Wikipedia:Today's featured article/November 27, 2004

The Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution amended the provisions of Article II relating to presidential elections. Originally, the Electoral College would elect both the President and the Vice President in a single election; the person with a majority would become President and the runner-up would become Vice President. The election of 1800, however, demonstrated some problems with the system. The Twelfth Amendment, proposed by Congress on December 9, 1803 and ratified by the requisite number of state legislatures on June 15, 1804, required electors to cast two distinct votes: one for President and another for Vice President. (more...)

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