Q. 39 / 128American Government → Voting & Elections
Why is the Electoral College important?
OFFICIAL ANSWER
- It decides who is elected President
- It provides a compromise between the popular election of the President and congressional selection
Hear the answer · spoken at official pace0:03
Context
Established in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention, the Electoral College was a compromise between those who wanted Congress to choose the President and those who favored direct popular election. The Framers feared both pure democracy (giving large states total control) and legislative selection (threatening executive independence). Each state receives electoral votes equal to its total congressional representation, creating a hybrid system that has shaped American campaign strategy ever since.
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