Review: Electoral College how it works

What is the Electoral College?

A body established by the Constitution for electing the President and Vice President.

How many electors are there?

There are 538 electors in total, based on the number of Senators and Representatives.

True or false: Every state has the same number of electors.

False, because each state's electors are based on its population and congressional representation.

What determines a state's electoral votes?

The total number of Senators (2) plus its Representatives in the House.

Difference between popular vote and electoral vote.

The popular vote is the total votes cast by citizens, while the electoral vote is how electors cast their votes based on that popular vote.

When does the Electoral College meet?

Electors meet in their respective state capitals on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December.

How does a candidate win the presidency?

A candidate must receive a majority of the electoral votes, at least 270 out of 538.

Fill in the blank: The Electoral College was established in the _______.

United States Constitution.

True or false: All states use winner-takes-all allocation.

False, because Maine and Nebraska use a proportional allocation system.

What happens if no candidate receives 270 votes?

The election is decided by the House of Representatives, with each state delegation casting one vote.

Comparison: Electoral College vs. direct popular vote.

The Electoral College uses electors to choose a president, while direct popular vote counts all citizen votes equally.

When are electoral votes officially counted?

On January 6th, during a joint session of Congress.

What is a faithless elector?

An elector who does not vote for the candidate they pledged to support.

True or false: The Electoral College reflects the popular vote in every election.

False, because several times, the Electoral College winner lost the popular vote.

What role does Congress play in the Electoral College?

Congress certifies the electoral votes and resolves any disputes.

Which amendment modified the Electoral College process?

The 12th Amendment, ratified in 1804.

True or false: A candidate can win the presidency without winning the popular vote.

True, because the system allows for this to happen based on state electoral votes.