Do all presidents swear on the same Bible?

August 11th, 2000 Q: What is the Electoral College?

A: Founded by the architects of our nation's democracy, the Electoral College

originated as a compromise between the selection of the president and vice

President of the United States by popular vote versus by Congress. Instead of

having members of Congress choose the highest elected offices in the land, 538

delegates from the 50 states and the District of Columbia are appointed to serve

as electors. The number of delegates allotted to each state is based on its

representation in Congress and likewise adjusted by the decennial census.

Although modern day news and information outlets will declare the White House

victors as American voters cast their ballots this year on November 7, the

presidential election process is not over. Each state's electoral

representatives will meet on Dec. 18, 2000 to formally certify which ticket

carried the state's electoral votes. A majority of 270 electoral votes is

required to capture the White House. Congress is scheduled to meet in joint

session on January 6, 2001 for the official counting of electoral votes. The

President of the Senate presides and announces the vote. If a majority vote

isn't reached, the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution spells out how Congress

would choose the winners.