Chapter 13 Section 3 Objective: To understand the role of the Electoral College

A. Original Constitutional Provisions 1. The framers created the electoral college as an alternative to either popular election or congressional election of the President (why?) 2. The electoral vote was state by state with each elector casting votes for two candidates 3. The candidate with the most votes became President; the runner-up became Vice President.

4. In the case of a tie, the House of Representatives was charged with electing a President from the top three vote getters.

B. Impact of the Parties 1. The Election of 1800 * Parties arose during the administration of Washington and each put up its own candidates and electors in the election of * This development led to a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr (of the same party), the House finally selected TJ.

2. The 12 th Amendment * The rise of a system in which electors were pledged to vote for their party’s candidates necessitated a change in the rules of voting. * The 12 th amendment requires electors to cast two separate ballots, one for President and one for Vice President…to avoid a repeat of 1800.