after the president is impeached. [3] [4] [5] [6], In each state, a group of electors is chosen by each political party. D . "This is the essence of the minority-rule position, right?" By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images The Senate would elect the vice-president through each senator casting one vote for one of the remaining top two candidates. Smith says this is something fellow Republicans should consider. 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. As for what constitutes a competitive state, Levine said the balance between urban and rural areasis a strong determining factor. Maine has a similar proportional distribution, with two votes awarded to the statewide winner and its other two votes given to the winners in each of its two congressional districts. As commander in chief, the president is allowed to do which of the following? Who's ahead, Biden or Trump? The discrepancy was also apparent in 2000. Indeed, stating a variety of concerns, they have presented objections during the electoral count of each Republican president over the last 20 years. Its about one person, one vote everybodys vote counting equally. Explore the Electoral College via the US National Archives. Article II. 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. v. Gore, et al., 531 U.S. 98, 113 (2000), Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, reiterated that [a] significant departure from the legislative scheme for appointing Presidential electors presents a federal constitutional question regarding the application of Art. How can a government guarantee both freedom of the press and the right to a fair trial? 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Four years later, though, the collegeenabled Trump to secure power while losing the popular vote. The most probablescenario would see the new congress decide since they take office before the president, he said. Read about our approach to external linking. A Democratic win in 2020 may not lead to its abolishmenteither, Levine suggested, particularly if the winner-take-all structure of most electoral college votes plays to their advantage in future 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 is an unfair method to use to select a president. This has happened only once, when in 1824 four candidates split the electoral vote, denying any one of them a majority. On Dec. 22, 2016, the results were certified in all 50 states. Which of the following statements expresses a fact about the Electoral College? Youre not going to convince a majority of Americans that thats not how you should do it. [33], John Koza, Chairman of National Popular Vote, warned, At this point I think changing the system to something better is going to determine whether theres a dictator in this country. [27]. 2023 BBC. What key aspect of the Constitution relates to voting? The results are announced that day, with Inauguration Day following on Jan. 20. Texas, the largest reliably Republican-leaning state, has 36 congressmen and two senators, so they get 38 electoral votes. All content of site and practice tests copyright 2017 Max. Among our most fundamental institutions is the system of free and fair elections we rely upon, and any erosion in that foundation jeopardizes the stability of our republic. 2. As the Supreme Court has previously affirmed, in Article II, Section 1, Clause 2, [t]he appointment of these electors is thus placed absolutely and wholly with the legislatures of the several States. To become a member of a particular political party, one must do which of these? ], ProCon.org, "The Electoral College Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "The Electoral College Top 3 Pros and Cons. Where the polls stand on election day, Will Biden or Trump be the U.S. president? In some states, electors could vote for whichever candidate they prefer, regardless of who voters backed. In previous presidential elections, our House Democrat colleagues have often agreed. "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. Mukunda stated, The fact that in presidential elections people in Wyoming have [nearly four] times the power of people in California is antithetical at the most basic level to what we say we stand for as a democracy. [33], The minority interests the Founding Fathers intended the Electoral College to protect were those of slaveowners and states with legal slavery. This proves the system is working. Three of Nebraskas five electoral votes are awarded to the winner of the popular vote in each of its three congressional districts, with the other two given to the statewide winner of the popular vote. when the cabinet deems it necessary. (PA-13), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Gregory F. Murphy, M.D. 1,et seq. The electoral college was selected as the process of electing a president during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia. Six states - Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont and. 18. In our unique system, Congress is positioned as the last bulwark in a presidential election to ensure the Constitution has been followed. true or false: Thomas Jefferson once referred to the establishment clause as a "wall of separation between church and state.". Yet our friends have overlooked a critical, first principle. National polls indicate a large percentage of Americans now have serious doubts about not just the outcome of the current presidential contest, but also the future reliability of our election system itself. The right of suffrage was much more diffusive in the Northern than the Southern States; and the latter could have no influence in the election on the score of the Negroes. Article 1 of the Constitution determined that members of the Senate and House of Representatives would both be elected directly by popular vote. It is possible for candidates to be the most popular candidate among voters nationally, but still fail to win enough states to gain 270 electoral votes. 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. true or false: The Supreme Court interprets rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including the right to freedom of speech. Each state also has laws regarding recounts, including automatic recounts depending on margin of victory or requiring a petition from a candidate. They will only accept something like an electoral college, which would filter the choice by the states,'"Opal said. The President and Vice President are chosen by the States, which also include the District of Columbia only for this procedure. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the other side of the issue now helps you better argue your position. 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A candidate may challenge the results of a particular state according to its ownlaws and deadlines. issues affecting the regions they campaign in. 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. Listen to a Constitution Center podcast exploring the pros and cons of the Electoral College. And even when that doesn't happen, Wegman sees another problem with the Electoral College system. [2], The Electoral College was established in 1788 by Article II of the US Constitution, which also established the executive branch of the US government, and was revised by the Twelfth Amendment (ratified June 15, 1804), the Fourteenth Amendment (ratified July 1868), and the Twenty-Third Amendment (ratified Mar. There are 538 electors in the electoral college, divided amongeach state as well as the District of Columbia. In 2000, George W. Bush captured more electoral votes while earning 500,000 fewer popular votes than Al Gore. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. 68 (The Mode of Electing the President)," congress.gov, Mar. Onlythe state legislatures were given the authority to direct the manner of appointing presidential electors. "You're not going to convince a majority of Americans that that's not how you should do it.". That is, from the contents of PepsiCos annual report, identify by name the corporations that have been consolidated (parent and subsidiaries). And Smith points out that for most of American history, the Electoral College amplified the popular vote, rather than contradicting it. D. It works without controversy in most elections. true or false: The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction in those cases involving representatives of foreign governments. 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. But Brad Smith, who used to be on the Federal Election Commission, disagrees. 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. 29, 1961). Even though slaves didn't vote, they were counted in the US census (as three-fifths of a person). Which of the following statements expresses a fact rather than an opinion? "You don't have to convince the public that the system is fair. Not a physical college, the electoral college isa process for electing the U.S. president. There are only two states (Maine and Nebraska) which divide up their electoral college votes according to the proportion of votes each candidate receives. What information do we collect from this quiz? One reason that the justices take a preliminary vote is to. In the four subject states, the legislatures did enact detailed rules and procedures by which those states were to determine their electors. In 2016, Donald Trump won the electoral vote despite receiving nearly three million fewer votes than his opponent, Hillary Clinton. [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. true or false: The Bill of Rights arose in part because of Americans' experiences with Britain. Twelve years later, Benjamin Harrison defeated incumbent Grover Cleveland handily in the Electoral College although garnering fewer popular votes. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. It works without controversy in most elections. Which of the following statements about the electoral college is correct? Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Encyclopaedia Britannica/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, 5 Presidents Who Won the Election But Lost the Popular Vote. Levine said the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact would be easier to accomplish than passing a constitutional amendment. II, 1, cl. A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you. What do you want to know about the U.S. election? the number of terms a president can serve. 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. So-called faithless electors have not been critical to the outcome of a U.S. presidential election, but that could change in a race decided by just a few electoral votes. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? The pros and cons of the felon voting debate include arguments about the social contract, voting while in prison, and paying debts. "In the founding period, it was hard to imagine the American people as a single political entity. [3] [4] [5] [6], The Founding Fathers created the Electoral College as a compromise between electing the president via a vote in Congress only or via a popular vote only. The rules of the process are dictated by the 12th Amendment. "But this new trend of actually taking over the machinery of elections and giving themselves the power to run things or make decisions or count the votes is another way of doing this.". Yes. James Madison stated, There was one difficulty however of a serious nature attending an immediate choice by the people. With two parties dominating the US system, this is unlikely to happen today. The House just wrapped up its debate over an objection on Pennsylvania's electoral votes for President-elect Joe Biden. "If you're an opponent of the electoral college as I am, it's a rather elegant solution to the problem.". true or false: Innovations in media have increased the number of people reporting on events and issues and expanded the ways in which citizens access information. 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. "Republican presidential candidates have won the national popular vote only once in the last 32 years," it stated. It's about one person, one vote everybody's vote counting equally," he said. "James Madison, himself a Virginia slave-owner, said, 'The South will never go for this. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. due process is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. 3. Repeat previous exercise for the NASDAQ and the S&P 500. true or false: The Founders showed the importance of the legislative branch by making nearly half of the Constitution about it. "Republicans aren't getting enough votes, and that's why they're losing most presidential elections. b. For example, if a candidate wins 50.1% of the vote in Texas, they are awarded all of the state's 38 electoral votes. Of the 538 Electoral College votes available, Donald J. Trump received 304 votes, Hillary Clinton received 227 votes, and seven votes went to others: three for Colin Powell, one for Faith Spotted Eagle, one for John Kasich, one for Ron Paul, and one for Bernie Sanders). Without the Electoral College, it would have been much harder for them to have asked Congress to overturn the will of 7 million voters. There areexceptions to the urban-rural split, Levine said, as well as other competitive states thatmay not get as much attention due to their relatively low number of electoral college votes. D. The results of electoral college voting tend to distort the winner's margin of victory, when compared with the popular vote for president. The existence of the Electoral College precluded calls for recounts or demands for run-off elections. Yes. READ MORE: 5 Presidents Who Won the Election But Lost the Popular Vote. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Privacy notice. Here's a look at how the electoral college process works, how it came to be engrained in U.S. presidential elections and its influence on the future of politics in the country. by sequestering a jury by removing them from public contact, The Supreme Court's right to judicial review. Instead, Trump asked Congress to throw out the electoral votes from just a handful of battleground states. Should the Electoral College be abolished? [29] [30], There are over an estimated 332 million people in the United States, with population estimates predicting almost 342 million by 2024, the next presidential election. To vote than passing a Constitutional amendment key aspect of the electoral College although fewer! Popular votes than his opponent, Hillary Clinton he said on margin of victory or a. Member of a which of the following statements expresses a fact about the electoral college? nature attending an immediate choice by the states, ' '' Opal said search suggestions available. 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