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Video: How is the US President elected? -5 mins
Video Worksheet: How is the President Elected?- 10 mins
Website Research and Worksheet – 30 mins
Design Revision Flash Cards for the essay: The US
Presidency and the Electoral College (strengths and
weaknesses) -20 mins
The Florida Case: Electoral Fraud and Party Politics
Media Diary Update for Electoral College
The Exam Paper
Essay Planning
Timed Essay
Homework
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_VQ8I
7g6I
Complete the worksheet with questions
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Access:
Guide to the American Presidency
Read the sections on:
Arguments for and against the electoral college,
tables of results, electoral votes by state. Answer
the worksheet/questions:
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Why was the system adapted?
Outline 4 reasons Historians give for the introduction of the electoral
college
How did Alexander Hamilton describe the system?
How did the modern system develop by 1836?
Which two states have deviated from this system? (more proportional)
What kind of system does the ‘winner take all’ electoral college system
create?
What is the biggest criticism of the ‘winner takes all’ electoral college
system? (name at least 2 presidents elected this way)
Give an example of how the electoral college exaggerates the popular
vote?
How are third party candidates penalised (Ross Perot)?
What strength does the electoral college give presidents?
What could happen if the president was directly elected?
Name two other reasons opponents of the electoral college criticise the
system?
What do they suggest its replaced with and why?
What is the National Popular Vote Bill and how is it an alternative?
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Florida Electoral Fraud
Read the handout ‘Greg Palast’
Access:
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The Guardian
The Independent
BBC News
USA Today
Reuters
Radio Four Online
Find articles about the presidential election results .
Decide if they illustrate a weakness in the electoral college system or
strength
Update your media diary
Create Revision Flash Cards for todays essay
topic:
 Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the
Electoral College.
(15 mins)
1. Make sure you ask questions and answers that
test your knowledge of the strengths and
weaknesses of the electoral college (and any
examples found in the media diary).
2. Test your self with your tutor!
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Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the
Electoral College -15 mins
Ensure you cover the points on the flashcards today
Make sure you follow the rule every point needs an
example or defence
Try to come back with criticisms for each point made
Use media examples from today
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You will get a choice of 8 questions, choose only 2.
Each question is worth 50 marks. So they are looking for approx
50 points (arguments and examples) per essay
Read through all the questions first.
Answer the question you feel you are strongest with first. Just a
mark the numbers clearly in margin
Spend approx 10 minutes planning, spend 50 minutes writing
the essay. Allow 5 minutes for editing at the end, reading back
over.
Don’t be a victim of panic! If you get a memory blank, leave a
sufficient space and an asterix in the margin ands go back to it.
Don’t cross out essay plans, they may be counted towards your
final mark by the examiner
Make sure you allow 5 minutes extra at the end of each essay for
editing at the end
Don’t revise the night before or on the morning of the exam.
Relax, rest , breakfast. Early night before!
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Read the chapter ‘Elections and Voting’.
Answer the essay question
Outline and discuss the different factors that influence
voting in Congressional Elections’ 20 mins, 20 marks
Read the chapter on Congressional Elections and on
Propositions, referendums and recall elections and
make a spider chart or flash cards with key points.
Update your media diary on Congressional elections
and Referendums and propositions
Complete the two exam papers (F851, F855)