Icon: enlarge
US election campaign
Photo: ALEXANDER DRAGO / REUTERS
Icon: enlarge
Harvard professor Keyssar
The US president is not elected directly by the citizens, but by electorates from the states. If you get the majority of the votes in a state, you get all electors votes in 48 of 50 states - someone can be elected president even though he does not have a majority of all nationwide votes.
George W. Bush
succeeded in doing this
in 2000 and
Donald Trump
four years ago.
In an interview, Harvard historian Alexander Keyssar, 73, talks about the origins of the system - and how it could be changed.
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Keyssar, every four years many Americans ask themselves the same question that you are also grappling with: Why does the antiquated electoral system, the "Electoral College", still exist?
Keyssar:
One reason is that the US constitution is difficult to change.
A two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress and the approval of three-quarters of all states are required.
In addition, there has been more consensus in the past that this facility is no good than what to replace it with.
In the 19th century, for example, there were phases in which a clear majority of Congress members wanted to abolish them, but ultimately couldn't get a deal right.
Read more with Spiegel Plus
More perspectives, more understanding.
Your advantages with SPIEGEL +
Icon: Check
DER SPIEGEL as a magazine
as an app, e-paper and on the e-reader
Icon: Check
All articles on SPIEGEL.de
Exclusive texts for SPIEGEL + readers
Icon: Check
Try one month for free
Cancel anytime online
A price
only € 19.99 per month
One month for € 0.00
Try now for 0.00 € Buy nowArrow to the right
Already have a digital subscription? Register here
Restore iTunes subscription
SPIEGEL + is processed via your iTunes account and paid for with a purchase confirmation.
24 hours before it expires, the subscription is automatically renewed by one month at the current price of € 19.99.
You can cancel the subscription at any time in the settings of your iTunes account.
To use SPIEGEL + outside of this app, you must link the subscription to a SPIEGEL ID account immediately after purchase.
With the purchase you accept our general terms and conditions and privacy policy.