Final answer:
The number 270 corresponds to the required majority of Electoral College votes needed for a candidate to win the U.S. presidency. The Electoral College has 538 electors derived from the number of Congressional representatives and senators per state, plus DC's allocation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 'magic number' 270 refers to the minimum number of Electoral College votes a candidate must secure to win the United States presidency. The Electoral College consists of 538 electors, with the number of electors per state equaling its number of representatives and senators in the U.S. Congress. Additionally, Washington, DC is granted electors as if it were a state, despite not having Congressional representation. In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote takes all the state's electoral votes, known as the 'winner-take-all' method. However, in Maine and Nebraska, electoral votes are allocated by the congressional district method. The recent discussions on the Electoral College include proposals for constitutional amendments, like the one suggested by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, seeking to elect presidents by majority vote and eliminate the Electoral College.