This often misunderstood concept in American politics is one of the key factors that make America a Constitutional Republic and not a straight Democracy. The system was created to preserve the concepts of Federalism, or the rights of the states. It keeps major population centers from being the sole creators of U.S. policy. For example, California has a significantly higher number of people than Nebraska, and have very different political values. If elections were straight democracies, the vote would always go the way of CA, NY, and other large states. With the EC, states with smaller populations can make their voice heard. The number of electors for each state is the number of national representatives. Each state has two senators and a varying number of representatives based on population. Contrary to what the name implies, the system is not a college, but a group of electors who cast their votes for the candidate who wins the majority of their state's votes. However, the electoral college can, but hasn't, go against the votes of the people in their area. Though many people do not like the electoral college, it would take two-thirds of the states or congressional votes to amend it or remove it from U.S. policy.
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