives the most votes wins, or do you prefer to keep the current system so the candidate who wins the Electoral College vote wins?
Based on the data above and what you know about the American political system. In a scenario where Democrats gain a super-majority in the House and the Senate. Describe what Republicans could do to lessen the likelihood of an Amendment to abolish the Electoral College?
The U.S. Constitution has only been amended 17 times since the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791. Make a claim about whether the Framers of the Constitution were more interested in a participatory or an elite democracy.
Take ten seconds and draw the electoral college. I know, I know: you aren’t an artist, this isn’t AP Studio Art, You’re hangry. I get it. But really, this will really, Really, Really help you remember the concept of The Electoral College - I promise. Take ten seconds and draw The Electoral College. I’m not going to take this up for a grade or Tweet it to all your friends. Just draw. It can be stick figures, or big blocks and shapes, or totally abstract-it doesn’t matter. Now that you’ve drawn, take a second and look at your masterpiece. That’s it. Really. Now you’ve got The Electoral College in Your long term memory - right where we want it! Thank you for playing.
Visual Extension*
Learning Extension
Action Extension
Contact your U.S. House Representative, let them know what you think about the Electoral College, and tell them what you’d like them to do about it?
