







Bill of Right in Action

Fall 1992 (8:4)

The Electoral Process and Political Leadership

BRIA 8:4 Home |  The Election of 1824-25: When the House Chose the President  | Democracy and Dictatorship in Ancient Rome | Why Don't People Vote?


Twice in American history, the presidential election resulted in a deadlock, and the House of Representatives has had to choose the president. The close presidential election of 2000 showed that it might happen again.




The Election of 1824






The campaign quickly heated up, becoming America's first great mudslinging contest. Jackson was called a gambler, duelist, adulterer and military tyrant. Clay was called a drunkard and gambler. Adams was ridiculed for his slovenly dress. Crawford was attacked for dishonesty and mismanaging the budget.







For Discussion and Writing

  1. Why was the presidential election of 1824 finally decided by the House of Representatives?

  2. Which candidate do you think should have been elected president by the House in 1825? Why?

  3. What is the purpose of the Electoral College? Do you think the president and vice president should be chosen entirely by popular instead of electoral votes? Why or why not?

For Further Information

Grolier Online: The American Presidency, Presidential Elections This in-depth description of American presidential elections discusses and places in historical context the issues of the qualifications for candidacy, the development of presidential campaigning, past election outcomes, debates, campaign financing, and presidential succession.

Election of 1800 Great collection of links on this election.

Election of 1824 Summary of the election. From

Election of 1824 By Brian Whitmer.

Elections Affected by the Electoral College Summaries of the elections of 1800, 1824, 1876, and1888.

1824: Jackson Invents the Popular Will A defense of the electoral college and its role in the 1824 election. From the U.S. Electoral College Web Zine.

Prospects for the Electoral College After Election 2000 Overview of the electoral-college debate and disputed elections in U.S. history with links to sites on the electoral collection. From Social Education.

Map of the Presidential Election of 1824

The Congressional Caucus System and the Election of 1824 A senior paper at Yale.

John Quincy Adams A biography from the Internet Public Library.

Andrew Jackson: Campaigns and Elections From the American President.

Andrew Jackson Biography including the story of the 1824 election. From the State Library of North Carolina.

Andrew Jackson Slide presentation. By Mr. Willett.

Jacksonian Democracy Another slide show.

Election of 1824: Electoral College Details Information on each candidate and state in the electoral college. From the Political Graveyard.

Election of John Quincy Adams Photos and captions of a political cartoon and the Electoral College Tally Sheet. From the House of Representatives.

Tally of the Electoral Votes Photo of the tally sheet from the Electoral College of 1824. From the National Archives.

Major Election Laws The laws that covered the 1824 election.


Choosing a President in the House

This simulation is based on a hypothetical presidential election in which none of three candidates wins a majority of electoral votes. The U.S. House of Representatives would choose the president.

National Election Results

Candidate & Party Popular
X (Republican)
Y (Democrat)
Z (independent)




Simulation Instructions

1. When the House chooses a president, each state has only one vote. (Amazingly enough, California, with 11 percent of the U.S. population, would have one vote, and Wyoming with 2/10 of one percent would also have one vote.) The House would cast a total of 50 votes for president. For the purposes of this simulation, three states will cast the deciding votes in the House election.


Party of Delegation Members
all Democrats
all Democrats
all Republicans

Winner of State's Popular Votes

2. Form three groups to make up the three state delegations shown above. These groups do not necessarily have to be equal in number.

3. Form three additional groups of 2-3 students each who will play the role of partisan House members arguing for the election of X, Y, or Z.

4. One student should be selected to play the role of the speaker of the House. He or she is a Democrat from State A and should participate in all that state's deliberations.

5. All participants should read the 12th Amendment to understand when and how the House elects the president.

6. The partisans for each candidate should prepare oral arguments explaining why the House should elect their candidate.

7. Members of the three state delegations should discuss the significance of the national election results and also the results in their particular states. However, members should keep in mind that, according to the Constitution, each state may cast its vote for any one of the three candidates, without regard to the election results, party loyalty, or partisan arguments.

8. The speaker will call the House to order and allot the partisans of X, Y, and Z up to five minutes each to make their arguments. After each group of partisans has finished, members of the state delegations may be recognized by the speaker to ask questions or make statements.

9. The three state delegations should then meet separately to discuss how to cast their state vote. This should be decided by a majority of the members in each state delegation.

10. Two states must vote for one of the candidates to elect a president. Deliberations should continue until this has been achieved.