according to the united states constitution how is the number of electoral college seats per state determined
According to the United States Constitution, the number of electoral college seats per state is determined through a formula outlined in the Constitution, specifically in Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 known as the "Electoral College Clause," and the 12th Amendment.
The formula consists of adding the number of Senators, which is two per state, and the number of Representatives, which is determined based on the population of each state. The population count is conducted every ten years through a national census, and as a result, the number of Representatives for each state can change over time.
The Constitution specifies that each state is entitled to a minimum of three electoral college seats, as there must be at least two Senators, regardless of the state's population. The additional seats are based on the state's population, so states with larger populations have more Representatives, thus increasing their overall electoral college seats.
In summary, the number of electoral college seats per state is determined by adding the number of Senators (2 per state) to the number of Representatives (based on the state's population) according to the most recent census.