Twelfth Amendment

Definition

An amendment to the U.S Constitution passed in 1804 that changed the way the electoral college votes in presidential elections. Article II originally directed that electors voted for two candidates, without specifying between the president and vice-presidential seats, meaning the candidate with the most votes won the presidential seat and the candidate with the second-most won the vice-presidential seat. That system allowed candidates from different parties to win, who would not work together. The Twelfth Amendment changed the system such that electors cast one vote for president, and one vote for vice president, ensuring a party ticket wins.