The Electoral College

These flashcards encompass key concepts related to the Electoral College, its processes, implications, and significant cases.

Electoral College

A process established by the Constitution for electing the President and Vice President of the United States.

Popular Vote

The total number or percentage of votes cast for a candidate, which does not determine the president.

Electoral Vote

The votes cast by electors that determines who becomes President; 270 electoral votes are needed to win.

Safe States

States that are thought to vote reliably for one party in elections.

Swing States

States that can reasonably be won by either major political party in elections, making them more competitive.

Faithless Electors

Electors who do not vote for the candidate they pledged to support; no federal law binds electors.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

A landmark Supreme Court case that decided the 2000 presidential election, focusing on the vote recount in Florida.

Majority of Electoral Votes

A candidate must secure a majority (270) of the 538 electoral votes to be elected President.

State Nomination of Electors

A process where electors are usually nominated at the state party conventions.

Federalist #68

An essay by Alexander Hamilton advocating for the Electoral College as a mechanism for electing the President.

Controversies of the Electoral College

Debates and disputes regarding its fairness and implications, especially when popular vote losers win the presidency.