Government by the NumbersGovernment by the Numbers

Information assembled by Ms. TruemperInformation assembled by Ms. TruemperMount Si High School Social StudiesMount Si High School Social Studies

How politically savvy are you? How politically savvy are you? Here’s an easy one…Here’s an easy one…

1. There are ___ states in the 1. There are ___ states in the United States of America. United States of America.

2. There are ___ Senators elected 2. There are ___ Senators elected from each state. from each state.

3. So…there are ___ Senators in the US?3. So…there are ___ Senators in the US?

4. Name the Senator(s) elected from 4. Name the Senator(s) elected from ourour

state. state.

Getting tougherGetting tougher

5. There are ___ 5. There are ___ Congressional DistrictsCongressional Districts in in Washington State. Washington State.

6. There is/are ___ number of person(s) elected from 6. There is/are ___ number of person(s) elected from each district. (These people are called United States each district. (These people are called United States Representatives.) Representatives.)

7. Where do these elected official(s) report to “work”?7. Where do these elected official(s) report to “work”?8. Name the person(s) elected from your 8. Name the person(s) elected from your

Congressional District Congressional District (and political party).(and political party).9. Name the number assigned to your 9. Name the number assigned to your

Congressional DistrictCongressional District..

No clue? Remember, you have given yourself the No clue? Remember, you have given yourself the freedom to participate whether you are right or freedom to participate whether you are right or wrong.wrong.

You want some more?You want some more?

10. There are ___ 10. There are ___ Legislative DistrictsLegislative Districts in in Washington State. Washington State.

11. There are ___ number of person(s) elected 11. There are ___ number of person(s) elected from each district. (These people are called from each district. (These people are called State Senators or State Representatives.) State Senators or State Representatives.)

12. Where do these elected official(s) report to 12. Where do these elected official(s) report to “work”? “work”?

13. Name the person(s) elected from your 13. Name the person(s) elected from your Legislative District Legislative District (and political party).(and political party).

14. Name the number assigned to your 14. Name the number assigned to your Legislative DistrictLegislative District..

Putting Congressional (Federal) and Putting Congressional (Federal) and Legislative (State) togetherLegislative (State) together

15. If there are ___ Senators from 15. If there are ___ Senators from Washington State (see #2), and… Washington State (see #2), and…

16. …there are ___ U.S. Congressional 16. …there are ___ U.S. Congressional Representatives Representatives from Washington State,… from Washington State,…

17. …then there are ___ total members of 17. …then there are ___ total members of the U.S. Congress from Washington the U.S. Congress from Washington State. State.

Adding up the U.S. CongressAdding up the U.S. Congress

18. Total # in the United States House of 18. Total # in the United States House of Representatives ___(all states) Representatives ___(all states) + +

19. Total # in the United States Senate ___ 19. Total # in the United States Senate ___ (all states) (all states) ++

20. Don’t forget about the District of Columbia 20. Don’t forget about the District of Columbia who has ___ U.S. Representatives and… who has ___ U.S. Representatives and…

21. … ___ U.S. Senators21. … ___ U.S. Senators22. 18 + 19 + 20 + 21= total members of 22. 18 + 19 + 20 + 21= total members of

Congress, which is the same number as Congress, which is the same number as the the Electoral College Electoral College

Government by NumbersGovernment by Numbers House (435) + Senate (100) = Congress (535)House (435) + Senate (100) = Congress (535) Washington, D.C. also has 3 US Representatives, Washington, D.C. also has 3 US Representatives,

but no Senators in Congress , so the grand total is but no Senators in Congress , so the grand total is actually actually 538538

Washington State = 2 Senators and 9 House Reps. Washington State = 2 Senators and 9 House Reps. = 11= 11

23. How does the Electoral College work?23. How does the Electoral College work?24. How many votes does a presidential candidate 24. How many votes does a presidential candidate

need to win? need to win? 25. Washington State has _____ votes in the 25. Washington State has _____ votes in the

Electoral College. Electoral College.26. How can a presidential candidate win the 26. How can a presidential candidate win the

“Popular Vote”, but not the “Electoral Vote”? “Popular Vote”, but not the “Electoral Vote”?

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College Each member of the Electoral College (who Each member of the Electoral College (who

are all the same people from Congress) are all the same people from Congress) casts a vote according to how his or her casts a vote according to how his or her state voted in the general election. state voted in the general election.

If the popular presidential vote in If the popular presidential vote in Washington was for a Democrat (it usually Washington was for a Democrat (it usually is), then all 11 Washington Electoral is), then all 11 Washington Electoral College votes are given to that Presidential College votes are given to that Presidential candidate. candidate.

A presidential candidate needs half of the A presidential candidate needs half of the Electoral College votes + 1 to winElectoral College votes + 1 to win

538 / 2 = 269 + 1= 538 / 2 = 269 + 1= 270270

Electoral Votes for the 2004 & 2008 ElectionsElectoral Votes for the 2004 & 2008 Elections

2000 – An historic year2000 – An historic year

Nominee: Nominee: George W. Bush George W. Bush Al GoreAl GoreRunning Mate:Running Mate: Richard B. Cheney Richard B. Cheney Joe LiebermanJoe LiebermanParty: Party: Republican Republican DemocratDemocratHome State: Home State: Texas Texas TennesseeTennesseeElectoral Vote: 271 Electoral Vote: 271 266266States carried: States carried: 30 30 20 + DC20 + DCPopular Vote: 50,456,002 Popular Vote: 50,456,002

50,999,89750,999,897Percentage: Percentage: 47.9% 47.9% 48.4%48.4%

Which states does it take?Which states does it take?

27. Name the 11 states whose 27. Name the 11 states whose Electoral Electoral College votes are enough to win a College votes are enough to win a

Presidential Election. Presidential Election.

AnswerAnswer

CaliforniaCalifornia 5555 OhioOhio2020

TexasTexas 3434 MichiganMichigan 1717

New YorkNew York 3131 N. CarolinaN. Carolina 1515

FloridaFlorida 2727 GeorgiaGeorgia 1515

IllinoisIllinois 2121 New JerseyNew Jersey 1515

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 2121 TotalTotal 270270

Red + Blue = PurpleRed + Blue = Purple

What will 2008 look like?What will 2008 look like?

AnswersAnswers

1. 501. 502. 22. 23. 1003. 1004. Patty Murray (D) and Maria Cantwell (D)4. Patty Murray (D) and Maria Cantwell (D)5. 95. 96. 16. 17. Washington, D.C.7. Washington, D.C.8. Dave Reichert, (R)8. Dave Reichert, (R)9. 89. 8thth Congressional District Congressional District

Answers, cont.Answers, cont.

10. 4910. 4911. 311. 312. Olympia, Wa12. Olympia, Wa13. State Senator Cheryl Pflug, (R)13. State Senator Cheryl Pflug, (R) State Representative Jay Rodne, (R) State Representative Jay Rodne, (R) State Representative Glenn Anderson, (R) State Representative Glenn Anderson, (R) 14. 514. 5thth Legislative District Legislative District15. 215. 216. 916. 917. 1117. 11

Answers, cont.Answers, cont.

18. 43518. 43519. 10019. 10020. 320. 321. 021. 022. 53822. 53823. Explained in presentation23. Explained in presentation24. 27024. 27025. 1125. 1126. See 2000 Election example between Bush and 26. See 2000 Election example between Bush and

GoreGore27. In presentation27. In presentation