Lesson 82 of 84 · Government
⭐ 30 XP🏛️ Civic SquareThe Electoral College
The Electoral College is a unique mechanism established by the U.
🎯 Your mission
Spot the fair part. Spot the unfair part.
⚡ The twist
A 'fair rule' for one group can be unfair for another.
Mind = Blown
🤯 Some laws on the books are over 800 years old and still apply.
Then & Now
🏛️ The rule you'll meet today is still on the books — sort of.
The Electoral College is a unique mechanism established by the U.S. Constitution for the indirect election of the President and Vice President. Each state is allocated a number of electors based on its congressional representation, with a total of 538 electors across the nation. During the presidential election, citizens cast their votes for a slate of electors pledged to their chosen candidate. To win the presidency, a candidate must secure a majority of the electoral votes, specifically 270. This system has sparked debate regarding its fairness and representation, as it can result in a candidate winning the presidency without winning the popular vote.
Key Facts
The Electoral College consists of 538 electors.
A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
It is possible to win the presidency without winning the popular vote.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2How many electors are in the Electoral College?
Why this still matters
Your school has rules. Where do they come from? Who decides them?
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Make up a fair rule for your family. Pitch it.
For the dinner table
“What's one rule at our house you'd change if you could vote on it?”
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