Electoral College Quiz

What was one of the main reasons the framers of the Constitution established the Electoral College?

• To increase voter turnout

• To give more power to large states

• To protect against the dangers of direct democracy

• To simplify the voting process

In the Electoral College system, when citizens vote in the general election, who are they actually voting for?

• The President directly

• Their state's Senators

• A slate of electors pledged to a specific candidate

• Their state's Representatives

What is meant by the "winner takes all" system in most states?

• The candidate who wins the national popular vote takes all electoral votes

• The candidate who wins a state's popular vote receives all of that state's electoral votes

• The candidate who wins the most states takes all electoral votes

• The candidate who wins the most electoral votes takes the presidency

When do electors actually cast their votes for president?

• On Election Day in November

• At the party conventions

• In December, after the general election

• On Inauguration Day in January

What are electors called who vote against their pledged candidate?

• Rogue electors

• Faithless electors

• Independent electors

• Protest electors

How many times in history have electors cast their votes differently than prescribed by their state?

• 58

• 108

• 158

• 208

In the case where the House of Representatives must choose the President, how do they vote?

• Each Representative gets one vote

• Each state delegation gets one vote

• Only the majority party votes

• Proportional to state population

When was the last time the House of Representatives had to choose the President?

• 1800

• 1825

• 1876

• 2000

What happens if the House fails to choose a President by Inauguration Day?

• The previous President remains in office

• The Speaker of the House becomes Acting President

• The new Vice President becomes Acting President

• A new general election is held

How are electors typically chosen?

• By random lottery

• By appointment from the state governor

• By popular vote in primaries

• By nomination from political parties