Question

Electoral College and Interest Group Free Response Assignment Free Response Essays Directions: Provide separate, well-constructed responses to each essay prompt. Unless the directions indicate otherwise, respond to all parts of both questions. It is suggested that you take a few minutes to plan and outline each answer. Each response should take no more than 25 minutes to complete, to include planning, in order to simulate test-day conditions. In your response, use substantive examples where appropriate. Make certain to number each of your answers as the question is numbered below. QUESTION 1: Electoral College A significant feature of the Electoral College is that most states have a winner-take-all system. (a) Describe the winner-take-all feature of the Electoral College. (b) Explain one way in which the winner-take-all feature of the Electoral College affects how presidential candidates from the two major parties run their campaigns. (c) Explain one way in which the winner-take-all feature of the Electoral College hinders third party candidates. (d) Explain two reasons why the Electoral College has not been abolished.

Answer 1

a) The winner-take-all feature is a rule for the Electoral College. It basically says that out of the 48 states that participate, whichever candidate has the majority or popular vote takes all of the state’s Electoral votes.

(b) Presidential candidates will be affected by the electoral college because one of their main focuses is media and money, on states where a lot of people vote based on their own theories. Not leaning towards being Democrat or Republican. Being able to change their thoughts would have a big advantage for them. Another reason effecting presidential candidates is picking Vice Presidents. They will choose a candidate that is on the same party and to bring more appeal to the campaign.

(c) One example, to explain why winner-takes-all can relate to third party candidates, is because it is difficult to win electoral college meaning for third party candidates it’s harder to raise or gain funds.

(d) The Electoral College has been around for so long that to abolish it would require a change in a constitutional amendment. Also it gives confidence and fairness to small states because each elector represents fewer people than in the larger states.