Idaho Social Studies 9-12.GOV.51
The Standard
Describe the nomination and election process in American national and state elections, including the Electoral College.
Idaho Content Standards: K-12 Social Studies · The American Electoral System
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students trace how candidates get nominated through primaries, caucuses, or conventions, then run in general elections. They explain how voters elect governors and members of Congress, and how presidential elections use state electors.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can put nomination contests, a party convention, the general election, and the Electoral College vote in order. Given state results, they can tally electoral votes for a president and explain why a governor's race has no Electoral College vote.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may confuse a primary with the general election or think every state uses a caucus. Some think the national popular vote always decides the presidency or that electors choose governors.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: In three sentences, explain one way a candidate wins a party nomination, how a governor wins, and how a presidential candidate gains electoral votes.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs mock governor and presidential ballots plus elector tokens; have them tally each race and award presidential electors using a posted state rule.
Show a fictional state vote table with electoral votes; ask students to write why the national popular vote winner lost.
Play a card match: teams pair primary, caucus, convention, general election, and electoral vote cards with the people who participate.
Check your state election office's results for recent governor and presidential races; identify each winner and who received the state's presidential electors.
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