The Electoral College turns the states into the equivalent of the watertight compartments on an ocean liner. Well, strictly speaking, it is not necessary. Each state gets 2 electors for its senators regardless of population. Find out more in The Electoral College, a title in the Debating the Issues series. Each title in the series features easy-to-read text, stunning visuals, and a challenging educational activity. • It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection. Steve Forbes is featured in the film along with various Constitutional scholars, and they explain how the Electoral College was created, and why. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener's Hawaii. "The American people are qualified to elect their president by a direct vote, and I hope to see the day when they will," he said. It worked insofar as it denied election to Hillary Clinton, who, although the popular vote choice, was largely a regional candidate. Let's put this into perspective. Basically, the Electoral College magnifies the margin of victory and grants legitimacy to the winners. Many people know that the Electoral College is part of the Presidential election process but may be unsure about its importance and how it works. Host David Eisenbach explains the history and purpose of the Electoral College and why it is so important to America's democratic process. It should balance state and national interests. It should reduce the risks of foreign and other secret influence. Found insideThis book explains the dangerous and unconstitutional implications of the National Popular Vote Bill, which is quietly passing in state houses across the nation. Didn't the Founding Fathers institute the Electoral College for a reason ? Video: Do You Understand the Electoral College?, by Tara Ross, PragerU. Why the Founders established the Electoral College—and why they thought it vital to the Constitution; Why the Electoral College was meant to be more important than the popular vote; How the Electoral College prevents political crises after tight elections; Why the Electoral College doesn't favor one party over the other Presidential candidates must campaign across the whole country to win the election rather than just focusing on winning large states like California. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. voters vote on a law directly. Why the Electoral College Is Still Important Today (RepublicanJournal.org) - The President of the United States of America is the most powerful leader of freedom and prosperity in the world. Watch the video above for more on why the Electoral College exists and . Established in Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, the Electoral College is the formal body which elects the President and Vice President of the United States. According to HistoryCentral, "[t]he Electoral College was created for two reasons. By 1966, Sen. Birch Bayh (D-Ind.) The Founding Fathers created the Electoral College in part because they wanted to preserve the power of the states. This is how the institution of the Electoral College was invented and implemented. The first reason that the founders created the Electoral College is hard to understand today. Having just thrown off the rule of one . The Electoral College is an integral component of America's election process. Wondering why the electoral college exists? Learned Hand. The 75-minute film emphasizes the relevance of the . What opponents of the college are looking for is for the popular vote to decide the President and Vice President, which is called a pure democracy. Why It's Important. To balance the interests of northern and southern states. By Chris Moody , CNN Senior Digital Correspondent Updated 1:53 PM EDT, Fri November 4, 2016 ( Log Out /  It would act as check on an electorate that might be duped. While the Electoral College has some drawbacks, it is an important tool in "preserving federalism." [2] Federalism is a vital structural element of our Constitution. Several of these efforts—one as recently as 1970—came very close to winning approval. Yet this controversial system remains. Alexander Keyssar explains its persistence. Some suggested that Congress should choose the President. In the below post from the wee hours of the day after Election Day, we discuss why it's not happening... For the second time in 16 years, Democrats appear to have won more votes than Republicans, but lost the presidency. When the institution was created in 1787, the goal was to prevent the more populous Southern states from overpowering the less populous Northern states. Tara Ross shows you why the answer should be a resounding Yes! LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) - The electoral college decides who will become the next president of the United States. A Catholic university located in the heart of New England in Worcester, Massachusetts, Assumption University strives to form graduates known for their critical intelligence, thoughtful citizenship, and compassionate service. With the help of full-color photographs and informative fact boxes, this volume allows the next generation of voters to form and support their own opinions about this prominent system. The Electoral College: The basics and importance of electors. Thank you for taking the time to participate in the "We the People" petition process. The electoral college has been criticized over the years for the electoral vote sometimes contradicting the popular vote. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Join Provost & Academic Vice President Greg Weiner, Ph.D. for a deep dive into the history & importance of the electoral college with Facilitator Mark Horan, J.D. The Electoral College as the way to choose the Chief Executive of the nation, along with other checks and balances, was part of their plan to achieve their goal. The Electoral College is much more important than you think. He was a passionate advocate for the change for years. It's unfortunate we even have the term "electoral college." I suppose when they started using it as a collective term, they must have assumed people would know enough to realize it isn't a real college. Others felt it was important that the former colonists got to vote directly for their president. The Electoral College was the compromise reached, and it's still how the president and vice president are elected today. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! This authoritative edition of the complete texts of the Federalist Papers, the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution, and the Amendments to the U.S. Constitution features supporting essays in which leading scholars provide ... No other advanced democracy in the world uses . Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform (CAIRCO) was founded in the mid 1990s. Students learn the history and difference of political parties, the processes of nominating candidates, Electoral College, qualifications for President, activities necessary to run a campaign, what campaign funds can buy, about the election ... Video: Do You Understand the Electoral College? Presidential candidates must campaign across the whole country to win the election rather than just focusing on winning large states like . Hamilton wrote in the Federalist Papers: It was equally desirable, that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station, and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice. But more important, the electoral college actually keeps presidential elections from going undemocratically awry because it makes unlikely the possibility that third-party candidates will garner . The whole mass of the people, not just 10 states should be able to fairly elect their president. In other words, the people appointed to the Electoral College may have a mind of their own, and cast a vote that is not necessarily reflective of the people’s desires. Also, the Electoral College doesn't have the. In fact, Trump's 2020 Electoral College bonus ended up being the 4th or 7th highest in the 42 elections since 1856, depending on whether you count his bonus as 3.8 points or 3.3 points. An analysis of the American electoral college with its complicated set of procedures, this book analyzes the significant consequences of the winning of a presidential election by a candidate with fewer votes than his or her opponent. Found inside – Page 385The assault on the electoral vote system took root in the House first . ... as the most significant third - party bid since 1924 , insisted that the threat ... That’s a pure democracy for ya’. Power is the reason there is the effort against the Electoral College. To coin a phrase from Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., it's all about power, baby. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. While much of what was created by our Founders was original, this concept wasn’t. FactsofAmerica announces a new, free book for our viewers: We the People. Let's put this into perspective. While the Electoral College is not perfect, it is the most legitimate system. The Electoral College has many quirks and complexities than can be difficult to explain, and it can create a few problems from time to time. This The point of these time-honored devices, which are all part of an integral whole, is not to circumvent popular sentiment, but to shape and channel it in ways that support the principal end for which popular government is constituted: to secure the equal rights of all. Or do the people want  equal representation of votes, the way our founding fathers created the system? In this authoritative history of the American Electoral College system, Edward Foley analyzes the consequences of the unparalleled departure from the Jeffersonians' original intent-and delineates what we can do about it. That important decision ultimately falls to the Electoral College. Polis signs national popular vote bill into law, Democrats Want To Kill The Electoral College Because They Fear The Constitution. How Does the Electoral College Actually Work? The electors are appointed by the state legislatures, and they are the ones who elect the President of the country. At the time, then-Sen. Alben Barkley (D-Ky.), who would later become vice president, labeled the system "useless." The founders also believed that the Electoral College had the advantage of being a group that met only once and thus could not be manipulated over time by foreign governments or others.... One aspect of the electoral system that is not mandated in the constitution is the fact that the winner takes all the votes in the state. [3] It is perhaps the greatest staple of American Government, as it is the only unique contribution the Framers made to political science and theory. If we effectively neuter it through state collusion, then we move one step closer to a world our Founders feared, and that Plato described. Because most of the Founding Fathers were geniuses with impressive foresight. And a vote in one place is more important than a vote somewhere else. • It decides who is elected president. ( a law is on the ballot specifically for people to vote on) Thus, under the Constitution, state legislators have the right to generally ignore the results of the voting of citizens of their state and appoint those who they deem necessary to the Electoral College. Why is the Electoral College important? The electoral college is one of those most fundamental controls. Our founding fathers knew what they were doing. This evil was not least to be dreaded in the election of a magistrate, who was to have so important an agency in the administration of the government as the President of the United States. Looking forward to reading more of your stuff. The Founding Fathers established it in the Constitution, in part, as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. This book discusses the contemporary issues for Congress and how the Electoral College works in contemporary presidential elections. The process should give great weight to popular preferences, while minimizing dangers of “stampeding” and other. Filed under Tea Party First, a note on the fake news aspect. Clinton won the popular vote, but Trump secured the electoral vote. A Constitutional Republic: The Importance Of The Electoral College. We understand your interest in the petition to support . This winner take all methods used in picking electors has been decided by the states themselves. Yes and no. Share . Why the 2016 Election Proves America Needs the Electoral College. Tara Ross shows you why the answer should be a resounding Yes! Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Thomas Jefferson once said, “nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.”. Fair Use: This site contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. "When Americans cast ballots for presidential candidates, their votes actually go toward selecting members of the Electoral College." . The Electoral College website now has an easy-to-remember address. An end-run around the Electoral College, by Peter Skurkissm, American Thinker, February 28, 2019. To the founders, the most important goal of the Electoral College was to decrease the tyranny of the majority. The electoral process had to produce presidents competent to discharge their extensive responsibilities. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. Dream on, Democrats, 11 states combining for 165 electoral votes, As the Electoral College Goes, So Goes the Constitution, The Mob Is Right Outside the Constitution’s Wall, Federalist Paper 68 - The Mode of Electing the President, The Founders Outsmarted the Presidential Election Fraudsters, The Electoral College is still right for America, Prelude to a Revolution, National Popular Voting, Don’t let Colorado be an Electoral College dropout, The One-Two Punch to Knock Out Electoral Democracy, Colorado Moves To Bypass Electoral College: Will Assign Electoral Votes To Popular Vote Winner, Colorado Gov. The original rationale for the Electoral College The framers of the Constitution set up the Electoral College for a number of different reasons. 1. "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government.". ( Log Out /  Therefore, from the Founding Fathers' point of view, the federal government in Washington should consist of both representatives of the people (congressmen) and representatives of the state leadership – the federal President and senators. Dream on, Democrats, The Washington Post, November 16, 2016: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), as she has before, introduced a bill this week to get rid of the electoral college. There are many reasons to get rid of the electoral college. led hearings on the prospect of repealing the electoral college. Polis signed the national popular vote bill into law on March 15, 2019. All Americans benefit from a greater diversity of thought, action, and opportunities. If there was no electoral college, the 10 most populous US states, which account for 50.5% of the US population, would control the whole presidential election. The second reason, however, is still relevant. First of all, if we had a pure popular vote system, as many on the Left are now proposing, it would become quite difficult—because . The Electoral College was created by the framers of the U.S. Constitution as an alternative to electing the president by popular vote or by Congress. Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 2,0, Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, course: Amerikanische Landeskunde: Government, 4 entries in the bibliography, language: ... The Electoral College was created for two reasons. 1 Comment. A candidate needs to . Considers (72) H.J. Res. 60. Why the Electoral College is Important Why the Electoral College is Important. This ensures equal representation in elections due to the differences in the populations of the states. Explore the process with this seven-step graphic. Each state elects the number of representatives to the Electoral College that is equal to its number of Senators—two from each state—plus its number of delegates in the House of Representatives. In 1787, each state was considered its own country, represented by its own constitution. Generally speaking, the number of electorates in a given state directly correlates to the number of congressional representatives in the state. By Tonya Robinson. Each state has as many "electors" in the Electoral College as it has Representatives and Senators in the United States Congress, and the District of Columbia has three electors. This often-confusing topic is broken down step by step for readers. Simple, clear language and elaborating fact boxes target readers new to understanding the Electoral College system and those looking for a thorough but succinct review. Rather, the system was a brilliant response to... Having created a unique office, the Founders needed an adequate process for choosing its occupant. The Electoral College is still right for America, by Rob Natelson, Complete Colorado, January 29, 2019: ... it is not true, as some claim, that the Founders acted only out of distrust of democracy. - Important Updates to the Naturalization Test - USCIS has revised the civics portion of the naturalization test. The most favorable argument by people who oppose the college say that it does not directly represent the American people. The Founders Outsmarted the Presidential Election Fraudsters, by Gary Gindler, American Thinker, November 13, 2020: ... contrary to popular misconception, the President of the United States is not a representative of the American people. From the article Abolish the electoral college? The Left wants to get rid of the Electoral College. July 29, 2010 The Electoral College is an important aspect of American democracy and needs to be preserved. When Americans vote for President and Vice President, they are actually choosing presidential electors, known collectively as the electoral college. It is these officials who choose the President and Vice President of the United States. It should produce presidents of national stature. As electors gather across the US on Monday, CNN's John King breaks down why the electoral college matters and the history of the "faithless elector." Democrats' lust for power is what drives them. FactsofAmerica – Conservative News, Tea Party info, Government Watchdog. In some elections, the Electoral College has voted presidents into office by extremely slim margins, as was the case in 1960, when John Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon by fewer than 120,000 popular votes. Swing states and the Electoral College. Active social life. One of the main problems is that presidential candidates don't have to win the popular vote in order to win the electoral vote and therefore the presidency. 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