The Electoral College *The total number of electors for 50 states is 535, because there are 435 members in the U. S. House of Representatives and 100 members in the U. S. Senate. Since Washington, D. C., is not a state and has no vote in Congress, the Twenty-third Amendment of the United States
Constitution granted the District of Columbia 3 electoral votes so that the people living there would have a voice in electing the president and the vice president. Thus the total number of electors in a presidential election today is 538. The 538 electors are referred to as the Electoral College.

Activities/Questions:
1. How many electors make up the Electoral College?
2. Why is Washington, D. C., included in the Electoral College?
3. Examine a chart listing the number of electors from each state.
4. What is the minimum number of electors a state may have? Why?
5. Which states have the most electors? Why?
6. What is the minimum number of states needed to secure 270 electoral votes?
7. Name the states in question #6