How is the President of the United States selected?

The President of the United States is selected by the electoral college, which is a body of electors established by the United States Constitution. When citizens cast their votes during the presidential election, they are actually voting for a slate of electors pledged to support a particular candidate. Each state has a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress, which includes both Senators and Representatives.

Once the votes are counted, the electors from each state formally cast their votes for President and Vice President in a process that takes place in December following the election. The candidate who receives a majority of the electoral votes—at least 270 out of 538—becomes President. This system ensures that both the individual votes of the citizens and the representation of different states within the federal structure are taken into account.

In contrast, the other options suggest methods that do not align with the Constitution's established process. A direct popular vote would mean that the winner is solely based on the total number of votes nationwide, without the influence of state-based electors. Voting by Congress would imply that legislative members would select the President, which is not how the process is structured. A national referendum would indicate a direct decision by the electorate on a specific question rather than the election of