What is your Electoral College Procedures I.Q.?

Test Your Knowledge of How the Electoral College System Functions

Take the test one question at a time,
or keep track of your answers on a piece of
scratch paper and check the answers
all at once at the link provided below.
Good luck! We didn't make it easy!

Question One:
When was the last time the Constitution was amended to update the Electoral College rules?
1. 1804
2. The Constitution has never been amended to change the Electoral College rules.
3. 1961
4. 1865

ANSWER TO QUESTION ONE

Question Two:
What is the lowest number of Electors each state can have?
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

ANSWER TO QUESTION TWO

Question Three:
The precise date for Electors to cast their Electoral College votes is:
1. Mandated by Article II, Section One of the Constitution.
2. Mandated by the 12th Amendment of the Constitution.
3. Set by Congress.
4. Set by each individual state.

ANSWER TO QUESTION THREE

Question Four:
The precise date for Congress to open and count the sealed Electoral College votes is:
1. Mandated by Article II, Section One of the Constitution.
2. Mandated by the 12th Amendment of the Constitution.
3. Set by Congress.
4. Set by each individual state.

ANSWER TO QUESTION FOUR

Question Five:
What is the most accurate response to the question: "How many Electoral Votes does a Presidential candidate need to win in the Electoral College?"
1. A simple majority of the votes cast.
2. 270
3. 268
4. A plurality of the votes cast.

ANSWER TO QUESTION FIVE

Question Six:
If a President fails to receive enough votes to win in the Electoral College, how is the election decided?
1. A joint session of Congress decides by a simple majority of the individual members.
2. The Electoral College Electors recast their votes for only the top two finishers until a winner is chosen by simple majority.
3. The House of Representatives decides by a simple majority of the individual members.
4. The House of Representatives decides by a simple majority of states (26 states must choose the winning candidate).

ANSWER TO QUESTION SIX

Question Seven:
If a Vice President fails to receive enough votes to win in the Electoral College, how is the election decided?
1. A joint session of Congress decides by a simple majority of the individual members.
2. The Electoral College Electors recast their votes for only the top two finishers until a winner is chosen by simple majority.
3. The Senate decides by a simple majority of the individual members.
4. The Senate decides by a simple majority of states (26 states must choose the winning candidate).

ANSWER TO QUESTION SEVEN

Question Eight:
Which of the following statements about Electors and their obligations to vote according to the popular vote in their state is most accurate?
1. State law prohibits Electors from casting a vote deviating from the popular vote result.
2. Signed pledges under oath prevent Electors from casting a vote deviating from the popular vote result.
3. There is no Constitutional obligation for Electors to vote according to the state popular vote.
4. The Constitution requires Electors to vote according to the state popular vote.

ANSWER TO QUESTION EIGHT

Question Nine:
Which of the following statements about defecting Electors (Electors who do not follow the popular vote when casting their Electoral votes) is true?
1. Defecting Electors have been prosecuted and fined for failing to vote according to the state popular vote.
2. A defecting Elector has never decided a Presidential election.
3. There has been only one defecting Elector in the last 100 years.
4. The Supreme Court has ruled that it is unconstitutional to pass any law limiting how Electors cast their votes.

ANSWER TO QUESTION NINE

Question Ten:
Which statement most accurately applies to a special election to resolve voting or ballot irregularities in a Presidential election (as considered in Florida after the 2000 election)?
1. A special election may be unconstitutional.
2. A special election could only be conducted by an act of Congress.
3. A special election could be set by an executive order from state or local governments.
4. A special election could be held if both candidates agreed.

ANSWER TO QUESTION TEN

Now that you've completed the test, TAKE A LOOK AT THE ANSWERS. At the bottom of the page, we evaluate your results.

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