themaking of the president2008. presented by the james bowie high school social studies department

THE THE MAKING MAKING OF THE OF THE

PRESIDENTPRESIDENT

20082008

Presented Presented by the by the

James Bowie High SchoolJames Bowie High School

Social Studies Social Studies DepartmentDepartment

A big thanks toA big thanks to

Mr. Bill ReedMr. Bill ReedNational Board Certified National Board Certified

Career and Technical Education teacher Career and Technical Education teacher

James Bowie High SchoolJames Bowie High School

On November 4, 2008 American voters On November 4, 2008 American voters will once again go to the polls to elect the will once again go to the polls to elect the

President of the United States. President of the United States.

So, how does it all work and who really So, how does it all work and who really “elects” the President? “elects” the President?

The following is a brief summary of how The following is a brief summary of how the election process takes place. the election process takes place.

HOW HOW

THE THE ELECTORAL ELECTORAL

COLLEGECOLLEGE

WORKSWORKS

There are currently 435 There are currently 435 members of the U.S. House of members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Each state is Representatives. Each state is given representatives based on given representatives based on the number of people living in the number of people living in

the state.the state.

ANSWER TO ANSWER TO QUESTION #1QUESTION #1

FALSEFALSE

Texas is currently the Texas is currently the second largest state in the second largest state in the U.S. (by population) and U.S. (by population) and

has 32 members in the U.S. has 32 members in the U.S. House of Representatives.House of Representatives.

Even the smallest populated Even the smallest populated states (Alaska, Montana, states (Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Wyoming, North Dakota,

South Dakota, Delaware, and South Dakota, Delaware, and Vermont) are guaranteed at Vermont) are guaranteed at

least one member in the House least one member in the House of Representatives.of Representatives.


TRUETRUE

Each of the 50 states has 2 Each of the 50 states has 2 U.S. Senators. There are U.S. Senators. There are

currently 100 members of currently 100 members of the U.S. Senatethe U.S. Senate..

TRIVIA TIMETRIVIA TIMEDID YOU KNOW THAT: DID YOU KNOW THAT: James Madison was once so James Madison was once so

poor that he applied for a poor that he applied for a loan to the Bank of the loan to the Bank of the United States? He was United States? He was

turned down.turned down.

TRIVIA TRIVIA QUESTION #1 QUESTION #1

ANSWERANSWER

JAMES MADISONJAMES MADISON

Article II of the U.S. Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes the Constitution establishes the

Electoral College. Each state Electoral College. Each state receives a number of electors receives a number of electors equal to the number of U.S. equal to the number of U.S. Senators plus U.S. House of Senators plus U.S. House of

Representatives it has.Representatives it has.

There are 538 electoral There are 538 electoral votes total—representing votes total—representing

100 senators plus 435 100 senators plus 435 representatives, plus 3 for representatives, plus 3 for

Washington D.C.Washington D.C.

A total of A total of 270 electoral votes are 270 electoral votes are

needed to win a needed to win a presidential election.presidential election.


TRUETRUE

Texas has 34 electoral votesTexas has 34 electoral votes—32 from its number of —32 from its number of

members in the U.S. House members in the U.S. House of Representatives plus 2 of Representatives plus 2 from its number of U.S. from its number of U.S.

Senators. Senators.


TRUETRUE

During the summer of 2008 During the summer of 2008 Texas (and every other state) Texas (and every other state) held separate Democratic and held separate Democratic and Republican conventions. Each Republican conventions. Each

party selected 34 officials to party selected 34 officials to become that party’s electoral become that party’s electoral vote. Electors are chosen for vote. Electors are chosen for

their party loyalty.their party loyalty.

TRIVIA TIMETRIVIA TIMEDID YOU KNOW THAT:DID YOU KNOW THAT:

Theodore Roosevelt was Theodore Roosevelt was the first U.S. President to the first U.S. President to leave the continental U.S. leave the continental U.S. when he sailed to Panama when he sailed to Panama

in 1906?in 1906?

TRIVIA TRIVIA QUESTION #2QUESTION #2

ANSWER ANSWER

THEODORE THEODORE ROOSEVELTROOSEVELT

WHAT HAPPENS ON WHAT HAPPENS ON AND RIGHT AFTER AND RIGHT AFTER

ELECTION DAY?ELECTION DAY?

On November 4, 2008 On November 4, 2008 Americans will go to the Americans will go to the

polls to cast their vote for polls to cast their vote for President. The people’s President. The people’s

vote is called vote is called

““The Popular VoteThe Popular Vote.”.”

That evening the news That evening the news media will report each media will report each

state’s popular vote. The state’s popular vote. The winner of the popular vote winner of the popular vote by state will determine how by state will determine how the electoral votes are cast.the electoral votes are cast.

Most states use a “winner-Most states use a “winner-take-all” rule for the electoral take-all” rule for the electoral

vote. This means that vote. This means that whichever candidate receives whichever candidate receives the most popular votes in that the most popular votes in that state’s general election, they state’s general election, they

will receive ALL the electoral will receive ALL the electoral votes from that state.votes from that state.

Texas uses the “winner-Texas uses the “winner-take-all” rule. Let’s say take-all” rule. Let’s say

that here in Texas that here in Texas 5,000,000 people vote for 5,000,000 people vote for

Candidate A and Candidate A and 5,000,001 people vote for 5,000,001 people vote for

Candidate B.Candidate B.

Candidate B, who received a Candidate B, who received a majority of the popular vote majority of the popular vote

here in Texas, would be here in Texas, would be awarded ALL of our 34 awarded ALL of our 34

electoral votes. electoral votes.


FALSEFALSE

In early December, the 34 officials In early December, the 34 officials chosen by Candidate B’s party chosen by Candidate B’s party

here in Texas would meet in here in Texas would meet in Austin to “officially” vote for Austin to “officially” vote for

president and vice-president. This president and vice-president. This same procedure would occur at same procedure would occur at

the same time in all 50 states and the same time in all 50 states and Washington D.C.Washington D.C.

On January 6, the current On January 6, the current Vice-President of the United Vice-President of the United

States will count all 538 States will count all 538 electoral votes in a joint electoral votes in a joint session of Congress. A session of Congress. A

candidate must win 270 candidate must win 270 electoral votes to become electoral votes to become

President.President.


Jimmy Carter is the onlyJimmy Carter is the only PresidentPresident to have to have

graduated from the U.S. graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy?Naval Academy?


ANSWERANSWER

JIMMY CARTERJIMMY CARTER

SOME SOME UNIQUE ASPECTS UNIQUE ASPECTS

ABOUTABOUT

THE ELECTORAL THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEMCOLLEGE SYSTEM

In the election of 2008 a candidate In the election of 2008 a candidate could win the electoral vote in as could win the electoral vote in as

few as the 11 most populated states, few as the 11 most populated states, lose the vote in the remaining 39 lose the vote in the remaining 39 states and Washington D.C., and states and Washington D.C., and

still have the necessary 270 still have the necessary 270 electoral votes to become President.electoral votes to become President.

ANSWER ANSWER Question #6 Question #6

TRUETRUE

The 11 most populated The 11 most populated states (and their electoral states (and their electoral

vote count)vote count)

California—55California—55Texas—34Texas—34New York—31New York—31Florida—27Florida—27Illinois—21Illinois—21Pennsylvania—21Pennsylvania—21Ohio—20Ohio—20Michigan—17Michigan—17New Jersey—15New Jersey—15North Carolina—15North Carolina—15Georgia—15Georgia—15

That’s 11 states That’s 11 states with a total of 271 with a total of 271

electoral votes.electoral votes.

In the event that no candidate In the event that no candidate receives a majority of electoral receives a majority of electoral

votes (270) then the election votes (270) then the election process goes to the U.S. House process goes to the U.S. House

of Representatives to decide of Representatives to decide who becomes President.who becomes President.


FALSEFALSE

Since Texas has 32 members Since Texas has 32 members of the U.S. House of of the U.S. House of

Representatives, each of them Representatives, each of them would vote for President. would vote for President.

Whichever candidate receives Whichever candidate receives the most votes, the state of the most votes, the state of

Texas would cast its one vote Texas would cast its one vote for that person.for that person.

Since there are 50 states, a Since there are 50 states, a candidate must receive 26 candidate must receive 26

state votes in order to state votes in order to become President.become President.


In 1939, Franklin D. In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first Roosevelt became the first

President to appear on President to appear on television? television?

TRIVIA TRIVIA QUESTION #4 QUESTION #4

ANSWERANSWER

FRANKLIN D. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELTROOSEVELT

Here is another unique aspect Here is another unique aspect of the electoral college system. of the electoral college system. A presidential candidate may A presidential candidate may receive more people (popular) receive more people (popular)

votes throughout the entire votes throughout the entire nation and still not win the nation and still not win the

electoral count.electoral count.

In 2000, George W. Bush In 2000, George W. Bush (Republican) received a (Republican) received a

little over 50 million little over 50 million popular votes across popular votes across

America.America.

Al Gore (Democrat) Al Gore (Democrat) received a little over 51 received a little over 51 million popular votes. million popular votes.

However, Mr. Bush However, Mr. Bush received 271 electoral received 271 electoral

votes to Mr. Gore’s 266, votes to Mr. Gore’s 266, and Mr. Bush won the and Mr. Bush won the presidential election.presidential election.

ANSWER ANSWER Question #8Question #8

TRUETRUE

Throughout U.S. history Throughout U.S. history there have been 3 other there have been 3 other

candidates (besides George candidates (besides George W. Bush) to lose in the W. Bush) to lose in the

popular vote but win in the popular vote but win in the electoral vote.electoral vote.

Benjamin HarrisonBenjamin Harrison

John Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy Adams

Rutherford B. HayesRutherford B. Hayes

ANSWER ANSWER

Question #9Question #9

FALSEFALSE

TRIVIA TIMETRIVIA TIMEDID YOU KNOW THAT: DID YOU KNOW THAT: It was only when It was only when Dwight D. Dwight D.

Eisenhower was elected Eisenhower was elected President that it was President that it was

confirmed that he was born confirmed that he was born in Denison, Texas. in Denison, Texas.


ANSWERANSWER

DWIGHT D. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWEREISENHOWER

Our founding fathers Our founding fathers established the Electoral established the Electoral

College for various reasons. College for various reasons. One reason was, they didn’t One reason was, they didn’t

want the “common people” to want the “common people” to be the ultimate decision makers be the ultimate decision makers

in choosing a president.in choosing a president.


TRUETRUE

The election of 2008 will be a The election of 2008 will be a history-making event. history-making event.

As we choose our 44th U.S. As we choose our 44th U.S. President we will either elect President we will either elect

the first woman vice-president the first woman vice-president or the first African-American or the first African-American

President. President.

It is our obligation to Vote It is our obligation to Vote and be part of the and be part of the

democratic process. democratic process. Take Responsibility! Take Responsibility!

Take Ownership! Take Ownership! Take Part!!!Take Part!!!

themaking of the president2008. presented by the james bowie high school social studies department

Documents