Presidential Selection: The Framers' Plan

The Electoral College The Framers saw the electoral college as an appropriate way to select the President and Vice President. They did not foresee the development of political parties, however, and the parties' participation in the election of 1800 caused a serious breakdown in the Framers' original plan. Move through the activity to learn more about the evolution of the Electoral College. What did the Framers hope to accomplish by designing the electoral college system as they did?

After the election of 1800, the 12th Amendment was added to the Constitution. The amendment made one major change in the electoral college. It separated the presidential and vice-presidential elections. The 12th Amendment says, "The Electors . . . shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President." The rise of political parties, the election of 1800, and the 12th Amendment laid the foundation for the presidential selection system we use today

What were the original provisions for choosing a President? The Framers considered many methods for selecting a President. At first, many delegates favored the idea of Congress choosing the President. Those against this plan argued that the choice of President should be controlled by the people, not the legislature. However, only a few delegates favored choosing the President by popular vote. Most felt that the country was too large and spread out for voters to be able to learn enough about the candidates to make a wise decision.

Finally, after weeks of talking, the Framers chose a plan suggested by Alexander Hamilton. According to this plan, the President and Vice President were to be chosen by a special body of presidential electors. These electors would be chosen in each state. Each state would have as many electors as it has senators and representatives in Congress. These electors would each cast two electoral votes, each for a different candidate. The person with the most votes would be President. The person with the second largest number of votes would become Vice President. The Framers believed the electors chosen by each state would be informed and respected citizens.

How did the rise of political parties affect the process of choosing a President? The electoral college is the group of people chosen from each state and the District of Columbia to formally select the President and Vice President. The original version of the Framers' plan only worked until 1796. By that time, two political parties existed: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. The electors chose John Adams (a Federalist) as President. His rival from the Democratic-Republican Party, Thomas Jefferson, was elected Vice President. He had received the second largest number of votes. This meant Jefferson had to serve under Adams. In our government today, the President and Vice President are always from the same party.

In the election of 1800, the electoral system completely failed. Political parties were now well-established. Each party nominated presidential and vice-presidential candidates. They also nominated presidential electors in each state. Those electors were expected to vote for their party's presidential and vice-presidential nominees.

Why was the outcome of the 1796 presidential election controversial?

The electors chose a President and Vice President from different parties.

In the 1800 presidential election, the growing power of political parties led to _____.

an electoral tie between presidential candidates from the same party

Who did the Framers want to serve as presidential electors?

informed citizens