Social Sciences and History / Unit 9 SSH 0811 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Election Day to the Electoral College
Captions available
The idea
Election Day falls in early November, but the Electoral College, the constitutionally created group chosen by the states, formally elects the president in mid-December. Congressional incumbents win or lose with their party's presidential candidate, the coattail effect.
In practice
Midterms fall in the even years between presidential elections.
Where people slip
A chronic minority's party cannot win under its state's distribution.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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