Electoral College Flashcards
Electoral College
Constitutional promise that the states would elect the president
What is the electoral college made up of?
Made up of electors– individuals designated by a state to cast votes in the EC on behalf of the state
How does the electoral college meet?
- Meets 1st Monday after 2nd Wednesday in December
- Never meets as a body
Electors gather in own state capital
How many electors does each state get?
equal to # of US Reps. and US Senators
How many electors are there all together?
538 made up of:
- 100 US SENATORS
- 435 US REPS
- 3 Washington DC
How many votes are needed to win?
- Absolute majority 50%+1 of all electors- 270
Whats the relationship between the popular vote and electoral college?
States use the popular vote to select and direct their electors
- don’t have to– no right to vote under the US Constitution
How are electors chosen?
- State decision
- slates from each party represented
Article II
The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors and the day on which they shall give their votes, which day shall be the same throughout the US
What are faithless electors?
Dont follow the direction of their state
What is allocation?
How a state divvies up its EC seats
Winner-take-all
party receiving greatest # of votes gets 100% of the state’s electors
Proportional representation
State divides seats based on votes for both parties
