ABSTRACT
The presidency is the highest elective office in the United States and, along with the vice presidency; the only one where the winner is not determined through direct popular vote. The Founding Fathers designed the awkward electoral college system to avoid directpopular elections, because theylacked faith in the commonpeople's ability to choose the best candidate. Few aspects of the Constitution have been so roundly condemned as the electoral college, because it can deny the will of the people-and has, in four elections.
