Numbers 1-5
_____1. According to the diagram, on a Tuesday in November,
d. voters cast ballots for a slate of electors pledged to a presidential candidate.
_____6. How is the number of electors each state gets determined?
B) By the number of representatives in Congress
11. However, the candidate should always adhere to his or her ____________ when making promises.
principles
This term describes the method by which a candidate wins all of a state's electoral votes if they secure the majority of the popular vote in that state.
What is the winner-take-all system?
Step Two:
This election day, held every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, assigns electors to candidates based on the popular vote in each state.
What is the general election?
_____2. According to the diagram, what is Congress’s role in the Electoral College process?
d. On January 6, Congress counts the electoral votes.
7. The ______________ elects the president of the United States.
Electoral College
12. Voters who feel betrayed by their candidate may ___________ a ____________.
pursue; recall
Critics argue that the Electoral College is unfair because a candidate can win this vote and still lose the election.
What is the popular vote?
Step Three:
On this day in December, electors meet at their state capitals, such as Montgomery in Alabama, to cast their votes for president and vice president.
What is the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December?
_____3. To win the election, a presidential candidate must receive
c. a majority of the electoral votes.
8. Under this __________, it is possible for a candidate to lose the election even if she or he has won the ___________.
winner-take-all system; popular vote
_____13. According to the text, what is the Electoral College?
B) A system where each state gets a certain number of votes to choose the president.
The Electoral College system tends to concentrate presidential campaigns on states with the most of these.
What are electoral votes?
Step Four:
After casting their votes, electors prepare six certificates listing the state’s electoral results. These must arrive in Washington, D.C., by this date.
What is December 23?
_____4. When you vote for president, who are you actually voting for?
B) A group of electors
9. A candidate who is ____________ for votes may be tempted to make all sorts of campaign promises.
canvassing
_____14. What does the text say about the relationship between popular votes and winning the presidency?
D) The candidate who wins the Electoral College might not get the most votes from people across the country.
This group of candidates often finds it difficult to compete in the Electoral College system due to the focus on major parties and key states.
Who are third-party candidates?
Step Five:
This person, who serves as President of the Senate, presides over the joint session of Congress where electoral votes are counted on January 6.
Who is the Vice President?
_____5. What is the main purpose of the Electoral College?
B) To allow the president to be chosen by a group of experts
10. For example, he may promise a ____________ that he will be a champion for their cause.
PAC (Political Action Committee)
_____15. Why does the text mention the years 1824, 1876, and 2000?
C) These were years when the candidate who won the most votes from people across the country did not win the presidency.
The winner-take-all approach can result in this type of representation, where some states and voters receive less attention than others.
What is unequal representation?
Step Six:
During the January 6 joint session of Congress, the Vice President declares the winner, who must secure at least this number of electoral votes to win the presidency.
What is 270?