Electoral College Not First Choice

Part 2: The Constitution and the Presidency

More of this Feature • Part 1: Other Ideas Join the Discussion "For a person who wanted initially to abolish the present Electoral College system, I am becoming more convinced that modification would be more effective." MLG115 Related Resources • Congress Picks One • Current Totals/News • Electoral College • The College Flunks • What if it's a tie • EC Votes by State From Other Guides • World Reaction • When Congress Voted • Cliffhanger: the Vote • Still Too Close • Free World's Leader • Election Chaos Elsewhere on the Web • US Code of Laws • US Election Laws

Sections of the Constitution dealing with the presidency:

Article II
Establishes the Executive Branch of government, defines the powers and duties of the President and how the President will be chosen. Originally creates the "Electors" and defines how they will elect the President.

Twelfth Amendment
Ratified in 1804, amends the electoral process. Establishes the method by which Congress will select the President and Vice-president when the Electors fail to do so.

Fourteenth Amendment
Ratified in 1886, the 14th Amendment is famous for extending citizenship and the right to vote to former slaves. The exact wording of the operative section states, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

Nineteenth Amendment
Ratified in 1919, granted women the right to vote. "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

Twentieth Amendment
Ratified in 1933, establishes the starting and ending dates of the terms of the President and members of Congress.

Twenty-Second Amendment
Ratified in 1951, limited to two the number of four-year terms to which a person can be elected president.

Twenty-Third Amendment
Ratified in 1961, allows the District of Columbia the appoint voting electors (3) to the Electoral College.

Twenty-Fourth Amendment
Ratified in 1964, bans the "poll tax," a tax or fee assessed prior to allowing persons to vote in some states.

Twenty-Fifth Amendment
Ratified in 1967, clarifies and redefines the process of presidential succession. The order of presidential succession beyond to office of the Vice-president is established in Title 3, Chapter 1, Section 19 of the United States Code.

Twenty-Sixth Amendment
Ratified in 1971, establishes 18-years as the minimum allowable voting age. "The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age."

Other laws, and interpretations of the Constitution applying to the election, service and duties of the President and Vice President can be found under Title 3 of the United States Code.

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