Changes

Beginning in the 2000s, opponents of the Electoral College system have proposed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.  The intent is to have enough states join the compact to account for 270 or more Electoral College votes; then, all those states would case all their Electoral College votes for the popular vote winner.  This would result in ''de facto'' elimination of the Electoral College.  As of September 2014, ten states and the District of Columbia have joined the compact; they represent 165 Electoral Votes, far short of the 270 required before it would go into effect.

Beginning in the 2000s, opponents of the Electoral College system have proposed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.  The intent is to have enough states join the compact to account for 270 or more Electoral College votes; then, all those states would case all their Electoral College votes for the popular vote winner.  This would result in ''de facto'' elimination of the Electoral College.  As of September 2014, ten states and the District of Columbia have joined the compact; they represent 165 Electoral Votes, far short of the 270 required before it would go into effect.

=== When No Candidate Wins a Majority ===

=== When No Candidate Wins a Majority of the Electoral College ===

Twice in American history no candidate won a majority in the presidential election, and the House of Representatives selected the president as provided by Article II and the Twelfth Amendment.

Twice in American history no candidate won a majority in the presidential election, and the House of Representatives selected the president as provided by Article II and the Twelfth Amendment.

The Election of 1800 was prior to the enactment of the Twelfth Amendment, and the tie vote in that election between the presidential candidate Thomas Jefferson and his own running mate for Vice President, Aaron Burr, revealed a flaw in the original Constitution.   

The Election of 1800 was prior to the enactment of the Twelfth Amendment, and the tie vote in that election between the presidential candidate Thomas Jefferson and his own running mate for Vice President, Aaron Burr, revealed a flaw in the original Constitution.   

The "ticket" of Jefferson and Burr defeated their opponents led by the incumbent President John Adams.  But the original Constitution failed to distinguish between Electoral College votes for president, and votes for Vice President.  Both Jefferson and his Vice President running mate received the same number of votes in the Electoral College:  73.  Under Article II, Section I, neither Jefferson nor Burr received a majority of the Electoral College votes, so the House of Representatives had the responsibility to pick the next president.

The "ticket" of Jefferson and Burr defeated their opponents led by the incumbent President John Adams.  But the original Constitution failed to distinguish between Electoral College votes for President and Vice President.  Both Jefferson and his Vice President running mate received the same number of votes in the Electoral College:  73.  Under Article II, Section I, neither Jefferson nor Burr received a majority of the Electoral College votes, so the House of Representatives had the responsibility to pick the next president.

Under the "unit rule" required by the Constitution then and now for the House to choose the next president when there is no majority in the Electoral College, each State has only one vote.  In other words, the House does not vote as it usually does, where each representative has one vote and a State has many representatives in proportion to its population.  Instead, the House votes in this situation like the Senate, with each State on equal footing each other, regardless of their population.  It is a majority of the delegation from each State that determines how it will vote in this process, under the "unit rule."

Under the "unit rule" required by the Constitution then and now for the House to choose the next president when there is no majority in the Electoral College, each State has only one vote.  In other words, the House does not vote as it usually does, where each representative has one vote and a State has many representatives in proportion to its population.  Instead, the House votes in this situation like the Senate, with each State on equal footing with each other, regardless of their population.  It is a majority of the delegation from each State that determines how it will vote in this process, under the "unit rule."

In 1800 there were 16 States in the United States: the original 13 colonies, plus Vermont (admitted as a State in 1791), Kentucky (1792), and Tennessee (1796).  That means a vote of 9 States was required to attain a majority, and to select the next President.

In 1800 there were 16 States in the United States: the original 13 colonies, plus Vermont (admitted as a State in 1791), Kentucky (1792), and Tennessee (1796).  That means a vote of 9 States was required to attain a majority, and to select the next President.

But Jefferson had the support of only 8 States, short of what he needed.  The House of Representatives voted again and again, but neither Jefferson nor Burr could attain a majority.  It required 36 "ballots" (voting cycles) in the House of Representatives before Thomas Jefferson received a majority!  It was only because Alexander Hamilton, working behind the scenes, opposed Aaron Burr so much that Jefferson was finally able to win a majority of States despite intense opposition to him by congressmen who were members of the opposition Federalist Party.  Departing President John Adams himself refused to welcome Jefferson or help him during the transition to power.  Instead, Adams left before dawn on the day of inauguration of Thomas Jefferson.  It was a bitter transition of power, remarkable in that it happened peacefully.

But Jefferson had the support of only 8 States, short of what he needed.  The House of Representatives voted again and again, but neither Jefferson nor Burr could attain a majority.  It required 36 "ballots" (voting cycles) in the House of Representatives before Thomas Jefferson received a majority!  It was only because Alexander Hamilton, working behind the scenes, opposed Aaron Burr so much that Jefferson was finally able to win a majority of States despite intense opposition to him by congressmen who were members of the opposition Federalist Party.  Departing President John Adams himself refused to welcome Jefferson or help him during the transition to power.  Instead, Adams left before dawn on the day of inauguration of Thomas Jefferson.  It was a bitter transition of power, remarkable in that it happened peacefully.

But a few years later, Aaron Burr took revenge on Hamilton for repeatedly opposing Burr and blocking Burr from political power, by killing Hamilton in a duel in New Jersey.  Aaron Burr was an evil man who nearly became president of the United States, and instead murdered one of the greatest Founders of our Nation.

But a few years later, Aaron Burr took revenge on Hamilton for repeatedly opposing Burr and frustrating is political ambitions, particularly in New York, by killing Hamilton in a duel in New Jersey.  Aaron Burr was an evil man who nearly became president of the United States, and who even murdered one of the greatest Founders of our Nation, Alexander Hamilton.

In 1804, the flaw in the Constitution was corrected when Congress passed, and more than 3/4ths of the States ratified, the 12th Amendment.  This Amendment changed the Constitution by requiring separate Electoral College votes for President and Vice President, such there would never be a tie between two candidates who were running on the same "ticket", as part of the same political party.

In 1804, this flaw in the Constitution was corrected when Congress passed, and more than 3/4ths of the States ratified, the 12th Amendment.  This Amendment changed the Constitution by requiring separate Electoral College votes for President and Vice President, such there would never be a tie between two candidates who were running on the same "ticket", as part of the same political party.

In 1824, the 12th Amendment was put to the test when no candidate won a majority of the Electoral College.  All five candidates for president were members of the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans, and no candidates belonged to the Federalist Party.  Military her Andrew Jackson won the most popular votes (votes by the people), and the most Electoral College votes, but he did not win a majority of either.  Because no candidate won a majority of the Electoral College, the House of Representatives again had to select the next president.  Jackson expected to be chosen because he was first in both the popular and Electoral College voting.

In 1824, the 12th Amendment was put to the test when no candidate won a majority of the Electoral College.  All five candidates for president were members of the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans, and no candidates belonged to the Federalist Party.  Military hero Andrew Jackson won the most popular votes (votes by the people), and the most Electoral College votes, but he did not win a majority of either.  Because no candidate won a majority of the Electoral College, the House of Representatives again had to select the next president.  Jackson expected to be chosen because he was first in both the popular and Electoral College voting.

But the Constitution does not require the House of Representatives to pick the top candidate, if that candidate did not win a majority of the Electoral College, and Jackson had not.  Instead, with political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes, the House picked the runner-up candidate, John Quincy Adams, as the next President.  Adams, after becoming President, then selected the Speaker of the House Henry Clay as his Secretary of State, which looked like a political reward for Clay's help in persuading the House to pick Adams as President.  Andrew Jackson's supporters called this the "Corrupt Bargain," although it was probably just politics-as-usual.  Four years later, Jackson defeated Adams in a landslide by reminding voters of the "Corrupt Bargain" of his opponent John Quincy Adams (who was former President John Adams' son).

But the Constitution does not require the House of Representatives to pick the top candidate, if that candidate did not win a majority of the Electoral College, and Jackson had not.  Instead, with political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes, the House picked the runner-up candidate, John Quincy Adams, as the next President.  Adams, after becoming President, then selected the Speaker of the House Henry Clay as his Secretary of State, which looked like a political reward for Clay's help in persuading the House to pick Adams as President.  Andrew Jackson's supporters called this the "Corrupt Bargain," although it was probably just politics-as-usual.  Four years later, Jackson defeated Adams in a landslide by reminding voters of the "Corrupt Bargain" by his opponent John Quincy Adams (who was former President John Adams' son).

== Most Important Duties of a President ==

== Most Important Duties of a President ==