...The Electoral College is a long-time method of electing the President that our Founding Fathers created as a compromise between the wishes of those who wanted a direct popular vote and those who preferred that of Congress. Some put their trust into the government and others put theirs into their fellow citizens. As a result of this old-time dispute, the Electoral College was made. However, as time has shown and is bound to show in the future, the Electoral College is an outdated method of choosing the President because it allows electors to betray candidates, it is undemocratic in that the US people are not directly voting for the President, and it is unfair to states that are not considered ‘swing’ states. To begin, the 538 electors that...
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...Electoral College process Institutional affiliation Date How the Electoral College works The Electoral College is a process which was put in place in order to allow a nationwide system of fairness after selecting leaders. For instance, this process works with the fact that the results of the popular vote are not guaranteed to stand as the presidential election is usually decided by this system. Under this process, if you cast your vote for the president, you also vote for an often un-named elector who will cast a ballot in a separate election that eventually chooses the president. The main pros and cons in the debate about whether to keep or abolish the current Electoral College process. There are certain pros and cons in the debate about whether to keep or abolish the current Electoral College process. For instance, the Electoral College has hampered the democracy of United States in a manner inconsistent with current American practices. Taking for example, all voters are not given equal opportunities under the Electoral College (Bates, 2004). Even though the Electoral College inflates the victories of the winners, such as establishing their legitimacy, these victories do not give presidents liberated ride in Congress, where their party may be in the minority or the politicians may not think that Electoral College landslide should be treated the same as a genuine popular majority landslide (Yale University Press, 2004). Taking for example, President Ronald Reagan won...
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...The Electoral College should be changed to election by popular vote when choosing the president. The standard way of explaining the Electoral College would be a process that “consists of the selection and the meeting of electors” (Source 1: What is the Electoral College) this is then where the president and the vice president are voted for and the counts of the presidential electoral votes are taken place Basics of the Electoral College are the entitled allotment of electors a state has equals the number of members in its congressional delegation. Article one points out “one for each member of the house of Representatives and two for the senator. (Article 1) To elect a president 270 electoral votes are required. So at least 270 electoral votes from 538 electors guarantee’s office, or at least a certain party in office. When you think you’re voting for your candidate to be the president you’re really...
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...Electoral College Alan A. Garcia GCC On the first Tuesday of November, the US citizens cast their ballots for the upcoming president. All of the votes go towards a state elector which then casts the vote for the state. There is a total of 538 electoral votes and in order for a presidential candidate to win the election, they must gain majority of the votes, at least 270 electoral votes. “A state's number of electoral votes equals the number of the state's Congressional delegation (2 Senators + the number of Representatives)” (Vote Smart, Paragraph 5). The ballots go to a block of electors, which pledge to vote for what the majority chooses. There are many flaws to the Electoral College, as well as positives. The Electoral College is used to distribute power from heavily populated states, which helps out small states such as Wyoming, a small state that only counts as 3 electoral votes, compared to...
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...Debating The Electoral College”, by Judith A. Best, her thesis is one in defense of the Electoral College system. She describes it as a “complex majority rule system” that allows for increased participation of the minority and an “extraordinary majority.” Her statement, is as follows; “The electoral vote system is the very model of our federal system. If the federal principle is legitimate (and I think it is) then it is just as legitimate in the selection of the president as in the selections of the Congress.”1 The author is writing this work in response to many critics of the Constitution, and more specifically the Electoral College and the electoral vote system. Some of these critics are the American Bar Association, League of Women Voters, and many other factions of other political interest groups. They mostly argue that the electoral vote system is undemocratic and indefensible. Judith Best argues that not only is the system democratic and federal, but “it is a model of the American constitutional democracy.”2 The author points out that the Electoral College, (which usually arises in a debate during the course of any significant election, especially for the presidency) survives for numerous reasons. She points out that is the most heavily challenged part of the Constitution putting it at the top of the list for historical efforts to amend it. The main reason this aspect survives is that most individuals and citizens don’t know what the Electoral College is or that it...
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...The Electoral College: The Fear of Mobocracy Katherine Kinert Olympic College, Bremerton Abstract The Electoral College is a very important part of the United States Electoral System. However, very few Americans actually understand how it works. The lack of political efficacy in this country is a large reason of why some people do not think the Electoral College should be abolished. However, as Eric Black (2012) stated in an article on PBS News Hour, “Polls for many years have reliably shown that a majority of Americans would prefer a straightforward popular vote for the presidency.” Originally the Electoral College was established to prevent majority factions from having too much power causing mobocracy to occur. However, this system is outdated and the conditions that prompted the founding fathers to institute this precaution no longer exist today. Also, the fact that almost all the states use a winner-take-all system to determine which candidate gets all of the electoral votes for the state. Will abolishing the Electoral College rid the United States from mobocracy? Introduction The Electoral College is outdated and does not follow the true spirit of American Democracy. David Stewart (2013), a lawyer in Washington, D.C., states that, “Because most people knew little about public events or leaders from distant states, the convention delegates reasoned, they would not make a wise choice between presidential candidates.” Today, people have access to information through TV...
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...The end. Or not. Al Gore in 2000 won the popular vote yet George W.Bush is the forty-third president and this situation has occurred three other times in the history of the electoral college. Four rare outcomes, out of fifty seven elections, proponents of the college would say that, those occasions are a rarity and keeps minority interests in mind and was made by the framers of the constitution to keep the nation united. The framers when picking this method of election passed over popular vote due to four reasons. The first being citizens in distant and less populous states would not have a good base of knowledge for each candidate and may vote for a candidate based on where they have came from and not on their positions on the economy, social and national defense. This would’ve been an issue till before the telegraph or television and the...
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...The Electoral College: How Our System of Elections Needs to be Changed Richard Brookman Metropolitan State University of Denver Author Note This paper was prepared for ENG 1020, Section 031, taught by Professor Clark. Abstract Article two, section one of the Constitution details the creation and operation of the Electoral College. Each representative of each state, both senators and representatives, cast a vote for the President based on the wants of their constituents. This is the basis for the Electoral College; however our forefathers had little insight into the problems that can arise from crafting a quick solution to the problem of electing the commander-in-chief. Over the past 200 years, many changes have been made to the Electoral College when a problem has risen to give us the Electoral College of today. The people of the United States have seen what the Electoral College has become and want the election process to change into a popular vote system. The popular vote system isn’t the answer. Only a combination of the two systems will help to give fair representation to all of the states, while keeping the essence of majority rule that the people desire. This system includes a single vote for districts that are won by popular vote, getting rid of the human form of electors, and using today’s technology to make it easier to maneuver through the complexities of the voting process. The Electoral College: How Our System of Elections Needs...
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...Green Party Candidate: Jill Stein Political Views * Cover abortion on the Health Care System. Jill Stein believes that woman should have control over their own body. * Legalize same-sex marriage because she believes in equality for all people. * Legalize marijuana and hemp; she also wants to dismiss all the prisoners that were sent to jail on drug cases. * The Green Party supports equal access to high-quality education, and sharp increases in financial aid for college students and fundamental changes in our priorities are needed at the national and local levels, within the public and private sectors, in the classroom, and at home to make education our first priority. * They don’t believe in war but they believe in global piece * Green New Deal - a package of policy proposals that aims to address global warming, and financial crises * THE ECONOMIC BILL OF RIGHTS – creates the Full Employment Program, this program will help create more jobs by nationally funding. It will be monitored locally by a direct employment initiative that will replace unemployment offices * A GREEN TRANSITION- this program will invest in green business by providing grants and low-interest loans to create more green jobs. Use the funds that were used for fossil fuels and other industries and use it toward research in wind, solar and geothermal. This program will also provide green jobs by enacting the Full Employment Program which will directly provide 16 million...
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...with the fact that the vice president never shows up to the senate, the senior member of the major party is the leader of the senate Majority leader- the person who sets the agenda for the party Whip- the one who counts the votes and makes sure it gets done…twists peoples arms to get them to vote their way. Filibuster- somebody talks as long as they want Cloture- two thirds majority vote in the senate, you can limit the amount of time spent debating a bill. Riders- attached to bills and usually have nothing to do with bills, attempt to get politicians to vote on the bill. Amendments to bills- if a bill is sent back from the senate to the house then it would be amended. Has to go through both houses in identical form Electoral college- the way we elect our president…each state gets an...
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...tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. The United States is a Democratic Republic The United States is the oldest continuously functioning democracy in the world Democracy – A style of government in which people vote in elections to choose their leaders. Republic – A style of government where the people retain control over the government and the head of the government is not a monarch. Balance of Power Writers of the Constitution wanted to make sure no group would become too powerful. They, therefore, created 3 branches of government, each with their own power. So the U.S. has a strong central government but a balance of power. Three Main Branches Checks and Balances Legislative Branch United States Capitol Membership Senate Two from each state. 6 year terms. Must be at least 30 years old Must be a U.S. citizen for 9 years House of Representatives Based on state population 2 year terms. Must be at least 25 years old Must be a U.S. citizen for 7 years Special Responsibilities of the House of Representatives 1. Writes any law that makes people pay taxes. 2. Decides if government officials should be put on trial before the Senate if s/he commits a crime against the country. This is impeachment. 3. Can elect the President if the Electoral...
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...I believe that Ronald Regan was one of the best US presidents we have ever had. Originally Ronald Regan was an actor and a politician but in 1981 he became the 40th president of the United States. With him he brought our country to great heights until the end of his two year term in 1989. Ronald Regan attended Eureka College where he studied in economics and sociology, played football, and participated in many school plays. After he graduated he took up a job as an announcer for radio sports and in 1973 he took a screen test and was later sent to Hollywood on a contract to be an actor. While in the film industry, Regan involved himself in disputes over the issue of communism. He shifted his political views to conservative instead of liberal...
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...Gender Parity Ephraim Wieder Touro College Prior to the 1960’s, the history of women had been one of submission. Marriages were prearranged, women were expected to just raise children, and they were not allowed to work outside of the house. Women’s rights and abilities, such as being a part of the workforce and societal duties were restrained. Since then, women have progressed to the extent that they have become CEOs, CFOs and hold other important positions in companies. They have become Senators, Governors and hold prominent political positions. They can fight in combat units in the army, and they make up a big part of the workforce. In many cases, these jobs are being accomplished while raising a family. However, despite this progression,...
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...Chapter 1 British Policy Incites a Rebellion - 1756-1763, Britain and France were in the Seven Years’ War, a conflict that had involved all major European powers. - Sugar Act (1764)- Including increase on taxes on imported goods such as molasses, coffee, and textiles. Monarchy: One person in charge. Very efficient, poor decisions. Oligarchy: Small group of people in charge. Can take form of a dictatorship. Nazi, Soviet Union (A junta: in charge of military small groups can also be a small group of religious leaders) Democracy: Power lies in the hand of the people. Basically a representative democracy, meaning we chose the people to make decisions. The dominant form of government today. Totalitarianism: The government was total control. Purpose is to implement the “utopian” society. Neg. side: They have to control everything, takes up a lot of resources. Gov. is inflexible, which leads to destruction of government. Authoritarianism: They don’t control everything, just enough. There isn’t a utopian vision. They control the military and the police. Only what they need to control. China is a midway point between Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism. Constitutionalism: A limited form of government. Powers are usually spelled out in a constitution that the government is obligated to follow. They are either being a democracy/monarchy. U.S is a democracy and England is a monarch. Hobbes: Claimed that we lived in a state of nature and not a good place to be. He believed were...
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...How Was The Greatest Constitution and Government Formed George Washington Political Science 201 Professor X August 24, 2012 Introduction The Greatest Constitution and Democracy on earth, these are my heartfelt feelings concerning the country that I live in. Why do I feel this way, because of the freedoms that we naturally have as citizens of the United State. Freedoms that are sometimes ignorantly ignored by the average citizen instead of being cherished and utilized. U.S. citizens have rights thanks to the original Bill of Rights, for example the right to free speech and the right to bear arms. The framers of the U.S. Constitution which is the basic structure of the American system of government. The U.S. Constitution is a written constitution, "it is the world's oldest written constitution still in force, drawn up in 1787, ratified in 1788 and inaugurated in 1789" (Powell, 2015, p. 687). Our constitution was developed to be a working document, meaning the framers created a document that can be edited and corrected through the political processes put in place that merit changing or amending by using our three branches of government, the executive, legislative and judicial. The Constitution The U.S. Constitution has several strengths and weaknesses that definitely make for it to be the keystone of our political system and the pillar for democracies throughout the world. A major strength to our Constitution is that it makes for a strong Central government with checks...
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