What is the Twelfth Amendment
- Steven Topazio wrote this August 6, 2024 at 3:37 pm
The Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on June 15, 1804, modifies the process for electing the President and Vice President. It was designed to rectify flaws in the original electoral process outlined in Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 of the Constitution.
The text of the Twelfth Amendment reads:
“The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;—
The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;—
The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.”
Key points of the Twelfth Amendment include:
Separate Ballots for President and Vice President: Electors cast distinct votes for President and Vice President, rather than two votes for President, which reduces the likelihood of a tie and conflicting outcomes.
Eligibility Requirements: It ensures that the President and Vice President are not from the same state, to promote diversity and broad representation.
House of Representatives Role: If no presidential candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives selects the President from the top three candidates, with each state delegation having one vote.
Senate Role: If no vice-presidential candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the Senate selects the Vice President from the top two candidates.
Majority Requirement: Both the President and Vice President must receive a majority of the electoral votes to win, ensuring broad support.
The Twelfth Amendment was primarily a response to the election of 1800, which revealed significant weaknesses in the original electoral process, particularly the potential for ties and the lack of distinction between votes for President and Vice President. It helped streamline and clarify the procedures for electing the nation’s highest executive officers.