References.—Andrews, Manual of the Constitution, pp. 166-177. Beard, American Government and Politics, ch. ix. Bryce, The American Commonwealth (abridged edition), chs. vi, vii, lii-liv. Fuller, Government by the People, ch. vii. Harrison, This Country of Ours, chs. iv-v. Hart, Actual Government, pp. 261-267. Hinsdale, American Government, chs. xxix-xxxi. Stanwood, History of the Presidency. Woodburn, The American Republic, pp. 116-136.
Documentary and Illustrative Material.—1. Congressional Directory. 2. Copy of the call for a national convention. 3. Addresses of the temporary and permanent chairmen of the last national convention. 4. The Democratic and Republican campaign textbooks. 5. Copy of the election returns. 6. Specimen ballots containing the names of candidates for presidential electors.
Research Questions
1. How many votes is your state entitled to in the electoral college? What proportion of the total electoral vote is that? Can you give the names of any of the presidential electors from your state at the last election?
2. What was the popular vote received by the Republican candidate for President in your state at the last election? By the Democratic candidate?
3. Name the Presidents who received only a minority of the popular vote.
4. Suppose a vacancy should occur in the electoral college of a state by the death of an elector, is there any way by which it could be filled?
5. Suppose the candidate for President should die after the popular election in November and before the meeting of the electors in January, for whom would the electors cast their vote? Have there been any actual instances of this kind?
6. Suppose the President elect should die before the votes are opened and counted by Congress, who would be declared President?
7. Have there been any instances since 1820 in which a presidential elector voted against the candidate of his own party?