How US Elections Work: The Constitution, Plurality, and Two Parties

CrashCourse

This fast-paced educational video explores the fundamental structures, rules, and theories behind elections in the United States. Hosted by Craig Benzine, the video moves beyond media coverage of campaigns to examine the constitutional and legal frameworks that dictate how elections actually work. It clarifies the division of power between federal and state governments in running elections, explaining that while the Constitution sets basic guidelines, individual states hold significant control over the "times, places, and manner" of elections. The video dives deep into political science concepts like "Adverse Selection" and the "Plurality Rule" (often called winner-take-all), using animated diagrams to demonstrate how these mathematical realities inevitably lead to the United States' two-party system through Duverger's Law. It also covers the history of voting rights, referencing key Constitutional amendments (12th, 17th, 24th, 26th) and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. For educators, this resource is an essential tool for high school Civics and Government classrooms. It helps students transition from a surface-level understanding of voting to a structural analysis of the political system. By explaining *why* the system produces specific outcomes (like why third parties rarely win), it empowers students to engage critically with political institutions rather than just observing candidates.