Which of the following are true about the electoral
College?
To determine which statements are true about the Electoral College, we need to understand its purpose and how it operates. The Electoral College is the system used in the United States to elect the President and Vice President. It consists of a total of 538 electors who are chosen by each state and the District of Columbia.
Here are some facts about the Electoral College that can help determine which statements are true:
1. Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to its total number of Senators (always 2) plus its number of Representatives in the House of Representatives, which is based on the state's population.
2. The electors are responsible for casting their votes for President and Vice President. The candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes (270 out of 538) is declared the winner.
3. The Electoral College vote is usually based on the popular vote within each state. In the majority of states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state receives all of its electoral votes (known as the "winner-takes-all" system). However, there are two states (Maine and Nebraska) that allocate their electoral votes proportionally.
4. If no candidate reaches the majority of electoral votes (270), the decision is made by the House of Representatives in a contingent election, where each state delegation gets one vote. This has only happened twice in history, in 1800 and 1824.
Now, let's examine the statements and determine which are true:
Statement 1: The Electoral College consists of 538 electors.
True. This is the total number of electors in the Electoral College.
Statement 2: Electoral votes are allocated based on the popular vote in each state.
Mostly true. While most states allocate their electoral votes winner-takes-all, there are exceptions like Maine and Nebraska, which allocate them proportionally.
Statement 3: The candidate who receives the majority of electoral votes (270) wins the election.
True. This is the threshold required for a candidate to win the presidency.
Statement 4: The Electoral College has the final authority in selecting the President and Vice President.
True. The Electoral College's vote determines the outcome of the election.
Therefore, statements 1-4 are all true about the Electoral College.