Who remembers when republicans

[neuvocat]

called for the abolishment of the electoral college after Clinton's re-election? If you got links it would be helpful. Thanks.

On edit: I typed in "establishment" instead of "abolishment" earlier. Whoops!

[Frodo]

1. ??? Huh?

I presume you mean "abolishment" of the EC?

And, no. I don't remember that. In fact, I remember it being reported as a possibility prior to the 2000 election that Bush would win the popular vote but Gore win the election. Nobody complained on either side.

[woofless]

2. I do not understand

"called for the establishment of the electoral college" The system has always had the electoral college as a means of determining the presidency. Each state has so many electoral college votes and they are assigned to whomever wins the popular vote in that state. 'Twas always thus.

[Frodo]

3. One modification...

They're assigned however the heck the state wants them to be. It does not necessarily have to be to the popular vote winner. It could, for instance, be proportional to their popular vote, or by district.

[Yupster]

7. There doesn't even have to be a popular vote

A state legislature could just asign a slate of electors and not even have an election for president. The Constitution does not mandate it.

Article II, Section 1

"Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number ..."

South Carolina was one of original 13 colonies. It had its first popular vote for president in 1872.

[LTR]

4. Dubya's likely response

"Well, I think students should have to pay their own way, unless they're wealthy and can contribute to our nation by providing jobs to the lower class.

"You mean it's not a REAL college?"

[Cascadian]

5. For once I agree with them.

We do need to get rid of the electoral college. What is reason for it anyway. It should always be one person for one vote. We should have gotten rid of it after 2000!

John

[Yupster]

8. It originally was

one of the many powers of the states.

The state legislatures could name electors and therefore elect the president. The Constitution did not assume there would even be a popular vote for president.

This was just one of the many powers given to the states.

The Constitution made it clear that the states would wield tremendous power in the capital.

Through the electoral college, states elected the president, not people. State legislatures also elected senators, not the people.

Therefore, the states were guaranteed enormous influence as they picked the president and the senators. Only House members were elected by the people, therefore the term, "The People's House."

[Friar]

9. it has to do with the bicameral thingie

In the beginning were the States. The Senate was meant to represent the States. The House was meant to represent the people. Two Senators elected from each state was meant to offset population disparties so more populous states would not have an unfair advantage in the federal gummint. The electoral college was designed as a compromise between those who wanted a parliamentary system of choosing the head of state and those who wanted popular votes that would favor the more populous states. I think.

[elperromagico]

6. Now why on earth would they say that?

Their boy, Dole, lost the popular vote by a good 8,000,000 votes. It's not like he won by half a million votes or anything...