What is the purpose and why was it created? There are a number of reasons for the creation of the Electoral College. In order to understand the reasons for the Electoral College it is important to understand the history of its creation.
For one, the founding fathers were afraid of a direct election because they feared a tyrant could gain favor in the public eye and gain the presidency. In the Federalist Papers Hamilton states: “the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station… A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to posses the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations.” The founders of the constitution feared that the general masses would not be well enough informed to make a proper decision in regards to candidates. Remember there was no such thing television or the Internet, it was not easy for people to communicate. The Electoral college system created a buffer, without destroying an individuals rite to take part in the selection of a president and vice president. Voters elect a small group of people to represent them in the election.
The Electoral College was also created to give added strength to the smaller states. This was done as part of the Connecticut compromise or “great compromises” made at the Philadelphia convention of 1787 to satisfy the small states. With the Electoral College system no state will receive less than 3 electoral votes because each state is given the same number of electoral votes as they have representative in Congress. This creates what many argue is an unfair advantage to the voters in smaller states because there votes actually count more then the votes of people living in larger states.
For one, the founding fathers were afraid of a direct election because they feared a tyrant could gain favor in the public eye and gain the presidency. In the Federalist Papers Hamilton states: “the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station… A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to posses the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations.” The founders of the constitution feared that the general masses would not be well enough informed to make a proper decision in regards to candidates. Remember there was no such thing television or the Internet, it was not easy for people to communicate. The Electoral college system created a buffer, without destroying an individuals rite to take part in the selection of a president and vice president. Voters elect a small group of people to represent them in the election.
The Electoral College was also created to give added strength to the smaller states. This was done as part of the Connecticut compromise or “great compromises” made at the Philadelphia convention of 1787 to satisfy the small states. With the Electoral College system no state will receive less than 3 electoral votes because each state is given the same number of electoral votes as they have representative in Congress. This creates what many argue is an unfair advantage to the voters in smaller states because there votes actually count more then the votes of people living in larger states.
