Rationale Behind the Electoral College

Very Hard Period 3: 1754–1800 Constitutional Convention

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates faced the challenge of establishing a strong yet balanced federal government. A significant discussion revolved around the method of selecting the president. There were various proposals on how the executive should be elected, reflecting underlying tensions between larger and smaller states, as well as differing views on democracy and republicanism. Some delegates argued for direct popular election, while others preferred selection by Congress. Ultimately, the convention settled on a system that devised the Electoral College. Which of the following best explains the rationale behind the establishment of the Electoral College as adopted by the Convention?

To ensure that the presidency was directly accountable to the will of the people.

To provide a compromise between states with large populations and those with smaller ones.

To create a clear separation of powers that minimized the influence of political parties.

To limit the possibility of foreign influence in the election of a president.

Hint

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