Understanding the Electoral College

The video explains the Electoral College, a system established by the Founding Fathers to elect the U.S. president. It highlights how the Electoral College works, with 538 electors representing Congress and the District of Columbia. Most states award all their electoral votes to the popular vote winner, except for Nebraska and Maine, which use a district-based system. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. The video discusses criticisms of the system as undemocratic and arguments in favor of its role in representing less populous states. It concludes with a call to explore more resources.

Why did the Founding Fathers create the Electoral College?

• To allow the Supreme Court to have a say in elections

• To ensure the president is chosen by Congress

• To balance the influence of populous and less populous states

• To make sure the president is chosen by the popular vote

How many electors are there in the Electoral College?

• 435

• 100

• 270

• 538

Which states do not follow the winner-takes-all approach in the Electoral College?

• California and Texas

• New York and Illinois

• Florida and Ohio

• Nebraska and Maine

What is the minimum number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency?

• 300

• 538

• 270

• 250

What is one criticism of the Electoral College?

• It gives too much power to the popular vote

• It is too simple and straightforward

• It allows Congress to choose the president

• It is considered undemocratic by some

What is one argument in favor of the Electoral College?

• It ensures the president is chosen by the Supreme Court

• It simplifies the election process

• It allows for a direct popular vote

• It represents less populous states equally

How does the Electoral College reflect American Federalist democracy?

• By making the election process faster

• By ensuring all states have equal representation

• By allowing the president to be chosen by Congress

• By balancing the power between state and federal governments