None achieved an electoral majority and they were prone to divisions.
The House was also called on to name a president in 1824, when none of the four candidates achieved an electoral majority.
Not coincidentally, Republicans have a much easier time putting together electoral majorities.
And those that don't are swamped by the size of even a small electoral majority.
The administration's abuse of its narrow electoral majority extends to other areas.
The effect of such transfers would be to allow white areas to gain political prerogatives while blacks established an electoral majority at the national level.
"If Clinton doesn't win here, he can still get his electoral majority," he said.
In a few urban constituencies, working men were an electoral majority.
This parliamentary majority, distinct from the electoral majority, was weak.
If the Democrats' remaining strength was reflected district by district, it would make their job of getting a national electoral majority a little less hard.