Electoral College
ELECTORAL COLLEGE-TO BE OR NOT TO BE?
Cindy Franklin
Government 2301
Prof. Rasmussen
April 19, 2012
The Electoral College is a process that began as part of the original design, of the U.S. Constitution and was established by the founding fathers as a compromise between the election of the president by Congress and election by popular vote. As we all know, Americans were given a serious reminder in 2000 that the president is not elected by nationwide popular vote, but by a majority of the electoral votes. It’s an example of indirect election as opposed to direct election by U.S. citizens, (i.e. the members of the U.S. House of Representatives.) Should the Electoral College be reformed or done away with altogether, has been a hotly debated subject since one of the first ever public polls, on the subject matter, was given in 1944? According to a Gallop Poll taken on November 11-12, 2000, sixty-one percent of Americans supported a constitutional amendment to allow the national popular vote winner to assume the presidency, (http://www.galluppoll.com). Critics of the Electoral College argue, among many things, that it is at its very core undemocratic because only 538 people are responsible for the election of our president and vice president while proponents argue that it protects the rights of smaller states. It is my desire, through this discussion, to highlight the arguments for and against the Electoral College, bringing about dialogue on this controversial subject. The President and Vice President of the United States are chosen by a majority of electors from the states and the District of Columbia known as the Electoral College. The Constitution states that electors for the President and Vice President have to be allotted, among the states, according to the state’s total number of delegates within the House and Senate. The Electoral College is now comprised of 538 members whose sole purpose is none other than that afforded to them by the
Cindy Franklin
Government 2301
Prof. Rasmussen
April 19, 2012
The Electoral College is a process that began as part of the original design, of the U.S. Constitution and was established by the founding fathers as a compromise between the election of the president by Congress and election by popular vote. As we all know, Americans were given a serious reminder in 2000 that the president is not elected by nationwide popular vote, but by a majority of the electoral votes. It’s an example of indirect election as opposed to direct election by U.S. citizens, (i.e. the members of the U.S. House of Representatives.) Should the Electoral College be reformed or done away with altogether, has been a hotly debated subject since one of the first ever public polls, on the subject matter, was given in 1944? According to a Gallop Poll taken on November 11-12, 2000, sixty-one percent of Americans supported a constitutional amendment to allow the national popular vote winner to assume the presidency, (http://www.galluppoll.com). Critics of the Electoral College argue, among many things, that it is at its very core undemocratic because only 538 people are responsible for the election of our president and vice president while proponents argue that it protects the rights of smaller states. It is my desire, through this discussion, to highlight the arguments for and against the Electoral College, bringing about dialogue on this controversial subject. The President and Vice President of the United States are chosen by a majority of electors from the states and the District of Columbia known as the Electoral College. The Constitution states that electors for the President and Vice President have to be allotted, among the states, according to the state’s total number of delegates within the House and Senate. The Electoral College is now comprised of 538 members whose sole purpose is none other than that afforded to them by the