jacklo
University of Virginia Center for Politics
The Electoral College and Presidential Campaigns:
Working the System
Purpose:
This lesson may be used on its own or as a continuation of the YLI lesson The Controversial History of the Electoral College. Students are required to apply their knowledge of elections and the Electoral College system to use recent information on voter trends to examine the outcomes of the 2000 elections and predict the 2004 election using Sabato’s Crystal Ball website.
Objectives:
1. Students will identify the pros and cons of the Electoral College system.
2. Students will understand that voting trends in past elections affect where and how candidates campaign in upcoming elections.
3. Students will be able to interpret maps of the 2004 Election, and make inferences about the outcome of the 2004 Presidential Election from maps and charts based on given sets of data on the Presidential Elections between 1972 and 2000. Key Words:
Elector slate/platform GOP campaign manager
Electoral College indirect democracy plurality swing state
Battleground state Materials:
1. Student copies, “The Electoral College: Pros and Cons article.
2. Transparency, Challenge! Number of Electoral Votes per State.
3. Computer lab or student copies, Interactive Electoral Map. (www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2004/president/electoratemap.php)
4. Student copies, Campaign Management Strategy: Election 2004 and Beyond.
5. Student copies or computer lab, 1972-2000 Presidential Election State Voting Trends, located at: http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G04/President-1972-2000.phtml
6. Transparency of maps: Historical Perspectives on Presidential Electoral Votes, and Presidential Election 2004: August Predictions.
Procedure:
1. Motivational Activity: Ask students if they have seen or heard any ads for the Presidential candidates on the TV or radio. Record the name of the candidates and number of ads on the board.
The Electoral College and Presidential Campaigns:
Working the System
Purpose:
This lesson may be used on its own or as a continuation of the YLI lesson The Controversial History of the Electoral College. Students are required to apply their knowledge of elections and the Electoral College system to use recent information on voter trends to examine the outcomes of the 2000 elections and predict the 2004 election using Sabato’s Crystal Ball website.
Objectives:
1. Students will identify the pros and cons of the Electoral College system.
2. Students will understand that voting trends in past elections affect where and how candidates campaign in upcoming elections.
3. Students will be able to interpret maps of the 2004 Election, and make inferences about the outcome of the 2004 Presidential Election from maps and charts based on given sets of data on the Presidential Elections between 1972 and 2000. Key Words:
Elector slate/platform GOP campaign manager
Electoral College indirect democracy plurality swing state
Battleground state Materials:
1. Student copies, “The Electoral College: Pros and Cons article.
2. Transparency, Challenge! Number of Electoral Votes per State.
3. Computer lab or student copies, Interactive Electoral Map. (www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2004/president/electoratemap.php)
4. Student copies, Campaign Management Strategy: Election 2004 and Beyond.
5. Student copies or computer lab, 1972-2000 Presidential Election State Voting Trends, located at: http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G04/President-1972-2000.phtml
6. Transparency of maps: Historical Perspectives on Presidential Electoral Votes, and Presidential Election 2004: August Predictions.
Procedure:
1. Motivational Activity: Ask students if they have seen or heard any ads for the Presidential candidates on the TV or radio. Record the name of the candidates and number of ads on the board.