Simone Lawson
The Electoral College is a process established by the Founding Fathers in the US Constitution, as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election by popular vote. The College consists of 538 electors, who are selected by voters in each state. The electors meet in their respective states and vote for the President and Vice President. The number of each state's electoral votes is based on its total number of representatives and senators, and therefore its relative population. The candidate with the greatest number of votes wins, provided they have received a majority.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is the Electoral College? | A process, not a place. |
| Who established the Electoral College? | The Founding Fathers |
| Why was the Electoral College established? | To serve as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. |
| How many electors are there? | 538 electors |
| How are electors distributed among the states? | Each state has the same number of electors as it does Members in its Congressional delegation: one for each Member in the House of Representatives plus two Senators. |
| How are electors chosen? | Electors are chosen by voters in each state. |
| When do electors meet? | Electors meet in their respective states in mid-December. |
| Who do electors vote for? | Electors vote for two persons to be President and Vice President. |
| What happens in the case of a tie? | If there is a tie, the House of Representatives selects the President. |
| What happens if no candidate receives a majority of the votes? | If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the House of Representatives selects the President from the five candidates who received the greatest number of votes. |
| Can electors vote for a candidate not chosen by their state's popular vote? | Yes, but some states may impose fines, disqualifications, or even legal repercussions. |
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What You'll Learn
The number of electoral votes per state
Each state gets as many electors as it has members of Congress, including both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is often referred to as the “winner-take-all” system, where the Presidential candidate who wins the state's popular vote is awarded all of that state's electors. In most cases, electors are expected to vote for the candidate chosen by their state's popular vote, and deviating from this choice may result in legal consequences for the elector.
The District of Columbia, while not a state, is also allocated electoral votes and is treated like a state for the purposes of the Electoral College due to the 23rd Amendment of the Constitution. In total, including Washington, D.C.'s three electors, there are currently 538 electors in the Electoral College.
While the Electoral College process is outlined in the Constitution, the specific mechanism for appointing electors is not uniform across states. The Supreme Court has affirmed that "the appointment and mode of appointment of Electors belong exclusively to the states under the Constitution of the United States." This means that each state's legislature can determine how electors are chosen, and they are not required to consult the public or consider the results of the statewide popular vote.
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The selection of electors
The Electoral College is a process established by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution. It is a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and the election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. The process consists of the selection of electors, the meeting of the electors where they vote for President and Vice President, and the counting of electoral votes by Congress.
The number of electors each state gets is based on its total number of representatives and senators, which is proportional to its relative population. Each state gets one elector for each member in the House of Representatives, plus two senators. Washington, D.C. is also allocated three electors and is treated like a state for purposes of the Electoral College under the 23rd Amendment of the Constitution. In total, there are 538 electors.
While the Constitution does not require electors to vote for the candidate chosen by their state's popular vote, some states do. Electors who vote against their state's popular vote may be fined, disqualified, replaced, or prosecuted by their state. Electors are expected to support the party nominees, and more than twenty states do not print the names of the candidates for electors on the general election ballot. Instead, they allow a vote for the presidential candidate to be counted as a vote for their party's nominees for the Electoral College.
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The meeting of electors
The Electoral College is a process, not a place. It is a system that the Founding Fathers established in the Constitution, as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. The Electoral College consists of 538 electors, including Washington, D.C.'s three electors.
The Electoral College process consists of three steps: the selection of the electors, the meeting of the electors, and the counting of the electoral votes by Congress. The meeting of electors takes place on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December after the general election. The electors meet in their respective states and vote for two persons, one of whom cannot be from their state. They then create a list of the persons voted for and the number of votes each person received. This list is then sent to the President of the Senate, who opens the certificates in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, and the votes are counted.
The candidate with the greatest number of votes is then declared President, provided they have received a majority of the votes. In the case of a tie, the House of Representatives selects the President by vote, with each state having only one vote. If no person has received a majority of the votes, the House selects the President from the five candidates with the most votes.
While the Constitution does not require electors to vote for the candidate chosen by their state's popular vote, some states do. Electors who vote against their state's popular vote may face fines, disqualification, or even prosecution by their state.
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Counting electoral votes
The Electoral College is a process established by the Founding Fathers in the US Constitution. It is not a place. It is a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and the election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. The Electoral College consists of 538 electors, including Washington, D.C.'s three electors.
The Electoral College process involves selecting electors, the meeting of electors where they vote for President and Vice President, and the counting of electoral votes by Congress. Electors are appointed and act under the US Constitution, but they are not officers or agents of the United States. While the Constitution does not require electors to vote for the candidate chosen by their state's popular vote, some states do. Electors who vote for someone else may face consequences, such as fines or disqualification.
The process of selecting electors varies by state, and each state's political party chooses its slate of potential electors. Electors are typically chosen in the general election, and the State Executive of each state signs a Certificate of Ascertainment to appoint the electors. This certificate lists the names of the individuals on the slates for each candidate, the number of votes each received, and the appointed electors for the state.
The counting of electoral votes takes place in a joint session of Congress, usually on January 6, unless Congress changes the date due to a weekend. The President of the Senate opens the Certificates of Ascertainment and counts the votes in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives. The candidate with the majority of votes becomes President, and the person with the second-highest number of votes becomes Vice President. In the event of a tie, the House of Representatives selects the President, with each state having one vote.
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The role of the Senate
The United States Constitution outlines the role of the Senate, which, along with the House of Representatives, makes up the country's legislative branch. The Senate is often referred to as the "upper chamber" of Congress, with the House making up the "lower chamber."
One of the key roles of the Senate is to represent the interests of individual states. Each state, regardless of its population, is represented by two senators, who serve six-year terms. This differs from the House, where representation is proportional to the population, with representatives serving two-year terms. This distinction makes the Senate a unique and powerful body, as it ensures that smaller states have a significant say in the legislative process.
The Senate has several exclusive powers, including the power to confirm or reject the President's nominations to federal courts and cabinet positions. This "advice and consent" role is a critical check on the executive branch, ensuring that the Senate has a say in the composition of the federal judiciary and the President's cabinet. The Senate also has the sole power to approve treaties, making it a key player in foreign policy.
Additionally, the Senate plays a crucial role in the legislative process. While bills can be introduced and passed in either chamber, all legislation must pass through the Senate. This includes the power to amend bills passed by the House, which are then sent back to the lower chamber for approval. This back-and-forth process is known as "concurrence." The Senate also has the power to initiate revenue bills, which must originate in the House but can be amended and passed by the Senate.
The Senate also has a significant role in the impeachment process. When the House of Representatives impeaches a federal official, the Senate holds a trial to determine their guilt or innocence. If found guilty, the Senate can then vote to remove them from office and disqualify them from holding future office. This process underscores the Senate's role as a check on the executive branch and its responsibility to uphold the Constitution.
In conclusion, the Senate plays a vital role in the US legislative process, representing the interests of states, checking the power of the executive branch, and shaping policy through its legislative and impeachment powers. Its unique composition and lengthier terms of service lend it a more deliberative character than the House, earning it a reputation as a "cooling saucer" that tempers the passions of the moment with careful consideration and debate.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution allocates electoral college votes by allowing each state to have as many electors as it has members of Congress (House and Senate). The District of Columbia is allocated three electors and is treated like a state for Electoral College purposes.
The Electoral College is a process, not a place. The Founding Fathers established it in the Constitution as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens.
The Electoral College process consists of the selection of the electors, the meeting of the electors where they vote for President and Vice President, and the counting of the electoral votes by Congress. The voters in each state choose electors to serve in the Electoral College. The electors in each state then meet to select the President and Vice President of the United States. Congress then meets in a joint session to count the electoral votes.
