What were the
provisions of the
compromise?
electoral college
The provisions of the Compromise involving the Electoral College are as follows:
1. Creation of an Electoral College: The Compromise established the Electoral College as the method for electing the President of the United States. Under this system, each state would have a number of electors equal to the total of its Senators and Representatives.
2. State Selection of Electors: The Compromise allowed each state to determine its own method for selecting electors. This enabled states to have some flexibility in choosing their electors, whether through a popular vote or by the state legislature.
3. Electoral Vote Counting: The Compromise determined that the electoral votes would be counted and certified by the President of the Senate, which is the Vice President of the United States.
4. Contingent Election: In case no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes, the Compromise established the contingent election process. The House of Representatives would choose the President from the top three candidates, with each state delegation having one vote. The Senate would choose the Vice President from the top two candidates.
Overall, the Compromise aimed to strike a balance between the interests of large and small states in the presidential election process by utilizing the Electoral College system.
The Compromise regarding the Electoral College was part of the agreement reached during the drafting of the United States Constitution in 1787. It aimed to resolve the debate between the states regarding how the president would be elected. The specific provisions of the compromise included:
1. Creation and Composition of the Electoral College: The compromise established the Electoral College as the method for electing the president. The Electoral College consisted of electors chosen by each state in a manner determined by their respective legislatures.
2. Elector Allocation: The compromise determined that the number of electors each state received would be based on the combined total of its representatives and senators in Congress. The number of representatives was based on the state's population, as determined by the census, while each state had two senators regardless of population.
3. Appointment of Electors: The compromise granted each state the authority to determine the manner in which its electors would be chosen. This gave the states the power to decide whether their electors would be selected by the state legislature, through a popular vote, or by another method.
4. Meeting of the Electors: The compromise defined the time and place for the electors to meet and cast their votes for president and vice president. This meeting usually takes place in December following the presidential election.
5. Electoral College Vote Counting: The compromise specified that the President of the Senate, which is the Vice President of the United States, would preside over the Electoral College vote counting process.
6. Tie-Breaking: If no candidate received a majority of electoral votes, the compromise established that the House of Representatives would hold a contingent election to choose the president, with each state delegation having one vote. The vice president would be elected by the Senate.
These provisions were designed to balance the interests of smaller states and larger states, ensuring a fair representation in the election of the president through the Electoral College system.
The Compromise of the Electoral College refers to the agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to establish the process for electing the President of the United States. The provisions of the compromise are as follows:
1. Creation of an Electoral College: Rather than having the President elected directly by the popular vote, the compromise established the Electoral College. Under this system, each state would be allocated a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress.
2. Determining the Number of Electors: The compromise resolved the disagreement over how the number of electors would be determined. It was decided that each state would have a number of electors equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress.
3. Role of State Legislatures: The compromise gave state legislatures the authority to determine how electors would be chosen. Initially, most states chose their electors through appointment by the state legislatures.
4. President and Vice President Elections: The compromise also addressed how the President and Vice President would be elected. Electors cast two votes for President, with the candidate receiving the majority becoming President and the runner-up becoming Vice President.
5. Majority Requirement: If no candidate secured a majority of electoral votes, the contingency was that the House of Representatives would decide the election with each state delegation having one vote.
To understand the provisions of the compromise, it is important to delve into the historical context and examine primary sources such as the records of the Constitutional Convention and the U.S. Constitution itself. Several books, articles, and online resources provide detailed accounts of the discussions that took place during the convention, shedding light on the reasoning and compromises that shaped the Electoral College system. Additionally, studying the ratification process and the subsequent amendments can provide further insight into any changes or modifications made to the original provisions.