What is the purpose of the Electoral College in the United States?

The purpose of the Electoral College in the United States is to elect the President and Vice President. This system was established in the U.S. Constitution and serves as a compromise between direct popular election and election by Congress. Each state is allocated a number of electoral votes based on its representation in Congress, with a total of 538 electoral votes available. To win the presidency, a candidate must receive a majority of these electoral votes.

This process underscores the federal nature of the United States, as it allows states to have a role in the selection of the nation's leaders. The Electoral College also reflects concerns among the framers of the Constitution that direct democracy could lead to mob rule, and they wanted to ensure that there was a method in place for the selection of leaders that could mitigate this risk while still encompassing the will of the people. Other options, such as creating laws, electing members of Congress, or serving as a judicial review body, do not accurately describe the role of the Electoral College, which is specifically focused on the election of the President and Vice President.