Amendment1804
12th Amendment Proposed by Congress
Congress proposed the 12th Amendment to the states, revising presidential election procedures after the chaotic 1800 election in which Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received equal electoral votes. The amendment required separate electoral ballots for President and Vice President.
Why It Matters
The 12th Amendment fixed a critical flaw in the original electoral process, preventing future contested elections of the kind that nearly derailed the peaceful transfer of power in 1800.