And the electoral college system (all ballot the winner) prevents candidates of third parties from capturing a single electoral vote.
The constitution of the United States originally stipulated that the president should be elected by the electoral college.
The chief executive is chosen by an electoral college of 800 representatives, most of them loyal to Beijing.
The chief executive, Hong Kong's leader, is chosen by an electoral college of 800 representatives, most of them loyal to Beijing.
At the end of last year he tried to block Obama's inauguration by contacting all 538 electoral college representatives who formally elect the President.
The loss of a congressional seat also means the loss of a vote in the electoral college, which decides presidential elections.
This was not a direct test of popular sentiment: the senatorial electoral college is made up mainly of local and regional councillors, and the Socialists have won many local elections in recent years.
