Weekly Civics Lesson 7
How Government Works: Elections and Voting.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES.
1. Explain how the Electoral College works
2. Trace the history of voting rights expansions
3. Distinguish between primary and general elections
Overview.
Free and fair elections are the mechanism through which citizens exercise popular sovereignty. Yet elections in the United States are complex, varied by state, and shaped by a history of expanding — and sometimes contracting — access to the ballot.
Types of Elections.
• Primary Elections — Political parties select their candidates. May be open (any registered voter) or closed (only party members). Primaries determine who appears on the general election ballot.
• General Elections — The main election between party nominees and independents. Held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
• Special Elections — Held to fill a vacancy — a congressional seat or governorship — outside the regular election cycle.
• Referenda / Ballot Initiatives — Citizens vote directly on policy questions. Available in 26 states.
The Electoral College.
For presidential elections, citizens vote for electors who then cast votes for president. Each state has electoral votes equal to its total congressional representation (senators + representatives). Washington D.C. has 3. A candidate needs 270 of 538 electoral votes to win. Critics argue the system distorts the popular will; supporters contend it preserves the federal character of the union.
Voting Rights: A Timeline.
• 1870 — 15th Amendment — Cannot deny the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
• 1920 — 19th Amendment — Women's right to vote guaranteed.
• 1965 — Voting Rights Act — Prohibited discriminatory voting practices used to disenfranchise Black citizens.
• 1971 — 26th Amendment — Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
1. How many Electoral College votes are needed to win the presidency?
A) 218
B) 270
C) 300
D) 538
Answer: (B) 270
Explanation: A candidate needs 270 of 538 total electoral votes to win. The total equals senators (100) + representatives (435) + 3 for Washington D.C.
2. Which amendment gave 18-year-olds the right to vote?
A) 15th Amendment
B) 19th Amendment
C) 24th Amendment
D) 26th Amendment
Answer: (D) 26th Amendment
Explanation: The 26th Amendment (1971) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, largely in response to the argument that those old enough to be drafted should be old enough to vote.
How well did you do with the questions this week?
Next Week’s Lesson:
How Government Works: Federalism — Federal vs. State Power.
