Lesson 18 of 84 · Government
⭐ 30 XP🏛️ Civic SquareThe Electoral College
The Electoral College is a unique system established by the United States Constitution for electing the President and Vice President.
🎯 Your mission
Spot the fair part. Spot the unfair part.
⚡ The twist
Laws change. Power changes who gets to change them.
Mind = Blown
🤯 In ancient Athens, 'democracy' only included about 10% of the people.
Then & Now
🏛️ The rule you'll meet today is still on the books — sort of.
The Electoral College is a unique system established by the United States Constitution for electing the President and Vice President. Instead of a direct popular vote, citizens cast ballots for electors pledged to vote for a particular candidate. Each state has a set number of electors based on its representation in Congress, reflecting both the Senate and House of Representatives. This system can lead to situations where a candidate wins the presidency without winning the popular vote, as seen in several elections throughout U.S. history.
Key Facts
The Electoral College consists of 538 electors.
A candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
The system was established in the late 18th century by the Founding Fathers.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?
Why this still matters
Your school has rules. Where do they come from? Who decides them?
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Make up a fair rule for your family. Pitch it.
For the dinner table
“What's one rule at our house you'd change if you could vote on it?”
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