- It is “undemocratic;”
- It permits the election of a candidate who does not win the most votes; and.
- Its winner-takes-all approach cancels the votes of the losing candidates in each state.
What are the three main weaknesses of the Electoral College system quizlet?
- Small-population states are over-represented.
- Winner-takes-all system can distort the result (such as in 2008, when Obama won 52% of the popular vote but 68% of the Electoral College votes).
- Possible for a candidate to win the popular vote but lose in the Electoral College (as Al Gore (Democrat) did in 2000).
What are the major flaws in the Electoral College system quizlet?
is plagued by three major defects:
(1) the winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency
; (2) electors are not required to vote in accord with the popular vote; and (3) any election might have to be decided in the House of Representatives.
What are the three proposed reforms of the Electoral College system?
The three most popular reform proposals include (1) the automatic plan, which would award electoral votes automatically and on the current winner-take-all basis in each state; (2) the district plan, as currently adopted in Maine and Nebraska, which would award one electoral vote to the winning ticket in each …
What are potential arguments against the Electoral College quizlet?
Major arguments against the Electoral College. 1)
winner take all system makes it possible for a candidate who loses the popular vote to win the electoral vote
. 2) there is a possibility of electing a minority president.
How are the electors selected for the Electoral College?
Generally, the parties either nominate slates of potential electors at their State party conventions or they chose them by a vote of the party’s central committee. … When the voters in each State cast votes for the Presidential candidate of their choice they are voting to select their State’s electors.
Is the Electoral College a fair method of electing the president quizlet?
Is the electoral college fair?
Yes because it gives the smaller states more say in the election
. Also the president has to go to every state. And the winner of the popular vote might not win the election.
Why were most of the framers opposed to choosing the president by popular vote quizlet?
Why were most of the framers opposed to choosing a president by popular vote? By Congress?
They believed that voters in such a large country couldn’t learn enough about the candidates to make an informed decision
. They believed that if it was chosen by Congress it would be, “too much under the legislative thumb.”
What does the number of electoral votes a state gets depends on?
Electoral votes are allocated among the States based on the Census. Every State is allocated a number of votes equal to the number of senators and representatives in its U.S. Congressional delegation—two votes for its senators in the U.S. Senate plus a number of votes equal to the number of its Congressional districts.
Why was the Electoral College system created quizlet?
The Electoral College was created for two reasons.
The first purpose was to create a buffer between population and the selection of a President
. The second as part of the structure of the government that gave extra power to the smaller states.
How many attempts have been made to reform the Electoral College?
Since 1800, over 700 proposals to reform or eliminate the system have been introduced in Congress.
What is the main criticism leveled against the Electoral College system for electing presidents?
Three criticisms of the College are made: It is “undemocratic;” It permits the election of a candidate who does not win the most votes; and. Its winner-takes-all approach cancels the votes of the losing candidates in each state.
How does the Electoral College work?
In the Electoral College system, each state gets a certain number of electors based on its total number of representatives in Congress. Each elector casts one electoral vote following the general election; there are a total of 538 electoral votes. The candidate that gets more than half (270) wins the election.
What is potential downside of the winner take all system of Electoral College voting quizlet?
What is a drawback of the winner-take-all system of Electoral College voting?
It makes it possible for candidates to lose the popular vote, yet win the election
.
How might the Electoral College depress voter turnout quizlet?
the possible role of the Electoral College is depressing voter turnout. citizens feel their vote doesn’t matter because the number of electoral votes
has already been assigned
. promotes unity in the nation by requiring a candidate to have support from various regions in order to be elected.
Why dont third party candidates win votes in the US Electoral College quizlet?
The Electoral College discourages 3rd parties because
a candidate must have a broad based, national platform to have a chance to gain the highest office
.
