The Electoral College

Mission Brief #18

🎯 Your mission

Spot the fair part. Spot the unfair part.

⚡ The twist

Laws change. Power changes who gets to change them.

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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.

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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

Remember these

1The Electoral College consists of 538 electors.
2A candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
3The system was established in the late 18th century by the Founding Fathers.

Then & Now

🏛️ The rule you'll meet today is still on the books — sort of.

Question 1 of 2

How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?

How sure?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

What is the main purpose of the Electoral College?

How sure?😐 maybe

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The Electoral College

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