Lecture 7: Electoral College, Conventions & Redistricting

Primary function of a party convention with a clear delegate winner

To officially announce and anoint the candidate

Definition of a contested convention

A convention where no candidate has a majority of delegates

Last time a contested convention occurred at the Democrat National Convention

1952

Entity that governs the rules of the nomination process for political parties

Party rules

Factor that determines the number of electors a state has in the Electoral College

The number of congressional districts plus two

Does the U.S. Constitution require a popular vote for the presidency?

No

Number of electoral votes held by South Carolina

9

Consequence for an elector in states with laws binding them to the popular vote winner

They are removed and replaced

States that use proportional representation for electoral votes instead of winner-take-all

Maine and Nebraska

Official who presides over the congressional count of electoral votes

The Vice President

Required number of electoral votes to win the presidency

270

Outcome if no candidate reaches a majority in the Electoral College

The House of Representatives selects the president

Number of votes each state gets if the presidential election goes to the House

One vote per state

Common objection to the Electoral College mentioned in the text

A candidate can win without the popular vote

Frequency of the reapportionment of congressional districts

Every 10 years

Entity primarily responsible for drawing congressional districts

The state legislature

Definition of a majority-minority district

A district where the majority of voters are from a minority group

Term for drawing district lines to benefit a specific party or candidate

Gerrymandering

Origin of the term 'gerrymander'

A political cartoon of a dragon-shaped district

Ideal traits for congressional districts

Compact, contiguous, and respectful of boundar