Jeffersonian Electoral College Test Bank: Exam Prep for Presidential Elections

Unlock the Secrets of the Electoral College

The Electoral College that governs America has been with us since 1804, when Thomas Jefferson’s supporters redesigned it for his re-election. The Jeffersonians were motivated by the principle of majority rule.

Understanding the Jeffersonian Design

Gone were the days when a president would be elected by acclamation, as George Washington had been. Instead, given the emergence of intense two-party competition, the Jeffersonians wanted to make sure that the Electoral College awarded the presidency to the candidate of the majority, rather than minority, party.

The Consequences of Deviation

In the last quarter-century, however, there have been three significant aberrations from the Jeffersonian design: 1992, 2000, and 2016. In each of these years, the Electoral College victory depended on states where the winner received only a minority of votes.

Restoring Majority Rule

Edward Foley analyzes the consequences of the unparalleled departure from the Jeffersonians’ original intent-and delineates what we can do about it. He explains how states, by simply changing their Electoral College procedures, could restore the original Jeffersonian commitment to majority rule.