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National Elections and the Electoral College
Introduction
Today, the American people vote for president and vice president on the Election Day. But, technically speaking, these votes don’t directly determine the outcome of the election. These popular votes determine which electors will be appointed to the Electoral College—the Electoral College is made up of 538 electors drawn from the states and the District of Columbia. Each state is granted a different number of electoral votes based on the size of its congressional delegation. The electors meet after the general election to cast their votes for president and vice president.
What is the basic constitutional framework for elections in the United States? When do they happen, and why?
What is the Electoral College, and how does it work? Why did the Framers create the Electoral College?
What was the Twelfth Amendment, and how did it alter the original Constitution’s Electoral College system?
How have the states implemented the Electoral College over time?
What has the Supreme Court said about the Electoral College?
What are the modern debates over the Electoral College?
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Learning About National Elections with Michael T. Morley |
Learning About National Elections |
Learning About National Elections |
| Download Advanced Level Worksheet >> (via Google Docs) |
Download Intro Level Worksheet >> (via Google Docs) |
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