Explain the purpose and function of the Electoral College. How are its members chosen? How does the Electoral College reflect the will of the people?
The purpose of the Electoral College is to officially elect the President and Vice President of the United States. The Electoral College is made up of electors from each state, with the number of electors corresponding to the state's representation in Congress.
The members of the Electoral College are chosen by each state's political parties. Typically, the parties select individuals who are loyal and committed to their party's nominee for President. These individuals can be state party leaders, elected officials, or other party activists.
The Electoral College reflects the will of the people through a system in which the popular vote in each state determines how that state's electors will vote. In all states except for Maine and Nebraska, the candidate who wins the popular vote in the state receives all of the state's electoral votes. This means that the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide will usually also win the majority of electoral votes and be elected President.
Despite this, there have been a few instances in which the winner of the popular vote did not win the Electoral College vote and therefore did not become President. Critics argue that this system can sometimes distort the will of the people, as it allows for a candidate to win the presidency without winning the national popular vote. Nonetheless, the Electoral College system remains in place as outlined in the US Constitution.