Which body counts the votes for the President and Vice-President?

The process of counting votes for the President and Vice-President in the United States involves the U.S. Congress, specifically under the leadership of the President of the Senate. After votes are cast in the Electoral College, these votes are officially counted during a joint session of Congress that takes place in early January following the election. The President of the Senate (who is the current Vice-President of the United States) presides over this session, leading the formal count of the electoral votes.

This procedure is outlined in the Constitution and is an essential aspect of how the electoral process concludes, ensuring that there is a legal and orderly way to confirm the election results. The involvement of Congress in this process underscores the legislative body’s role in affirming the selections made by the electorate through the Electoral College, thus maintaining checks and balances in the electoral system.

The other bodies mentioned do not have direct authority in the counting of votes: the Federal Election Commission oversees elections but does not count the votes, the Supreme Court adjudicates legal disputes regarding elections but does not count votes, and while the Vice-President plays a role in the proceedings as the President of the Senate, the authority and execution of the counting process lie with Congress as a whole.