The Electoral College

Full Answer Section The Electoral College has been criticized by some who argue that it is undemocratic, as it is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote but lose the election. This happened in the 2016 election, when Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes but lost the electoral college to Donald Trump. There are a number of arguments in favor of the Electoral College. One argument is that it protects the interests of smaller states. Under a popular vote system, candidates would only need to focus on winning the votes of large states, and smaller states would have little influence. The Electoral College gives smaller states a voice in the presidential election. Another argument in favor of the Electoral College is that it prevents "mob rule." Under a popular vote system, it is possible for a candidate to win the election with only a small majority of the vote. This could lead to a situation where a candidate who does not have the support of a majority of the country is elected president. The Electoral College helps to ensure that the president has the support of a majority of the country. However, there are also a number of arguments against the Electoral College. One argument is that it is undemocratic. As mentioned above, it is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote but lose the election. This means that the candidate who wins the election may not have the support of the majority of the country. Another argument against the Electoral College is that it gives too much power to swing states. Swing states are states that are considered to be up for grabs in any given election. Candidates often focus their attention on these states, as they are the ones that will determine the outcome of the election. This means that the votes of people in non-swing states are often ignored. The Electoral College is a complex system with both pros and cons. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether they believe the Electoral College is a good or bad thing. Here are three valid points to support the argument against the Electoral College:

• The Electoral College can lead to the election of a president who does not have the support of the majority of the country.
• The Electoral College gives too much power to swing states.
• The Electoral College is undemocratic.

In conclusion, there are both pros and cons to the Electoral College. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether they believe the Electoral College is a good or bad thing.

Sample Answer The Electoral College is a body of electors established by the United States Constitution, constituted every four years for the sole purpose of electing the president and vice president of the United States. The electors are chosen by each state, in a manner directed by the legislature thereof. Each state's number of electors is equal to the number of seats it has in the U.S. House of Representatives plus its two senators. The Electoral College was created at the 1787 Constitutional Convention as part of a compromise between those who wanted popular elections for president and those who wanted the president to be chosen by Congress. The Electoral College system gives more power to smaller states, as each state has at least three electors, regardless of its population.