Electoral college

An electoral college is a set of electors who are empowered as a deliberative body to elect someone to a particular office. Often these electors represent different organization or entity with each organization or entity represented by a particular number of electors or with votes weighted in a particular way. Many times, though, the electors are simply important persons whose wisdom, it is hoped, would provide a better choice than a larger body.

Modern electoral colleges

Some nations with complex regional electorates elect a head of state by means of an electoral college rather than a direct popular election. The prime example is the United States, where an executive president is elected by an Electoral College, made up of electors representing the 50 states. Each state has a number of electors equivalent to its total Congressional representation, with the non-state District of Columbia receiving three electors. The electors generally cast their votes for the winner of the popular vote in their respective states. See U.S. Electoral College for details.

Related Topics:
United States - Executive president - Electoral College - District of Columbia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Similar systems are used or have been used in other presidential elections around the world. For example, the President of Finland was elected by an electoral college between 1919 and 1987. The short-lived Confederate States of America provided for election of its president in virtually the same manner as set forth in the U.S. constitution. In Germany and India, the members of the lower house of Parliament together with an equal number of members from the state parliaments elect the President of the Republic, whilst in Italy the presidential electoral college is composed of the members of both houses of Parliament and three members elected by each of the regional assemblies.

Related Topics:
President - President of Finland - 1919 - 1987 - Confederate States of America - Germany - India

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Another type of electoral college is used by the British Labour Party to choose its leader. The college consists of three equally weighted sections: the votes of Labour MPs and MEPs; the votes of affiliated trade unions and socialist societies; and the votes of individual members of Constituency Labour Parties.

Related Topics:
British Labour Party - MP - MEP - Affiliated trade union - Socialist societies - Constituency Labour Parties

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nations with Electoral College systems outside the United States include Brazil, Estonia, France (for the Senate), Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Madagascar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Related Topics:
Brazil - Estonia - France - Senate - Hong Kong - Ireland - Kazakhstan - South Korea - Madagascar - Nepal - Pakistan - Trinidad and Tobago

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ecclesiastical electoral colleges abound in modern times, especially among Protestant and Eastern rite churches. In the Eastern rite churches, all the bishops of an autocephalous church elect successor bishops, thus serving as an electoral college for all the episcopal sees.

Related Topics:
Ecclesiastic - Protestant - Eastern rite - Autocephalous - Episcopal see

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~