The Compromise of 1877 is an example of resolving electoral disputes through what mechanism?

• A. A Board to Negotiate the Results
• B. A Direct Presidential Appointment by Congress
• C. A Constitutional Amendment Ratified by States
• D. A Nationwide Referendum

Answer: (A)

This question is about how disputed elections were settled through a temporary, bipartisan board. In 1876, a showdown over electoral votes led Congress to create a 15‑member Electoral Commission drawn from Senators, Representatives, and Supreme Court justices. This board reviewed the contested ballots and decided which electors would count, effectively determining the presidency. That arrangement—using a special commission to negotiate and resolve the vote outcome—is what the Compromise of 1877 exemplifies. It isn’t about a constitutional amendment, a direct presidential appointment by Congress, or a nationwide referendum; it’s about a temporary, deliberative body specifically tasked with resolving electoral disputes.