In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump emerged victorious against Kamala Harris, marking a significant political event.

12 Nov PRELIMS BITs: Presidential Elections in the United States

Posted at 12 Nov 2024 in Current Affairs by Munde Dhananjay Navnath 0 Comments

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This article covers “ prelims related topic of Presidential Elections in the United States

SYLLABUS MAPPING:

GS: Current events of national and international importance.

FOR PRELIMS:

What is the constitutional mandate, qualification, eligibility, and method of election of the President in India and the US?

Why in the news?

In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump emerged victorious against Kamala Harris, marking a significant political event. Trump won several key swing states that were previously held by Biden in 2020. Notably, he flipped states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, which were critical to his success.

Presidential Elections in India and the United States:

Aspect	India	United States
Electoral Body	Election Commission of India	Concerned State authorities
Mode of Election	Indirect election	Indirect election
Electoral System	Proportional Representation through a Single Transferable Vote (STV)	Electoral College system (winner-takes-all in most states)
Voters Involved	Elected members of Parliament (MPs) and Legislative Assemblies (MLAs)	Electors chosen by voters in each state
Representation	Votes are weighted based on the population of states and Union Territories	Each state’s electors are equal to the total of its Congressional representation (Senators + House members)
Total Number of Voters	Approx. 4,896 (Elected MPs & MLAs)	538 electors in the Electoral College
Method of Voting	Single transferable vote (STV)	A plurality (winner-takes-all system in most states)
Term Length	5 years	4 years
Eligibility Criteria	Must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years old, eligible to be a member of Lok Sabha	Must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, resident for 14 years
Role of Voter	Voters cast a vote for one candidate; the value of votes differs by state population	Voters choose electors who then vote for the president
Candidates	Nominated by political parties, but independent candidates can also stand	Nominated by political parties; Independent candidates are also possible
Election Frequency	Every 5 years	Every 4 years
Result Declaration	After counting the votes and declaring the winner based on majority (after transfer)	After the Electoral College vote, officially certified by Congress
Involvement of Popular Vote	No direct role of public votes	Indirectly through electors, though popular vote may influence the outcome
Constitutional Reference	Articles 54 to 67 of the Indian Constitution	Article II of the U.S. Constitution and the 12th Amendment

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Prelims Question:

Q. With reference to the constitutional qualifications for the President of India, consider the following statements:
1. The President is elected by a direct popular vote.
2. The Electoral College consists of electors from each state based on its congressional representation.
3. The President serves a term of six years without the possibility of re-election.
How many of the above-given statements are correct?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None