Gourt > Regional > North America > United States > Government > Elections > Presidential > Electoral College (1)
An electoral college is a set of electors who are empowered as a deliberative body to elect someone to a particular office. Often these electors represent a different organization or entity with each organization or entity represented by a particular number of electors or with votes weighted in a particular way. Many times, though, the electors are simply important persons whose wisdom, it is hoped, would provide a better choice than a larger body.
Beginnings of electoral colleges
Electoral colleges are an ancient institution. Germanic law stated that the Germanic king led only with the support of his nobles. Thus Pelayo needed to be elected by his Visigothic nobles before becoming king of Asturias, and so did with the Frankish nobles in order to become the first Carolingian king. While most other Germanic nations went to a strictly hereditary system by the first millennium, the Holy Roman Empire could not, and the King of the Romans, who would become Holy Roman Emperor or at least Emperor-elect, was selected by the college of prince-electors from the late Middle Ages until 1806.
Christianity also used electoral colleges in ancient times, but not until late antiquity. Initially, the entire membership of a particular church, both the clergy and laity, elected the bishop or chief presbyter. However, due to various reasons, such as reducing the influence of the state in church matters or removing the laity's voice in the matter, the electing power moved to the clergy alone and then, in the case of the Western Church, to only a college of the canons of the cathedral church. In the Pope's case, the system of people and clergy was eventually replaced by a college of the important clergy of Rome, which eventually evolved into the College of Cardinals. Since 1059, it has had exclusive authority over papal elections.
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270toWin.com - Interactive map for do-it-yourself projections of the electoral college results in the presidential election. Includes results of prior elections and each state's voting history.
Meta Description: [ In the United States, Electors from each state cast votes for President, generally ]
EC - Webzine about the U.S. Electoral College provides resources, references and stories about the myths and facts surrounding it.
FEC - The Electoral College - Offers information on how the system works, history and background, and distribution of electors among the states. Provided by the Federal Election Commission.
Harper's Weekly - Hayes vs. Tilden: The Electoral College Controversy of 1876-1877 - Provides an overview of the controversy, biographies of those involved, and a day-by-day account of the events.
How Stuff Works - How the Electoral College Works - Kevin Bonsor's explanation includes an introduction, the Founding Fathers' idea, how electors get the real vote, distribution of 2004 and 2008 electoral votes, when the Electoral College counted, and the present view.
Meta Description: [ As we learned in the last presidential election, the electoral college plays a huge role in the election process. Learn how the electoral college works! ]
JCEB - The Electoral College - Overview and bibliography of recommended resources provided by the Jackson County Election Board.
John W. Cooper - Is This a Democratic Way to Pick a President? - Defense of the electoral college and representative democracies from a senior at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business
Meta Description: [ Defense of the electoral college and representative democracies from a senior at Michigan's Ross School of Business. ]
NPR - Debating the Merits of the Electoral College - Collection of stories reflecting various views on the Electoral College.
Meta Description: [ The 2000 presidential election revived a long-standing debate over the Electoral College. As the nation braces for the possibility of another disputed election, experts disagree about the merits of the constitutional process behind the vote. ]
Omega 23 - The Electoral College - FAQs and discussion supporting the Electoral College. Includes a list of recommended reading.
President Elect - Information on the election of US Presidents and the electoral college. Offers election results since 1789, history and electoral college debate.
Meta Description: [ The homepage for information on U.S. presidential elections and the electoral college. You'll find election results since 1789, history, articles, and electoral college debate. Article submissions are welcome. ]
The Case Program - The Electoral College - Information about the electoral college system presented by the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Meta Description: [ Information about the electoral college system used with the web-based case, Campaign '96: Third Party Time (Case Program, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Univ.). ]
The Electoral College Vote Calculator - Interactive tool for determining which combinations of states a candidate can to win to be elected president.
Meta Description: [ A tool for determining which states a candidate needs to win to be elected president. ]
US National Archives and Records Administration - Electoral College - Provides information and statistics including a FAQ, electoral college calculator, teaching resources, historical election results and deadlines for state officials and voting resources.
What Is Your Electoral College I.Q.? - Trivia quiz to test your knowledge of the history of the Electoral College system.
Meta Description: [ Electoral College trivia quiz; not intended to be easy! ]
