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Difficulty: EasyPresidential Nominations and the Electoral College

Which of the following describes how the number of electors allocated to each state in the Electoral College is determined?

  1. A
    It is based entirely on the state's total population as recorded in the most recent federal census.
  2. B
    It is determined by the percentage of the national popular vote that the state's citizens cast in the previous presidential election.
  3. It is equal to the total number of representatives and senators that the state has in the United States Congress.Answer
  4. D
    It is equal to the number of state legislative districts established by the state's constitution.

Answer

It is equal to the total number of representatives and senators that the state has in the United States Congress.
Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to its total representation in the U.S. Congress, which is the sum of its two senators and its representatives in the House of Representatives.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the constitutional basis for Electoral College allocation.
Each state is assigned electors based on its representation in Congress.
Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution establishes that a state's electors equal its total number of Senators and Representatives.
2
Calculate the components of a state's congressional delegation.
Every state has two senators plus at least one representative, with additional representatives allocated based on population.
This formula ensures that even the smallest state has at least three electoral votes.

Key Concept

Electoral College allocation mechanics
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Topics

Presidential Nominations and the Electoral College

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