1824 United States presidential election fails to produce a majority

Background. Presidential elections were held in the United States from October 26 to December 2, 1824. The primary contenders were Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and William Crawford. The result was inconclusive, as no candidate won a majority of the electoral vote, triggering a constitutional requirement for the House to elect the president.

Constitutional Mechanism. Under the Twelfth Amendment, the House of Representatives has the power to elect the president if no presidential candidate receives a majority of votes in the Electoral College. The amendment requires the House to choose from the three candidates with the highest numbers of electoral votes, with the votes taken by states, each state's representation casting one vote. The House also holds the exclusive power to elect the president when no Electoral College majority exists, and it meets in the south wing of the United States Capitol.

Outcome. In the 1824 election, the House elected John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson and William Crawford. This decision followed the failure of the Electoral College to produce a majority winner. The election marked the final collapse of the Republican-Federalist political framework, though rivalrous parties had not yet fully formed.