Final answer:
The group responsible for formally electing the president and vice president is the Electoral College. It is composed of electors from each state plus the District of Columbia, equal to the number of congressional members from each state. The Electoral College system was devised as a compromise during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and is used up to this day.
Step-by-step explanation:
A group of people from each state chosen by the voters of that state who formally elect the president and vice president is: a) The Electoral College. The Electoral College consists of 538 electors, corresponding to each state and the District of Columbia's number of Senators and House Representatives in Congress. In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in November receives all of that state's electoral votes. However, Maine and Nebraska adopt a congressional district method, where electoral votes are divided based on the popular vote in each district and statewide.
The Electoral College was established at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 as a compromise between different methods of electing the President. This system allows states to have a weighted voice in the election, proportional to their representation in Congress. While some critics believe the system is outdated, it remains the United States' method for selecting its president and vice president. Electors typically vote for the candidate chosen by the popular vote in their respective states, though they are not always legally bound to do so.