Why was the Electoral College Established? If Congress elected the president, you would have to limit him to a single term. Why Did the Founding Fathers Create the Electoral College? - Edge During the 1992 election, when he contested against the incumbent George H.W. This sparked a heated debate among the voters and political analysts, with some calling for its abolition. If you think it should be replaced, what do you believe should replace it. At the Constitutional Convention, what was the relationship between debates over the presidency and the . Sign up for our email newsletter! Your email address will not be published. Without the Electoral College, rural areas would be completely ignored so would most of middle America. Alicia Reynolds holds a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in American Studies from Columbia University. Next time: Rules governing the Electoral College. Accessed at The Library of Congress Web site. But executives wouldnt say for certain if, Check out the latest issue of The Business Journal. In all, five states changed their rules for appointing electors, which is a great story about how eager party politicians were to manipulate the Constitution. Conserving Marine Life in the United States, International Boreal Conservation Campaign, Protecting Coastal Wetlands and Coral Reefs, U.S. Public Lands and Rivers Conservation, How Electoral Votes are Distributed by State, What America Thinks About the Electoral College, Expanding California's San Gabriel Mountains Monument, U.S. Approves Sustainable Way to Catch Swordfish. And, as I can testify from personal experience, mass media presentations of a candidate may be 180 degrees opposite from the truth. In a sense, this is less of a concern today because, unlike in 1787, we have mass media through which candidates can speak directly the voters. Why Did the Framers Create the Electoral College?1st in a Series Although courts may always review governmental action to guard against the arbitrary or unreasonable, the starting point must be a presumption of judicial modesty. And early proposals at the convention provided that Congress would elect the president. To receive Stanford news daily, Two states, New York and Massachusetts, had popularly elected governors. We have now entered a new and even more troubling phase of conservative constitutional jurisprudence. The Electoral College anticipates the selected electors to cast votes in resemblance to the peoples will. A: The framers of the Constitution didnt trust direct democracy. Why did the framers of the constitution create the electoral "college The Electoral College vote sees the, To Guarantee the Rights of the Minority so that the Principle of Equal Protection Lasts, One of the critical roles of the Electoral College is that it ensures the best, To Eliminate the Need for a 50% Vote Majority to Create an Electoral Majority, This was the case in the 2016 presidential election where, Also worth noting is that there were some, Bill Clinton was the main beneficiary of the Electoral College on both occasions. Bill Clinton was the main beneficiary of the Electoral College on both occasions. The persons having the greatest number of votes shall be the president and vice president respectively. In other ways, however, it is more of a concern than it was in 1787. Mary Vasaly: To the Framers, the 'electoral college' made sense. Does Dont miss our latest facts, findings, and survey results in The Rundown. Reasons Behind Formation of Electoral College, The framers of the United States Constitution established a compromise in the supreme law when laying the foundation of their new country. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia have a winner-take-all policy that the Electoral College must follow. That is central to any theory of principled constitutionalism. But the Electoral college served another, more sinister purpose: to help preserve slavery. But since the process is defined in the Constitution, only an amendment can change the system. Q: Why does the U.S. have an Electoral College? Why Was the Electoral College Created? | HISTORY If not, do you think it is important that each vote persons vote count equally? Why did the Founders dislike democratic systems? Learn more about the history and content of Americas defining documents. First, in Federalist No. In every state but Maine and Nebraska, the candidate who wins the most votes (that is, a plurality) in the state receives all of the states electoral votes. Appraising the Electoral College - Bill of Rights Institute Experience quickly demonstrated, in other words, that a popular vote would work, and the strange contrivance of appointing electors by rules that could shift from state to state and election to election was now superfluous. Built by Tierra Innovation. Yet this was only a partial solution. The Declaration of Independence. This article will discuss the key reasons behind the formation of the Electoral College. Thus, it is possible (as in 2016) a presidential candidate may garner nationwide the most votes and not win the presidency. However, the popular vote doesn't directly elect any candidate. Why did the framers of our Constitution create the Electoral College * Generally speaking, the members of Congress would be in a much better position to assess potential candidates than the average voter. * Voters in large states might dominate the process by voting only for candidate from their own states. First, at the very core of the Framers Constitution is the recognition that, in a self-governing society, courts must generally defer to the preferences of the majority. Electors generally vote according to their states popular vote. Then the candidates would have to think more creatively about how to mobilize a national electorate, rather than pouring money into the televised advertisements that must drive voters in the battleground states completely bonkers. Promising new cognitive and behavioral therapies are helping patients manage and even cure PTSD without drugs, Debra Kaysen explains on this episode of The Future of Everything. There were 230 years ago. No wonder why it pushes to abolish this distinguishing feature of our democratic republic of representative government. Of course, the dynamics of the American populous have changed drastically in the last 230 years. Sign up for our print edition! BRIs Comprehensive US History digital textbook, BRIs primary-source civics and government resource, BRIs character education narrative-based resource. Learn more about the different ways you can partner with the Bill of Rights Institute. Justice Brearlys committee of eleven (also called the committee on postponed matters) worked out the basics: The president would be chosen by electors appointed from each state by a method determined by the state legislature. My big hope in 2004 was that John Kerry would have carried Ohio, where a swing of 80,000 votes or so would have done the trick, and with it the election. Today there is still support for electing the president by a national popular vote, eliminating the process of allocating electors among the states by rules that violate the principle of one person, one vote. For instance, our bicameral legislature, with an upper house that apportions senators equally among the states regardless of population, was a compromise to keep the more populous states from overruling the less populous ones. It backs non-radical ideas since extreme views dont always amount to specific votes in nearly all election years. Which do you believe are more persuasive and why? Why did the framers of our Constitution create the Electoral College The Electoral College was created for two reasons. Office of the Federal Register, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Web site, FAQ, 11 Feb. 2008. Americans Are Quietly Getting Closer to Ditching the Electoral College Why did the Framers create the Electoral College? Many of them, like George Mason of Virginia, thought that 19 times out of 20, the electors would only work to identify leading candidates, and the House of Representatives, voting by states, would have to make the final choice. The other is that nearly every state - depending on its political leadership - has pushed to make voting either easier or harder for its citizens. The parties would have the incentive to attract voters throughout the country, which is now a matter of complete indifference to them. -the electoral college was created to keep the masses from making stupid decisions (like electing Trump). As Chief Justice John Marshall observed almost two centuries ago, we must never forget it is a Constitution we are expoundingintended to endure for ages to come, and consequently to be adapted to the various crises of human affairs.. But I really doubt that it would work in practice. Stanford Pulitzer Prize winning historian Jack Rakove believes the founding fathers would agree that its time to change the 225-year-old Electoral College. 1 person found it helpful taskmasters The framers of our Constitution created the electoral college rather than have direct popular elections for President for the reason that the framer of the Constitution didn't trust direct democracy. So, then if both the Democrats and Republicans had been adversely affected, I thought we might have a situation where the two parties would be willing to recognize the flaws in the Electoral College and think seriously about jointly supporting a national popular vote. Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina. Second, the electors would be: the men most capable of analyzing the qualities adopted 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.. I hope this answer is the one you're looking for. Indeed, the notion that any particular moments understanding of the Constitutions provisions should be locked into place and taken as constitutionally definitive would have seemed completely wrong-headed to the Framers, who held a much bolder and more confident conception of their own achievements and aspirations. Most voters would favor candidates from their own states, and it would become truly difficult to produce a popular majority with a field of favorite sons. I think it is a clever attempt to get around the onerous requirements for constitutional amendment, and I support the end result. The number of presidential elections that have been decided in the House of Representatives. The reason that the Constitution calls for this extra layer, rather than just providing for the direct election of the president, is that most of the nations founders were actually rather afraid of democracy. Pew addresses the challenges of a changing world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious projects that lead to tangible progress. So, why did our framers create the Electoral College? Litigationover the issue still continues, and is likely to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Most electors are loyal members of the party that has selected them, and in 26 states, plus Washington, D.C., electors are bound by laws or party pledges to vote in accord with the popular vote. Why did the framers of the Constitution create the Electoral College? The author, Carl Rafoth, is an attorney with the Canfield-based law firm of Friedman & Rummell. a. I think the Electoral College is a good way of ensuring each voter is represented equally. The first reason that the founders created the Electoral College is hard to understand today. Get the latest Institute news, new resource notifications, and more through a newsletter subscription. This process impedes the other arms of the government from deciding who to be elected as the next president. Why did they believe republican forms of government were superior? There, they cast a ballot for president and a second for vice president. Youll be able to view two videos debating whether the Electoral College works for the greater good, and you can explore historical election result maps. Without the Electoral College a nation could sacrifice to its ruling passion or interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens so stated the French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville, who toured the United States studying and commenting on our unique form of government shortly after its founding. The committee consisted of some of the most brilliant men from a brilliant convention. Sharing charts, maps, and more to show who Americans are, how policy affects the everyday, and how we can use data to make a difference. Do you think the Electoral College has functioned the way it was intended? Business Journal Daily | The Youngstown Publishing Company, By Carl RafothCANFIELD, Ohio Article II Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution states in relevant part:Each state shall appoint in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress. The system was created as a middle ground in the debate over whether Congress or voters would have the power to elect the president. The most effective way to secure a freer America with more opportunity for all is through engaging, educating, and empowering our youth. So it seems like a good time to explore what the Electoral College is, the reasons for it, and the Constitutions rules governing it. Now we simply assume that the small states would block any amendment because they believe they would lose influence in the election of a president. Which Employees Are Most Satisfied with Their Bosses? Not at all Slightly The winner-take-all system is not federally mandated; states are free to allocate their electoral votes as they wish. Nearly everyone agreed that Washington would be the first president. The Associated Press September 14, 2020 WASHINGTON (AP) WHY IS IT THAT ONE CANDIDATE CAN WIN THE POPULAR VOTE BUT ANOTHER WINS THE ELECTORAL VOTE AND THUS THE PRESIDENCY? This is an essential tenet of any theory of principled constitutionalism. Even though some people are uncomfortable with a two-party system, the Electoral College offers voters an opportunity to initiate changes every four years. Flipbooks are available to paid subscribers only. The Framers of the American Constitution were visionaries. The framers of the United States Constitution established a compromise in the supreme law when laying the foundation of their new country. These decisions animate the most fundamental aspirations of our Constitution in circumstances in which judicial intervention is both necessary and proper. For the legislative branch, they created a bicameral legislature (the House and Senate) where the lower houses number of representatives from each state was determined by that states population, whereas the upper house gave each state two delegates (senators). Required fields are marked *. Joseph Sohm What exactly is the electoral college and why did the Founding Fathers embrace it instead of creating a direct presidential voting process? In reality, individuals vote for an elector who has pledged to vote for a particular candidate. The Constitution. They also had no sense of who the electors would be, whether they would be men, as Mason observed, of the second or even the third rank of qualified voters. During the 1992 election, when he contested against the incumbent, To Eliminate the Potential of a Nationwide Recount, To Make it Easier for Candidates to Campaign, The fact that specific states and their electoral votes are in the basket of one particular candidate or another makes it pretty easier and more affordable for candidates to campaign seamlessly. 10. The Federalist Papers [1787]. Is the Compact for America Plan to Amend the Constitution Constitutional? This sets it apart from the rest of the worlds electoral systems, particularly since all the other elections in the US apply the popular format. access to all of our articles every month. It was devised by the framers of the United States Constitution to provide a method of election that was feasible, desirable, and consistent with a republican form of government. First, the framers were experimental politicians, and they were open to the evidence of how things were operating. Trump is why the framers created the Electoral College - MSN One Founding-era argument for the Electoral College stemmed from the fact that ordinary Americans across a vast continent would lack sufficient information to choose directly and intelligently. The Articles of Confederation gave the Continental Congress the power to establish rules and request funding from the s. Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, Inc. All right reserved.