How is the President elected under the Constitution?

• A. By direct popular vote
• B. By the electoral college
• C. By Congress
• D. By state legislatures

Answer: (B)

The President is chosen through an indirect system called the Electoral College. Each state gets a number of electors equal to its total representation in Congress (its Senators plus its Representatives). When people vote in a presidential election, they are actually voting for a slate of electors chosen by their state, who have pledged to support that candidate. Those electors then meet and cast separate ballots for President and Vice President.

To win, a candidate must receive a majority of the electors’ votes (currently at least 270 of 538). If no one achieves a majority, the House chooses the President from the top three electoral vote-getters, with each state delegation having one vote, while the Senate selects the Vice President from the top two candidates. The system reflects the Constitution’s design to balance federal and state interests and to ensure a national outcome even if the popular vote is close or divided.