Chapter 13 definitions

Presidential electors

A person elected by the voters to represent them in making a formal selection of the vice president and president

Electorate

All the people entitled to vote in a given election

Electoral College

Group of persons chosen in each state and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the president and Vice President

District Plan

Plan for choosing presidential electors by which two electors would be selected in each state according to statewide popular vote and the other electors would be selected separately in each of the states congressional districts

Proportional Plan

Proposal by which each presidential candidate would receive the same share of a states electoral vote as he or she received in the states popular vote

National bonus plan

Proposal for elections a president by which the winner of the popular vote would receive a bonus of 102 electoral votes in addition to his or her state based electoral college vote, if no one received at least 321 electoral votes, a run off election would be held

Direct popular election

Proposal to do away with the electoral college and allow the people to vote directly for president and Vice President

Electoral Votes

Votes cast by electors in a given election

Balance the Ticket

When a presidential candidate chooses a running mate who can strengthen his chance of being elected by virtue of certain ideological, geographic, racial, ethic, gender, or other characteristics

Presidential Succession

scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled