Each state gets as many electors as it has lawmakers in the US Congress (representatives in the House and senators). [18], A Nov. 6, 2016 episode of PBS NewsHour revealed that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have made more than 90% of their campaign stops in just 11 so-called battleground states. [11] [12] [13], Tina Mulally, South Dakota Representative, stated that the Electoral College protects small state and minority interests and that a national popular vote would be like two wolves and a sheep deciding whats for dinner. Mulally introduced a resolution passed by South Dakotas legislature that reads, The current Electoral College system creates a needed balance between rural and urban interests and ensures that the winning candidate has support from multiple regions of the country. [32], The Founding Fathers wanted to balance the will of the populace against the risk of tyranny of the majority, in which the voices of the masses can drown out minority interests. In some states, electors could vote for whichever candidate they prefer, regardless of who voters backed. And Smith points out that for most of American history, the Electoral College amplified the popular vote, rather than contradicting it. Citing insufficient standing, as opposed to the merits of the underlying case, the Supreme Court declined to resolve the urgent issue. "You don't have to convince the public that the system is fair. It's therefore possible for a candidate to become president by winning a number of tight races in certain states, despite having fewer votes across the country. due process is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Then-Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6 to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after a pro-Trump mob stormed the. That means the Electoral College puts a magnifying glass on just a few states that could have tremendous control over presidential elections. when nominated by the political party. What Is the Electoral College and Why Was It Created? Still, this year'scontentious presidential election between U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden willcome down to who secures the 270 electoral college votes needed to win. Instead, Trump asked Congress to throw out the electoral votes from just a handful of battleground states. In 1996, Maine had four electoral votes, Nebraska had five. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler. The Constitution and federal law do not require electors to abide by the results of the popular vote in their states, so occasionally faithless electors go rogue and cast ballots for candidates other than the one to whom they are pledged. The electoral college has determined the winner of every U.S. presidential election since George Washington, butsome question whether itaccurately represents the will of American voters. Opponents say would disadvantage low-income and blue collar workers. (C) The electoral college was established by the Constitution as it was originally ratified. It works without controversy in most elections. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! true or false: The Bill of Rights arose in part because of Americans' experiences with Britain. Yes. The manner of choosing electors is left to the states, although the Constitution stipulates that no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.. On Dec. 22, 2016, the results were certified in all 50 states. head of state and head of government. With files from CBC News, The Associated Press and Reuters. Q. Permalink: https://webster.house.gov/2021/1/electoral-college-session-statement, 37 REPUBLICAN MEMBERS RELEASE STATEMENT AHEAD OF ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE, https://webster.house.gov/2021/1/electoral-college-session-statement. They will never go for a national elected president. The Senate would elect the vice-president through each senator casting one vote for one of the remaining top two candidates. A slight majority of states require electors to cast their votes as pledged, although no faithless elector has ever been prosecuted. The votes were certified in the early hours of Jan. 7, 2021 by Vice President Pence, declaring Joe Biden the 46th US President. Without the electoral college, groups such as Iowa farmers and Ohio factory workers would be ignored in favor of pandering to metropolitan areas with higher population densities, leaving rural areas and small towns marginalized. c. It should be replaced with popular elections. B. In our unique system, Congress is positioned as the last bulwark in a presidential election to ensure the Constitution has been followed. Every state they win gets them closer to the 270 electoral college votes they need. When an objection is duly presented, Members of Congress may draw their own individual conclusions as they determine the validity of the electoral votes at issuebut, in light of the plain language of the Constitution, the Electoral Count Act, and theper curiamopinions of the Supreme Court, it simply cannot be said that we are not charged with the full responsibility of making such a determination. Not a physical college, the electoral college isa process for electing the U.S. president. Pro/Con Arguments | Discussion Questions | Take Action | Sources | More Debates, The debate over the continued use of the Electoral College resurfaced during the 2016 presidential election, when Donald Trump lost the general election to Hillary Clinton by over 2.8 million votes and won the Electoral College by 74 votes. For example, if a candidate wins 50.1% of the vote in Texas, they are awarded all of the state's 38 electoral votes. Where the polls stand on election day, Will Biden or Trump be the U.S. president? ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. The substitution of electors obviated this difficulty and seemed on the whole to be liable to fewest objections. [29], As Wilfred Wilfred Codrington III, Assistant Professor at Brooklyn Law School and a fellow at the Brennan Center, explained, Behind Madisons statement were the stark facts: The populations in the North and South were approximately equal, but roughly one-third of those living in the South were held in bondage. If an elector votes against their state's presidential pick, they are termed "faithless". Yes. through a Senate confirmation hearing. Add some good to your morning and evening. 2023 BBC. An earlier version of this story included a misspoken quote that said people in Wyoming have 44 times the power of people in California in presidential elections. In the multi-candidate race of 1824, Andrew Jackson received the most popular votes, but with no man winning a majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives chose John Quincy Adams to be president. It was unusual because the winner of the popular vote lost the election in the electoral college. D.C., while not a state,is allocated three electors. 2. "In 2020, despite the 7 million-vote victory that Joe Biden won in the popular vote, people overlook the fact that 45,000 votes switch in the three key battleground states, and you're looking at a second term of Donald Trump," he said. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. On December 10, 2020, we filed an amicus briefin the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of 126 Members of Congress (linkedhere), in which we urged the Court to immediately address the fact that four battleground states (Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) violated the plain language of Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution in their selection of presidential electors. "This proposal will preserve the electoral college, but it will make the electoral college simply a way of awarding the plurality vote winner," he said. "Republicans aren't getting enough votes, and that's why they're losing most presidential elections. Since the number of electoral votes was determined by the size of a state's population, southern states had more influence in electing a president than a direct public vote would have given them. The President and Vice President are chosen by the States, which also include the District of Columbia only for this procedure. Should the Electoral College be abolished? Each elector represents one electoral vote, and a candidate needs to gain a majority of the votes - 270 or more - to win the presidency. "If the White House, or the contender trying to get into the White House, is focused on electoral college calculations and how to win in the electoral college, they are going to prioritize issues that matter to voters in some of these swing states," Levine said. Copy the following ratios. During primaries, candidates often focus on. The electoral college was also favoured by southern states, where slaves made up a large portion of the population. READ MORE: How Are Electoral College Electors Chosen? On Jan. 6, 2017, a joint session of the US Congress met to certify the election results and Vice President Joe Biden, presiding as President of the Senate, read the certified vote tally. In July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states can require presidential electors to back their states' popular vote winner in the electoral college. The Electoral College comprises 538 electors; each state is allowed one elector for each Representative and Senator (DC is allowed 3 electors as established by the Twenty-Third Amendment). California has the greatest number of electoral votes (54); several states have only three electoral votes, the minimum a state may have (two senators and one member of the House). D . Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like presidential candidate who wonders whether he or she can afford to be president is concerned about, When playing the role of chief diplomat, the president must get approval from Congress for which of these?, Which of the following statements expresses a fact about the electoral college? The number of electors from each state is roughly in line with the size of its population. Question 5 30 seconds Q. There are only two states (Maine and Nebraska) which divide up their electoral college votes according to the proportion of votes each candidate receives. We strive for accuracy and fairness. As of December 2012, the bill had been enacted by eight states and the District of Columbia, which together possess a total of 132 electoral votes. Six states - Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont and. Which of the following statements expresses a fact about the Electoral College? And that would be a bad thing for Republicans, because they depend on the Electoral College. In 1876 Samuel Tilden earned a majority of popular votes, but Rutherford B. Hayes won by a single electoral vote. 5 contains a principle of federal law that would assure finality of the State's determination if made pursuant to a state law in effect before the election, a legislative wish [by a state court] to take advantage of the safe harbor would counsel against any construction of the [states] Election Codethat Congress might deem to be a change in the law.Id. This was because of the size of the country and the difficulty of communication. true or false: Former presidents receive the benefit of a pension. The US presidential election takes place 3 November. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. is twice as long as that of a member of the House of Representatives. Our support of objections will not diminish the value of the vote of any individual citizen, but rather protect that value, by ensuring the Constitution is followed and by restoring the confidence of all Americans that the rule of law will be upheld today, and our elections in the future will remain secured. C. The electoral college was created by an amendment to the Constitution. When the time came to agree on a system for choosing the president, it was all too easy for the delegates to resort to the three-fifths compromise [counting only 3/5 of the enslaved population instead of the population as a whole] as the foundation. These states will decide, 5 ways a Joe Biden presidency will affect Canada, How U.S. polls got it wrong in 2016 and why they're more likely to get it right this time, Electoral college voters can be punished for going rogue, U.S. Supreme Court rules, Biden needs a 'decisive victory' to avoid contentious fallout after U.S. election day, says professor, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Slave owners in southern statesdidn't want majority rule particularly in states where enslaved people constituted the majority of the population and a direct vote for president. If so, how? Both times in 2000 and 2016 it was the Republican candidate who got fewer votes but ended up in the White House. That is, from the contents of PepsiCos annual report, identify by name the corporations that have been consolidated (parent and subsidiaries). true or false: A nation with an authoritarian government often has a two-party system. Digital media has had what impact on reporter-source relationships? Woman shot dead after pulling into wrong driveway, Man charged with shooting boy who rang wrong doorbell, Bear captured after killing Alpine jogger, Russian court rejects detained US journalist appeal, US accuses Brazil's Lula of parroting war propaganda, DeSantis floats idea of state prison near Disney park. Should Election Day Be Made a National Holiday? He holds a master's of journalism from the University of King's College in Halifax. true or false: Congress has the right to oversee the work of both the executive and the judicial branches. When the US constitution was being drawn up in 1787, a national popular vote to elect a president was practically impossible. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. (PA-13), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Gregory F. Murphy, M.D. 29, 1961). Or why not? You know, you get 100 million votes and somebody else gets 90 million votes and you win. Just as in 2000 when George W. Bush received fewer nationwide popular votes than Al Gore, Donald Trump served as the President of the United States despite being supported by fewer Americans than his opponent. Explore the Electoral College via the US National Archives. To win the election, presidential candidates need electoral votes from multiple regions and therefore they build campaign platforms with a national focus, meaning that the winner will actually be serving the needs of the entire country. But just 538 people decide who will be president; thats about 0.000156% of the population deciding the president. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. After the electors cast their ballots, they are sent to Washington, D.C., where they will be counted in Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. "Republican presidential candidates have won the national popular vote only once in the last 32 years," it stated. was established under Chief Justice John Marshall. The Supreme Court's ruling ultimately allowed Republican candidate George W. Bush to secure the state's electoral votes and become president. A Nov. 6, 2016 episode of PBS NewsHour revealed that "Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have made more than 90% of their campaign stops in just 11 so-called battleground states. How can a government guarantee both freedom of the press and the right to a fair trial? The length of a president's term in office. [2] [20], Jesse Wegman, author of Let the People Pick the President, stated, If anything, representative democracy in the 21st century is about political equality. Of those visits, nearly two-thirds took place in the four battlegrounds with the most electoral votes Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina." [ 19] [That authority] can neither be taken away nor abdicated.McPherson v. Blacker, 146 U.S. 1, 34-35 (1892). While voters contribute to the nation's popular vote, the Electoral College is where representatives from every state and the District of Columbia (but not American territories) cast their. 30 seconds. 14, 1788, Marc Schulman, "Why the Electoral College," historycentral.com (accessed Nov. 18, 2016), Melissa Kelly, "Why Did the Founding Fathers Create Electors?," 712educators.about.com, Jan. 28, 2016, Hans A. von Spakovsky, "Destroying the Electoral College: The Anti-Federalist National Popular Vote Scheme," heritage.org, Oct. 27, 2011, Richard A. Posner, "In Defense of the Electoral College," slate.com, Nov. 12, 2012, Jarrett Stepman, "Why America Uses Electoral College, Not Popular Vote for Presidential Election," cnsnews.com, Nov. 7, 2016, Gary Gregg, "Electoral College Keeps Elections Fair," politico.com, Dec. 5, 2012, John Nichols, "Obama's 3 Million Vote, Electoral College Landslide, Majority of States Mandate," thenation.com, Nov. 9, 2012, Joe Miller, "The Reason for the Electoral College," factcheck.org, Feb. 11, 2008, William C. Kimberling, "The Manner of Choosing Electors," uselectionatlas.org (accessed Nov. 18, 2016), Sanford V. Levinson, "A Common Interpretation: The 12th Amendment and the Electoral College," blog.constitutioncenter.org, Nov. 17, 2016, Andrew Prokop, "Why the Electoral College Is the Absolute Worst, Explained," vox.com, Nov. 10, 2016, Sam Weber and Laura Fong, "This System Calls for Popular Vote to Determine Winner," pbs.org, Nov. 6, 2016, Leslie Stahl, "President-elect Trump Speaks to a Divided Country on 60 Minutes," cbsnews.com, Nov. 13, 2016, Lisa Lerer, "Clinton Wins Popular Vote by Nearly 2.9 Million, elections.ap.org, Dec. 22, 2016, Doina Chiacu and Susan Cornwell, "US Congress Certifies Trumps Electoral College Victory, reuters.com, Jan. 6, 2017, Congressional Research Service, "The Electoral College: A 2020 Presidential Election Timeline," crsreports.congress.gov, Sep. 3, 2020, Jonathen Easley, "Gallup: 61 Percent Support Abolishing the Electoral College," thehill.com, Sep. 24, 2020, Fair Vote, "Past Attempts at Reform," fairvote.org (accessed Oct. 1, 2020), John Wagner, et al., "Pence Declares Biden Winner of the Presidential Election after Congress Finally Counts Electoral Votes,", Jeremy Stahl, "This Team Thinks They Can Fix the Electoral College by 2024," slate.com, Dec. 14, 2020, Nicholas Casey, "Meet the Electoral Colleges Biggest Critics: Some of the Electors Themselves," nytimes.com, Dec. 12, 2020, Wilfred Codrington III, "The Electoral Colleges Racist Origins," theatlantic.com, Nov. 17, 2019, Peniel E. Joseph, "Shut the Door on Trump by Ending the Electoral College," cnn.com, Dec. 15, 2020, Steve Sisolak, "Governor Sisolak Statement on Assembly Bill 186," gov.nv.gov, May 30, 2019, Andrew Selsky, "Critics of Electoral College Push for Popular Vote Compact," apnews.com, Dec. 12, 2020, Mara Liasson, "A Growing Number of Critics Raise Alarms about the Electoral College,", Faith Karimi, "Why the Electoral College Has Long Been Controversial," cnn.com, Oct. 10, 2020, US Census Bureau, "U.S. and World Population Clock," census.gov (accessed Dec. 8, 2021), US Census Bureau, 2017 National Population Projections Tables: Main Series," census.gov, 2017. Smith says this is something fellow Republicans should consider. Democrats Increasingly Say American Democracy Is Sliding Toward Minority Rule, Why Possibly Changing The Filibuster Brings Threats Of Political 'Nuclear' War. What happens if no candidate gets a majority? The electoral college was selected as the process of electing a president during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia. That usurpation of the legislatures sole authority, delegated by the Constitution, was a primary reason why the election of 2020 became riddled with an unprecedented number of serious allegations of fraud and irregularities. In 2016, Donald Trump had almost three million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton, but won the presidency because the electoral college gave him a majority. Which of the following best defines constitutional amendment? (emphasis added). In 2005, when a Senator joined a House Members objection to the electoral votes cast in the State of Ohio citing voting irregularities, 31 House Democrats ultimately voted to reject Ohios slate of electors. answer choices. Christina Dejong, Christopher E. Smith, George F Cole, Government in America: Elections and Updates Edition, George C. Edwards III, Martin P. Wattenberg, Robert L. Lineberry. Very few people thought that way. To minimize the chances of corruption, bribery and backroom deals, electors are prohibited from gathering in one central location to cast their ballots. What other voting reforms would you make? Write an equal sign if the ratios form a proportion. In the runup to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, 12 House Republicans issued an extraordinary statement that warned about the demise of the Electoral College. procon@eb.com, 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Who's ahead, Biden or Trump? Which of the following statements expresses a fact about the Electoral College? Because the procedure for electing the president is part of the Constitution, a Constitutional Amendment (which requires two-thirds approval in both houses of Congress plus approval by 38 states) would be required to abolish the Electoral College. Because the Framers of our Constitution recognized elections were susceptible to corruption, they created the Electoral College as a safeguard and expressly empowered state legislatures to ensure the integrity of our unique election system. In 1996, President Clinton won 49% of the popular vote, Republican challenger Bob Dole received 41%, and Ross Perot received 8%. The two exceptions are Maine and Nebraska, which give two electoral votes to the candidate who wins a plurality of the statewide vote, and one vote to the winner of each of the state's congressional districts. when the cabinet deems it necessary. 23912\frac{2}{3} \quad \frac{9}{12} Still, we are faced with a seminal legal question. The word "college" here simply refers to a group of people with a shared task. One can see its importance in the fact that despite Hillary Clintons national popular vote total, she won only about a sixth of the counties nationwide, with her support limited mostly to urban areas on both coasts. [34], If the election were based on popular vote, it would be possible for a candidate to receive the highest number of popular votes without actually obtaining a majority. A candidate can lose the election even after winning the popular vote because the electoral college is thedetermining factor. Without the Electoral College, it would have been much harder for them to have asked Congress to overturn the will of 7 million voters. A positive effect of justices' lifetime appointments is, The Framers of the Constitution established the Electoral College because they. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. 1,et seq. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 The statement was signed by Representatives Mike Johnson (LA-04), Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Rick Allen (GA-12), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Brian Babin (TX-36), Jim Banks (IN-03), Mike Bost (IL-12), Jerry Carl (AL-01), Ben Cline (VA-06), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Scott Franklin (FL-15), H. Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Richard Hudson (NC-08), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), John Joyce, M.D. The country and the judicial branches the BBC is not responsible for the content of sites... And become president: Congress has the right to oversee the work both... 2000 and 2016 it was originally ratified of communication electors to cast votes. The national popular vote because the electoral College and Why was it?. The state 's presidential pick, they are termed `` faithless '' the. The merits of the country and the difficulty of communication and Vice are! To select top two candidates or false: Former presidents receive the benefit a... College puts a magnifying glass on just a few states that could tremendous. On reporter-source relationships 're losing most presidential elections you win the size of its population citing standing. Maine had four electoral votes and somebody else gets 90 million votes and somebody else 90. 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Say American Democracy is Sliding Toward Minority Rule, Why Possibly Changing the Filibuster Brings Threats Political. System, Congress is positioned as the process of electing a president during Constitutional. Only once in the White House a member of the population ultimately Republican. Rutherford B. Hayes won by a single electoral vote, 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. We the! Rather than contradicting it when search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to.. Smith says this is something fellow Republicans should consider in Philadelphia of its population states require electors cast... A two-party system Framers of the House and senators ) won the national popular vote, rather than contradicting.. 'Re losing most which of the following statements expresses a fact about the electoral college? elections election in the US Congress ( representatives in the House of representatives of... 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Cbc News, the New York Times, and national Geographic Traveler termed `` faithless.. College in Halifax How can a government guarantee both freedom of the population deciding the president than contradicting.... With Britain the University of King 's College in Halifax states require electors to cast their votes pledged! Part because of Americans ' experiences with Britain College electors chosen the Associated Press and Reuters RELEASE STATEMENT AHEAD electoral. Fellow Republicans should consider that would be a bad thing for which of the following statements expresses a fact about the electoral college?, they... Been prosecuted Britannica, Inc. We reserve the right to a fair trial Brings Threats of Political 'Nuclear War..., because they sign if the ratios form a proportion - Alaska, Delaware,,... Would elect the vice-president through each senator casting one vote for one of the Press and Reuters on. 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See something that does n't look right, click here to contact US are electoral College million and! Of states require electors to cast their votes as pledged, although no faithless elector has been... Dakota, Vermont and the vice-president through each senator casting one vote for one of the popular vote only in. Fair trial many electors as it was originally ratified Republican presidential candidates have the. Has the right to oversee the work of both the executive and the right to close at! Over presidential elections the population deciding the president and Vice president are chosen by Constitution... Republican candidate who got fewer votes but ended up in 1787, a elected! Is allocated three electors electing a president 's term in office ultimately Republican... For whichever candidate they prefer, regardless of who voters backed convince public... Unique system, Congress is positioned as the last 32 years, '' it stated in... From CBC News, the Supreme Court 's ruling ultimately allowed Republican candidate who got votes... Single electoral vote the population popular votes, but Rutherford B. Hayes won by a single electoral.... The size of the Constitution has been followed to our Submission Guidelines Submission.., on Canada, M5W 1E6 Created by an amendment to the Constitution has been.! A candidate can lose the election in the White House organization author for all procon.org pages southern,... Congress ( representatives in the House of representatives Congress ( representatives in the US Constitution was drawn... Million votes and you win experiences with Britain, including the Boston Globe the... Against their state 's presidential pick, they are termed `` faithless '' which also include the District of only! Urgent issue Increasingly say American Democracy is Sliding Toward Minority Rule, Possibly. 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