Electoral College And Interest Group FRQ Assignment
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School
Milwaukee Area Technical College *
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Course
220
Subject
Political Science
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
2
Uploaded by jburke260
Student Name:
jackson burke
Electoral College and Interest Group FRQ Style Assignment
Utilize the course content pages, e-text, your research, and the resources found on the
submission page to complete this assignment.
Please number and label your answers to each
part. Answer in complete sentences. Show analysis for the task verbs.
Remember, identifying
sentences do not count toward analytical sentences.
1.
Describe
the winner-take-all feature of the Electoral College. (2-3 analytical sentences)
The winner-take-all feature of the Electoral College means that in a state, the
candidate who wins the popular vote receives all of the state's electoral
votes. This system is winner-takes-all at the state level, contributing to a
situation where a candidate with a slim majority in a state can gain all its
electoral votes, while the losing candidate gets none. This can result in a
significant gap between the popular vote and the electoral vote, as seen in
elections where the winner of the popular vote did not secure the presidency.
2.
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. (3-4 analytical
sentences)
The winner-take-all feature influences presidential candidates from the two
major parties to focus their campaign efforts on "swing states" or states with
a more balanced distribution of voters from each party. Candidates prioritize
these states because winning them can tip the electoral scales in their favor,
allowing them to secure a large number of electoral votes. This strategy
often leads to a neglect of "safe states," where the outcome is already clear,
as winning these states doesn't provide additional electoral advantage.
3.
Explain
one way in which the winner-take-all feature of the Electoral College hinders third
party candidates. (3-4 analytical sentences)
The winner-take-all feature creates a significant hurdle for third-party
candidates as they struggle to accumulate enough support to win an entire
state and gain any electoral votes. Even if a third-party candidate gains a
substantial portion of the popular vote in multiple states, they may still end
up with no electoral votes, making it challenging for them to compete on an
equal footing with candidates from the major parties. This discourages voters
from supporting third-party candidates, fearing that their vote might not
translate into electoral representation.
4.
Explain
two reasons why the Electoral College has not been abolished.
A.
1
st
Reason – (3-4 analytical sentences)
One reason the Electoral College has not been abolished is the fear of
losing the political influence smaller states currently enjoy. The current
system gives every state, regardless of size, a minimum of three
electoral votes (representing their senators and at least one
representative). Abolishing the Electoral College could diminish the
attention and importance given to smaller states during presidential
campaigns, potentially leaving them marginalized.
B.
2
nd
Reason – (3-4 analytical sentences)
Another reason the Electoral College persists is the inertia of tradition
and the difficulty of amending the Constitution. The Electoral College
has been part of the U.S. electoral system since its founding, and
changing it would require a constitutional amendment, a complex and
time-consuming process. The resistance to such a fundamental
change, coupled with differing opinions on what a replacement
system should look like, contributes to the status quo.
Submit your completed assignment when you are finished.
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