Electoral Duties in the United States

Electoral Duties of Congress in the Legislative Process

Powers granted to Congress by the Constitution to decide elections, but only in special (and rare) circumstances. Most importantly, in the event of a presidential election ending without any one candidate winning a majority of votes in the Electoral College, the Constitution requires the House of Representatives to select the winner; the candidate who receives the votes of a majority of the states—with each state casting one vote—gains the presidency. By a similar procedure, the Senate must select the vice president in the event of no vice presidential candidate winning an Electoral College majority. So far in American history, the House has twice had to elect the president (Thomas Jefferson in 1801, John Q. Adams in 1825) and the Senate has once picked the vice president (Richard M. Johnson in 1837).

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See Also

• Legislative Power
• Legislative History
• Legislative Ethics
• Legislative Session
• Legislature
• Legal Aid
• Legislative Commissions
• Legislative Branch
• Legislation
• Executive Branch
• Legislative Function

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