Hey there! Have you ever wondered what happens after the big U.S. presidential election? 🤔 Let’s dive into the fascinating journey from Election Day to Inauguration Day and see how the U.S. Congress plays a super important role in officially choosing the President!
Step 1: Election Day Excitement 🗳️
Every four years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, millions of Americans cast their votes for President and Vice President. But did you know they’re actually voting for something called the Electoral College? Let’s find out what that is!
Step 2: Meet the Electoral College 🎓
The Electoral College is a group of people called Electors. Each state has a certain number of Electors based on its population. For example, bigger states like California have more Electors than smaller ones like Vermont. There are 538 Electors in total!
Step 3: Casting the Official Votes 🗳️
In December, after the general election, the Electors meet in their state capitals to officially vote for the President and Vice President. They usually vote for the candidates who won the popular vote in their state.
Step 4: Congress Counts the Votes 📜
Now comes Congress’s big moment! In early January, the U.S. Congress holds a joint session where both the House of Representatives and the Senate come together. The Vice President of the United States presides over this meeting.
During the session, they open sealed envelopes from each state that contain the Electoral College votes. They read them out loud and count them up!
Step 5: Announcing the Winner 🥳
Once all the votes are counted, the Vice President announces the official results. If a candidate gets at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes, they win the election and become the President-elect!
Step 6: Getting Ready for Inauguration Day 🎉
After Congress certifies the results, everyone prepares for Inauguration Day on January 20th. This is when the new President and Vice President take the oath of office and officially start their jobs. It’s a huge celebration with parades, performances, and more!
Why Is This Process Important? 🤔
This whole process ensures that the election is fair and that every state’s voice is heard. It also provides checks and balances to make sure everything runs smoothly. Pretty cool, right?
Now you know how the U.S. Congress helps in officially choosing the President! Next time there’s an election, you’ll understand all the steps that happen behind the scenes. 🗳️👍
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
