Question

The electoral college was created for two reasons. first, it was part of the government's structure that gave extra power to the smaller states. what was the second reason?

a. to substitute the electoral vote for the popular vote in presidential elections
b. to ensure that all members of the house and senate were well-educated
c. to allow the federal government to tax imports but not exports
d. to give congress the power to enforce taxes and regulate commerce

Answer 1

The second reason for the creation of the Electoral College was to act as a buffer between the general population and the selection of a President, thus preventing direct democracy from possibly electing a demagogue.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Electoral College was created for several reasons, one of which was to ensure that small states had a say in the election of the president. The second reason for its creation, which is the answer to the student's question, is to act as a buffer between the population and the selection of a President. The founders feared direct democracy might lead to the election of a demagogue and believed that having electors could serve as a check on the impulses of the voters. The Electoral College also aimed to ensure a balance between populous and less populous states, reflecting the government's structure of federalism. Additionally, the system was meant to prevent a concentration of power, providing a compromise between electing the president by popular vote and election by Congress. The Electoral College allows the states to have a role in the selection process in accordance with their representation in Congress. This method of election provided a blend of the people's will (as expressed through the electors selected by the states) and the safeguard of a deliberative body that could override populist sentiments if needed.