How does the Twelfth Amendment achieve its goal?

The Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides the procedure for electing the President and Vice President. It replaced the procedure provided in Article II, Section 1, Clause 3, by which the Electoral College originally functioned.

The Twelfth Amendment achieves its goal through the following steps:

1. Separate Ballots for President and Vice President: The amendment mandates that electors cast separate votes for President and Vice President, rather than casting two votes for President. This was a response to the elections of 1796 and 1800 where the electoral college system led to unintended results.

2. House Decides in Case of No Majority: If no candidate for President has a majority of the total votes, the decision is made by the House of Representatives. Each state delegation has one vote and it is the states with the majority of the votes that elects the President.

3. Senate Decides Vice President: If no candidate for Vice President has a majority of the total votes, the decision is made by the Senate. Each Senator has one vote and it is the majority of Senators that elects the Vice President.

4. Contingency for Tie in House: If the House of Representatives is tied and cannot decide on a President, then the Vice President serves as acting President until the tie is broken.

By implementing these steps, the Twelfth Amendment ensures a clear and fair process for electing the President and Vice President, thus achieving its goal.