What does the Electoral College primarily do?

The primary function of the Electoral College is to elect the President and Vice President of the United States. This system, established in the U.S. Constitution, was designed to provide a method for indirect election of these executives through a group of electors. Each state is allocated a number of electors based on its representation in Congress, which includes both Senators and Members of the House of Representatives.

During a presidential election, voters in each state cast their ballots, and the majority of the votes usually determines which candidate receives that state's electoral votes. The candidate who obtains a majority of the electoral votes—at least 270 out of 538—becomes the President. This method was intended to balance the influence of populous states with less populous ones and to avoid direct democracy scenarios that the framers of the Constitution were wary of.

Additionally, while the Electoral College plays a crucial role in the presidential election process, it does not handle other legislative duties such as electing members of Congress, determining state laws, or overseeing the judiciary. These functions are governed by separate established processes and institutions within the U.S. government.