Question

The following sentence contains a blank marked the choice that is correct and belongs in the blank. (Note: On the real \(G E D^{\circledR}\) test, the choices will appear as a "drop-down" menu. When you click on a choice, it will appear in the blank.) The president is elected by a majority of . $$ \begin{array}{|l|c|} \hline \text { Select... } & \nabla \\ \hline \text { popular votes } \\ \hline \begin{array}{l} \text { members of each house of } \\ \text { Congress } \end{array} \\ \hline \text { electoral votes } \\ \hline \end{array} $$

Short answer

electoral votes

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Question

Read the sentence carefully: 'The president is elected by a majority of _____.' Identify what the blank is asking for.

Examine the Choices

Look at the given choices: 1. popular votes 2. members of each house of Congress 3. electoral votes

Identify the Correct Process

Recall the process by which the president of the United States is elected. The president is chosen through the Electoral College system.

Match the Process to the Choices

Among the choices, 'electoral votes' is the correct term fitting the process of election through the Electoral College.

Fill in the Blank

Substitute the correct choice into the sentence: 'The president is elected by a majority of electoral votes.'

Key concepts

Electoral College

The Electoral College is an essential part of the presidential election process in the United States. It is a group of appointed representatives, known as electors, who formally elect the President and Vice President. When you vote in a presidential election, you are not directly voting for a candidate. Instead, you are voting for a slate of electors chosen by your state party who are pledged to support your candidate.
Each state has a certain number of electors based on its number of representatives in Congress, which includes both Senators and House members.

• For example, California has 55 electoral votes, whereas Wyoming has just 3.
• The total number of electors in the Electoral College is 538.

To win the presidency, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral votes, which is at least 270 out of 538.

Electoral Votes

Electoral votes are the votes cast by the electors in the Electoral College. These votes determine the outcome of the presidential election. Each state's allotment of electoral votes is equal to the sum of its number of Senators and Representatives in Congress.
On election day, when citizens cast their ballots, they are actually selecting their state's electors. Most states follow a 'winner-takes-all' approach, meaning the candidate who wins the majority of the popular vote in that state gets all of that state's electoral votes.

• For example, if a candidate wins 51% of the popular vote in Texas, they receive all 38 of Texas' electoral votes.
• Maine and Nebraska use a different approach, splitting their electoral votes based on congressional district results and statewide vote tallies.

This system amplifies the influence of populous states but also ensures smaller states still have a significant voice in the election process.

Popular Votes

Popular votes refer to the total number of votes cast by citizens in a presidential election. While winning the popular vote means receiving more individual votes than any other candidate, it does not directly determine the winner of the presidency. In the Electoral College system, it’s the electoral votes that ultimately decide the election outcome.
Sometimes, a candidate can win the popular vote but lose the election if they do not secure enough electoral votes. This has happened several times in U.S. history.

• In 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote but lost to George W. Bush, who received more electoral votes.
• Similarly, in 2016, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost to Donald Trump in the Electoral College.

Therefore, while the popular vote shows which candidate the majority of voters prefer, the final decision hinges on how the electoral votes are distributed.

United States Government

The United States government is a federal system composed of three branches: the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. The system is designed with checks and balances to ensure no single branch becomes too powerful.

• The Executive Branch, headed by the President, enforces laws.
• The Legislative Branch, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, makes laws.
• The Judicial Branch, led by the Supreme Court, interprets laws.

The process of electing the President is fundamental to the functioning of the U.S. government. It involves the Electoral College system, ensuring a balance between direct democratic input (popular votes) and state representation (electoral votes). This system reflects the federal principle, valuing both overall national preference and individual states’ significance.
Becoming familiar with how these processes work is crucial to understanding the broader mechanisms of political power and governance in the United States.