The Numbers Game
What is the number of votes a candidate needs to win.
270
The individuals chosen by their state political parties to cast the official votes for President and Vice President. They are often party activists or leaders.
Elector(s)
What month do Electors get together at their state capitals to vote for the presidential election.
December
This occurs when a candidate wins the presidency by winning the Electoral College, even though their opponent received more individual votes nationwide.
Electoral Inversion
Someone says to you that the electoral college is an essential part of the current system, and that abolishing it would have negative effects. What kind of sociological perspective is this?
Functionalist
What is the number of total elector College members.
538
The Individual who has won a majority of the electoral votes.
President-elect
48 states use this system, in this system whoever wins the popular vote in that state gets all of that state's electoral votes.
Winner-Takes-All
This is a major criticism of the "winner-take-all" system, where the votes of the losing party in a "safe" state effectively count for nothing in the final tally.
De facto Disenfranchisement
Someone makes the argument that the electoral college is a tool of the elites to take power away from certain groups of people. What kind of sociological perspective is this?
Conflict Theorist
Over how many amendments have been proposed to reform or eliminate the Electoral College.
700
Also known as "Battleground States," these are states where the population is closely divided politically, making them the primary focus.
Swing States
Created in 1804, this amendment created separate ballots for President and Vice President, preventing the runner-up from becoming VP.
The 12th Amendment
What is the basis of the argument that there is unequal voting power due to the electoral college?
Because every state gets at least three electoral votes regardless of size, a voter in a small state like Wyoming has significantly more "voting power" than a voter in a large state like California.
During election season, voters in battleground states, blue states, and red states can each be considered part of their own collection. What kind of collection is this?
Category