Final answer:
The Twelfth Amendment, ratified in 1804, created separate ballots for the President and Vice President in the Electoral College, addressing the issues from the 1800 election where Thomas Jefferson tied with his vice-presidential running-mate Aaron Burr. The correct option is 3.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1804, significantly altered the process of presidential elections. This amendment was passed after the electoral tie of Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr in the 1800 election, which highlighted a major flaw in the original system.
Prior to the Twelfth Amendment, the runner-up in a presidential election would become the Vice President, which could lead to a president and vice president from opposing parties.
The Twelfth Amendment changed this system by creating separate ballots for President and Vice President within the Electoral College, reducing the potential for a tie and electoral conflicts between the top two office holders.
This amendment has influenced several elections, ensuring that a President's running mate becomes the Vice President if the ticket wins. However, the Electoral College system's rules have remained largely unchanged, including the requirement that electors must vote for at least one candidate who is not from their own state.
While the Twelfth Amendment has generally worked well, it is not without its potential complications, as evidenced by controversial elections such as the one in 2000, where there was a split between the popular and Electoral College votes.
Overall, the Twelfth Amendment served to strengthen the United States' electoral process by preventing the issues faced in the 1800 election, ensuring a more stable transition of power and greater alignment between the President and Vice President. The correct option is 3.