Which of the following explains why there are 538 members of the Electoral College Quizlet

  • How do we elect the President?
  • How does California select its electors?
  • What happens if the electoral vote is a tie?
  • Where can I find more information on the electoral college?

How do we elect the President?

Unlike in most elections, the person who becomes president is not necessarily the candidate who wins the most votes on Election Day. Instead, the election of the president of the United States is a two-step process.

First, voters cast ballots on Election Day in each state. In nearly every state, the candidate who gets the most votes wins the "electoral votes" for that state, and gets that number of voters (or "electors") in the "Electoral College."

Second, the "electors" from each of the 50 states gather in December and they vote for president. The person who receives a majority of votes from the "Electoral College" becomes President.

How exactly does this work? Under the "Electoral College" system, each state is assigned a certain number of "votes". There are a total of 538 electoral votes, and the number of votes each state receives is proportional to its size --- the bigger the state's population the more "votes" it gets. The formula for determining the number of votes for each state is simple: each state gets two votes for its two US Senators, and then one more additional vote for each member it has in the House of Representatives. For California, this means we get 55 votes (2 senators and 53 members of the House of Representatives) --- the most of any state.

How does California select its electors?

On or before October 1 of the presidential election year, each party's nominee must file a list containing the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the 55 electors pledges to him/her. Each party determines its own method for selecting electors.

In the Democratic Party, each congressional nominee and each US Senate nominee (determined by the last two elections) designates one elector. Elections Code section 7100

In the Republican Party, the nominees for Governor, Lt. Governor, Treasurer, Controller, Attorney General, Secretary of State, U.S. Senate at the last two elections, Assembly Republican leader, Senate Republican leader, all elected officers of the Republican State Central Committee, national committeemen/women, President of Republican County Central Committee Chairmen's Association, and chair or President of each Republican volunteer organization officially recognized by the Republican State Central Committee (RSCC) shall be electors. U.S. Senators, Representatives in Congress and persons holding office of trust or profit of the U.S. may not be electors. Any additional vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the chair of Republican State Central Committee according to Republican State Central Committee bylaws. Republican State Central Committee Chair must file the list with the Secretary of State by October 1 of the presidential election year. Elections Code section 7300

In the American Independent, Green and Libertarian party electors are nominated at their state convention and the state chair certifies their names and residence addresses to the Secretary of State. Elections Code section 7578

In the Peace and Freedom Party electors are nominated at their state convention. Electors shall be 50% women and 50% shall be men. The party chair certifies the list to the Secretary of State. Elections Code section 7843

No incumbent Senators, congressional representatives or persons holding an office of trust or profit of the United States can serve as electors.

What happens if the electoral vote is a tie?

The House of Representatives makes the decision with each state having one vote. Representatives of at least two-thirds of the states must be present for the vote. If they cannot decide by March 4, then the Vice President becomes President and the person receiving the largest number of Vice President votes becomes Vice President.

Where can I find more information on the electoral college?

This information and more is available at the National Archives and Record Administration's website.

Recommended textbook solutions

Which of the following explains why there are 538 members of the Electoral College Quizlet

American Government

1st EditionGlen Krutz

412 solutions

Which of the following explains why there are 538 members of the Electoral College Quizlet

Criminal Justice in America

9th EditionChristina Dejong, Christopher E. Smith, George F Cole

105 solutions

Which of the following explains why there are 538 members of the Electoral College Quizlet

American Corrections

11th EditionMichael D. Reisig, Todd R. Clear

160 solutions

Which of the following explains why there are 538 members of the Electoral College Quizlet

Government in America: Elections and Updates Edition

16th EditionGeorge C. Edwards III, Martin P. Wattenberg, Robert L. Lineberry

269 solutions

What determines the number of 538 electors?

Under the "Electoral College" system, each state is assigned a certain number of "votes". There are a total of 538 electoral votes, and the number of votes each state receives is proportional to its size --- the bigger the state's population the more "votes" it gets.

How many of the 538 Electoral College votes does a candidate need to win?

A candidate must receive 270 of the 538 electoral votes to become President or Vice President. If a candidate for President fails to receive 270 votes, the House itself will choose the President from among the three individuals who received the most electoral votes.

What is the name of the group of 538 electors?

The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President.

Why do we have the Electoral College 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.