what is the electoral college and how does it work quizlet

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3 min read 05-11-2024

What is the Electoral College and How Does It Work?

The Electoral College is a unique and often controversial part of the US presidential election process. It's not a place, but a system for electing the President and Vice President. To understand its intricacies, let's break it down step-by-step.

What is the Electoral College?

The Electoral College is a group of electors, chosen by each state, who officially elect the President and Vice President of the United States. The number of electors each state gets is based on its total number of senators (2) and representatives (varies based on population) in Congress.

How Does It Work?

The Presidential Election: In the general election, voters cast ballots for their preferred presidential candidate. This is the popular vote.
Electors are Chosen: Each state, along with the District of Columbia, selects a number of electors equal to its number of senators and representatives in Congress.
The Electoral Vote: On Election Day, the electors from each state meet and cast their votes for President and Vice President. The candidate who receives a majority of the electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538) wins the presidency.
The Inauguration: If a candidate wins the electoral vote, they are officially elected President and sworn into office in January.

Key Points to Remember:

Winner-Take-All System: In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state receives all of that state's electoral votes, with the exception of Maine and Nebraska, which use a proportional system.
The Role of the House of Representatives: If no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes, the election goes to the House of Representatives, where each state delegation has one vote. This has happened five times in US history.
The 12th Amendment: This amendment changed the Electoral College system to have separate votes for President and Vice President.

Why the Electoral College?

The Electoral College was created by the Founding Fathers for several reasons:

To Balance Power: They wanted to ensure that smaller states had a voice in the presidential election, preventing larger states from dominating the process.
To Protect Against Tyranny of the Majority: By requiring a majority of electoral votes to win, it prevents candidates from being elected solely based on the votes of a few densely populated areas.
To Promote Compromise: The system encourages candidates to broaden their appeal to win over a wider range of voters.

Criticisms of the Electoral College:

It can Lead to a Candidate Winning the Presidency Without Winning the Popular Vote: This has happened five times in US history, most recently in 2016, raising questions about the fairness of the system.
It Can Discourage Voter Participation: Some argue that the system makes it less likely for voters in certain states to participate, as their vote might not matter if their state is considered a "safe bet" for one party or the other.
It Can Lead to a Narrow Focus on Swing States: Candidates may focus their campaign efforts on a handful of "battleground" states, neglecting other areas.

Reform Efforts:

There have been numerous efforts to reform or abolish the Electoral College, with varying degrees of success. Some common proposals include:

National Popular Vote Interstate Compact: A group of states have agreed to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of who wins their state.
Proportional Allocation of Electoral Votes: Some propose that states allocate electoral votes proportionally based on the popular vote within the state.
Direct Popular Vote: A direct election for President and Vice President would eliminate the Electoral College entirely.

Quiz Time!

1. What is the primary function of the Electoral College?

To hold a national convention every four years
To elect the President and Vice President of the United States
To oversee the Supreme Court
To determine the size of the House of Representatives

2. How is the number of electors each state gets determined?

By the size of the state's population
By the number of people who register to vote in the state
By the number of senators and representatives in Congress
By the number of electoral votes the state received in the previous election

3. What is the minimum number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency?

250
270
300
350

4. Which of the following is NOT a criticism of the Electoral College?

It can lead to a candidate winning the presidency without winning the popular vote.
It can discourage voter participation.
It guarantees that all states have an equal say in the election.
It can lead to a narrow focus on swing states.

5. What is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?

An amendment to the Constitution that would abolish the Electoral College
An agreement between states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote.
A court case that challenged the constitutionality of the Electoral College
A political party platform that supports abolishing the Electoral College

By understanding the complexities of the Electoral College and the debates surrounding it, you can engage in informed discussions about the future of presidential elections in the United States.