Name:__________________________________________ Period:____________

Electoral College Challenge

www.electoralcollegechallengewebquest.weebly.com

Directions:​ Go to the website listed above. Read over the DIRECTIONS tab and use the
information under the RESOURCES tab to answer the following questions.

1) What is the Electoral College?

2) How many Electoral College votes are there?

3) How many Electoral College votes does a candidate need to win a presidential election?

4) Why does the number of Electoral College votes change?

5) Who selects the Electors in the Electoral College?

6) What is the difference between the Electoral College and an Elector?

7) Describe the selection process of an Elector and identify any qualifications/restrictions.

8) What do Electors actually do? Can they vote any way they wish?
Directions:​ Go to the VIDEOS tab and watch the Crash Course Government videon on the Election
Basics.

9) Why do we have elections in the first place?

10)How do elections hold politicians accountable?

11)What does the 24th and 26th amendment address? How do these amendments address
voting issues?

12)What is the purpose of the Federal Elections Commission?

13)What does it mean “winner take all”? Why is this important to know for voting?

Directions:​ Go to the RESOURCES tab to answer the following questions.

14)Name the four Presidents that have become President but did not win the popular vote.

15)What happens if there is a tie?

16)Look under the FAQS section and write down an interesting fact you discovered about the
Electoral College.
Directions​: Go to the MAPS tab COPY AND PASTE the 2016 Electoral College Map below.

COPY AND PASTE HERE!

Directions:​ Answer the following questions using the information under the MAPS tab

17)What states did Donald Trump win and how many electoral votes did he receive?

18)What states did Hillary Clinton win and how many electoral votes did she receive?

19)Look at the year 1928 and then look at the year 1932. Why do you think the colors changed
(look at the background history)?

20)Look at the year 1940 and 1952. Why do you think the color changed between those 2
elections (look at the background history)?

Directions:​ Complete the following using the information under the MAPS tab

COPY AND PASTE the results from the 2012 Election HERE.

21)Analyze the 2012 and 2016 maps you just added. What states changed? How did this affect
the outcome of the election?
Directions​: Go to RESOURCES tab to answer the following questions.

22)How many electoral votes does Ohio have?

23)Ohio is known as a swing state or a battleground state. Over the last four elections which
political party has won Ohio? Why is this significant to presidential elections?

Directions: ​Go to the RESOURCES tab to answer the following questions.

24)What are the PROS of the Electoral College System? Explain each argument.

25)What are the CONS of the Electoral College System? Explain each argument.

Directions:​ Go to the RESOURCES tab to answer the following questions.

26)Let’s do the math. Click on the states to change their allegiance.

a) What is the minimum number of states a candidate can win and still win the
Presidency?

27)Is it possible that neither candidate could reach 270 votes? What would happen?