The Electoral College

Description: Test your knowledge about the Electoral College, a unique system used in the United States presidential election.
Number of Questions: 14
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Tags: us politics elections american government
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What is the purpose of the Electoral College?

  1. To ensure that the candidate with the most popular votes wins the presidency.

  2. To give each state an equal say in the presidential election.

  3. To prevent fraud and ensure the integrity of the election.

  4. To select the president if no candidate receives a majority of the popular vote.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Electoral College was created to address the concern that the candidate with the most popular votes might not necessarily be the best candidate for president. It also ensures that each state has a say in the election, regardless of its population.

How many electoral votes does each state have?

  1. The same number as its population.

  2. The same number as its senators and representatives in Congress.

  3. The same number as its senators.

  4. The same number as its representatives in Congress.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Each state has a number of electoral votes equal to the total number of its senators and representatives in Congress. This number is based on the state's population, as determined by the census.

How are electors chosen?

  1. By the state legislature.

  2. By the governor of the state.

  3. By the popular vote in each state.

  4. By the national party conventions.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Electors are chosen by the state legislature in each state. The legislature can choose electors in any way it wants, but most states use a system of proportional representation, in which the party that wins the most popular votes in the state gets the most electors.

When do electors meet to cast their votes?

  1. On the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December.

  2. On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

  3. On the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in November.

  4. On the second Monday after the first Tuesday in November.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Electors meet to cast their votes on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. This is known as the Electoral College meeting.

What happens if no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes?

  1. The election is decided by the House of Representatives.

  2. The election is decided by the Senate.

  3. The election is decided by the Supreme Court.

  4. The election is decided by a popular vote.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

If no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes, the election is decided by the House of Representatives. The House votes by state, with each state having one vote. The candidate who receives the most votes from the states wins the presidency.

Has there ever been a time when the candidate who won the popular vote did not win the electoral vote?

  1. Yes, it has happened four times.

  2. Yes, it has happened twice.

  3. Yes, it has happened once.

  4. No, it has never happened.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

There have been four times in US history when the candidate who won the popular vote did not win the electoral vote. These elections were in 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000.

What is the main criticism of the Electoral College?

  1. It is undemocratic because it allows a candidate to win the presidency without winning the popular vote.

  2. It gives too much power to small states.

  3. It is too complicated and confusing.

  4. It is outdated and should be abolished.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The main criticism of the Electoral College is that it is undemocratic because it allows a candidate to win the presidency without winning the popular vote. This has happened four times in US history, most recently in 2000.

What are some proposals for reforming the Electoral College?

  1. Abolish the Electoral College and elect the president by popular vote.

  2. Keep the Electoral College, but require the candidate who wins the popular vote to also win the electoral vote.

  3. Keep the Electoral College, but change the way electors are chosen.

  4. Keep the Electoral College, but reduce the number of electors from each state.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The most common proposal for reforming the Electoral College is to abolish it altogether and elect the president by popular vote. This would ensure that the candidate who wins the most votes wins the presidency.

What are the arguments in favor of keeping the Electoral College?

  1. It ensures that each state has a say in the presidential election.

  2. It prevents a candidate from winning the presidency with a small majority of the popular vote.

  3. It encourages candidates to campaign in all states, not just the large ones.

  4. It is part of the US Constitution and should not be changed.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The main argument in favor of keeping the Electoral College is that it ensures that each state has a say in the presidential election. Without the Electoral College, large states like California and New York would have a much greater say in the election than small states like Wyoming and Vermont.

What are the arguments against keeping the Electoral College?

  1. It is undemocratic because it allows a candidate to win the presidency without winning the popular vote.

  2. It gives too much power to small states.

  3. It is too complicated and confusing.

  4. It is outdated and should be abolished.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The main argument against keeping the Electoral College is that it is undemocratic because it allows a candidate to win the presidency without winning the popular vote. This has happened four times in US history, most recently in 2000.

Has there ever been a movement to abolish the Electoral College?

  1. Yes, there have been several attempts to abolish the Electoral College.

  2. No, there has never been a movement to abolish the Electoral College.

  3. Yes, there was one attempt to abolish the Electoral College in the 19th century.

  4. No, there has never been a serious attempt to abolish the Electoral College.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

There have been several attempts to abolish the Electoral College, but none have been successful. The most recent attempt was in 2020, when the House of Representatives passed a bill to abolish the Electoral College, but the bill did not pass the Senate.

What is the likelihood of the Electoral College being abolished in the near future?

  1. Very likely.

  2. Somewhat likely.

  3. Unlikely.

  4. Very unlikely.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

It is unlikely that the Electoral College will be abolished in the near future. There is strong support for the Electoral College among both Democrats and Republicans, and there is no clear consensus on how to replace it.

What are some of the potential consequences of abolishing the Electoral College?

  1. It would make the presidential election more democratic.

  2. It would give more power to large states.

  3. It would make it easier for third-party candidates to win the presidency.

  4. It would make the presidential election more unpredictable.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the potential consequences of abolishing the Electoral College is that it would make the presidential election more democratic. This is because the president would be elected by popular vote, which means that the candidate who receives the most votes would win the election.

What are some of the potential consequences of keeping the Electoral College?

  1. It would ensure that each state has a say in the presidential election.

  2. It would prevent a candidate from winning the presidency with a small majority of the popular vote.

  3. It would encourage candidates to campaign in all states, not just the large ones.

  4. It would make the presidential election more predictable.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the potential consequences of keeping the Electoral College is that it would ensure that each state has a say in the presidential election. This is because each state has a certain number of electoral votes, and the candidate who wins the most electoral votes wins the election.

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