Definition
A system where states get votes based on congressional representation, ensuring that losing the popular vote doesn't prevent you from becoming president.
Example Usage
Five presidents have won the Electoral College while losing the popular vote.
Origin
Established by U.S. Constitution (1787) as a compromise between popular vote and legislative selection
Fun Fact
The Electoral College was partly designed to benefit slave states through the three-fifths compromise.
Source: Constitutional History Archives
Related Terms
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