What are the strengths and weaknesses of the electoral college? Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is the main purpose of the Electoral College in the United States?
To formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States.
True or False: The Electoral College was established by the U.S. Constitution.
True.
How many electors are there in the Electoral College?
There are 538 electors in the Electoral College.
What is the minimum number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency?
A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
Fill in the blank: The number of electors for each state is equal to the total number of its ________ and ________.
Senators; Representatives.
What is a strength of the Electoral College?
It helps to balance the influence of populous states with less populous states.
What is a major criticism of the Electoral College?
It can lead to a situation where the winner of the popular vote does not become president.
True or False: All states use a winner-takes-all system for their electoral votes.
False.
Which states use proportional allocation of electoral votes?
Maine and Nebraska.
What is one argument in favor of the Electoral College regarding political campaigns?
Candidates must appeal to a wider range of voters in different states.
How does the Electoral College affect voter turnout?
It may discourage turnout in states where one party dominates.
What is the term for the electors who are pledged to vote for a specific candidate?
Pledged electors.
True or False: Electors are legally bound to vote for the candidate they are pledged to.
False; some states allow electors to vote contrary to their pledge.
What is one way the Electoral College impacts third-party candidates?
It marginalizes third-party candidates because they rarely receive electoral votes.
Fill in the blank: The Electoral College was intended to serve as a compromise between direct ______ and a ______.
popular vote; Congressional selection.
What happens if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes?
The election is decided by the House of Representatives.
What is the role of the Senate in the case of an electoral tie?
The Senate selects the Vice President.
What is one strength of the Electoral College related to regional interests?
It ensures that candidates pay attention to regional issues.
True or False: The Electoral College system encourages candidates to focus only on populous urban areas.
False.
What is a potential disadvantage of the winner-takes-all system?
It can lead to unequal representation of votes across states.
What is the historical context for the establishment of the Electoral College?
It was created during the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Fill in the blank: The Electoral College reflects a compromise between federal and ________ principles.
democratic.
What does it mean for an elector to be ‘faithless’?
An elector who votes contrary to their pledge.
What is one proposed reform to the Electoral College?
To switch to a national popular vote system.
