Electoral College

Real World Example

When the United States was forming its government between 1785-1805, the electoral college was introduced as a compromise to balance the influence of populous states with smaller ones in presidential elections. It was important because it aimed to prevent larger states from having too much power and to ensure that all states had a voice in choosing the President and Vice President. The electoral college addressed the concern of direct democracy possibly leading to uninformed decisions by the general public. Today, the electoral college still matters because it can affect the outcome of presidential elections; sometimes a candidate can win the presidency without winning the popular vote. For example, in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump became President by winning the electoral college, even though Hillary Clinton received more overall votes, illustrating how the system can impact leadership and policies that affect everyday life.