Why does America Have An Electoral College? (Short Animated Documentary)

One of the most interesting parts of US Presidential elections is the use of the electoral college to determine their winner. But how did it come to be and given how controversial it (sometimes) is, why hasn't it been altered or dissolved? If you want to find out then watch this short and simple animated documentary.

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[alec]

As an American, the phrase "Good luck getting Congress to agree on anything" couldn't be more true

[yankee]

Half of Congress: “Good morning”
Other half: “No”

[darkphosphorus]

What are you talking about? America and the Vatican City are nowhere near famous as the great island of Madagascar. Do America and the Vatican have their own Dreamworks movie?

[anderskorsback]

This video misses one key aspect of it: The method through which a state is to appoint its electors is up to the state legislature to decide. That was done to allow for the states to have maximum flexibility in deciding their own systems of government. At the time, voting rights varied a lot between states, and having a single direct popular vote for president would have required uniformity of voting rights across the country.

[warrenlehmkuhleii]

Because an electoral elementary school was deemed to silly.

[innocento.]

I just want to say I appreciate how super super difficult it is to squeeze historical concepts into 3 minutes videos. Thanks for the channel.

[captainez]

1/2 of congress: Lovely day
The other 1/2: is it though?

[iPWNx]

I liked the total war reference "Summon The Elector Counts" Karl Franz

[cardenasr.]

People in swing states: Stonks.

People in safe states: Ah shit here we go again

[otisdylan]

What this fails to mention is that one of the features of the Electoral College system is that if no one wins a majority of the electoral votes, the House of Representatives chooses the President. This feature was part of the compromise, as it was believed that this would happen often, and made the system more appealing to those that wanted Congress to choose the President. Still, this video is fairly well done, better than the CNBC video on the subject.

[phosphoros]

Really? Only Rutherfraud Hayes? Nobody even thought of Ruthefraud B. Trayes?

[ethank]

It was also designed in an age when information traveled very slowly and where national media was nonexistent. The idea was that a group of well educated men (who did not hold any elected office) would be able to gather together and review all up to date information as they made a decision. There was some merit to this idea since it could literally take months between a major event happening in Europe and voters in rural America first even hearing about it.

[alexanderzippel]

Germany: Uses electoral college
Me, a German who made fun of Americans for using one: „Wait, we do?“

[AndasMus]

"Good luck on getting 2/3 of Congress to agree on anything" - Dictatorship congresses: "We always agree on everything"

[Jameman]

The USA, the Vatican, Germany, Estonia, Pakistan, Burma(Myanmar) and Madagascar.

What a hodgepodge collection that is

[patrickmcdermott]

Me: sees Oklahoma being blue in the thumbnail
Also me: wait... that’s illegal

[bizmusic]

“1960 Maybe???”

*HAHAHAHA NOTHING BAD EVER HAPPENS TO THE KENNEDYS!*

[sd]

0:46 you are indeed a man of culture, History Matters

[nqh]

Karl-Franz von Washingtown: This action does not have my consent!

[Deas-Mhumhna]

"Good luck getting Congress to agree on anything". Dude, it's so funny, it hurts. 🤣Man that's more reality than I like in my life.