Electoral College

One of the most fascinating aspects of United States government is the Electoral College. Since its inception at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the College contributes to the presidential election in an unprecdented manner. Throughout our nation's history it has often been viewed as a source of confusion and controversy-- amongst politicians and citizens alike-- it is one of the most unique features of the election process. Furthermore, the Electoral College presents tremendous implications for the office of the presidency and the length of time in office.

The Electoral College was designed by the framers of the Constitution to address one of their most difficult questions: "How to protect the president's independence and, at the same time, have a technically sound, politically efficacious electoral system that would be consistent with a republican form of government" (Edwards & Wayne 60). What this means is that the winner of the popular vote is not necessarily the winner of the election. Many of the framers felt that the public's knowledge regarding politics was insufficient to select a capable leader; thus, the Electoral College was implemented. According to the new compromise, the presidential elect was to be chosen by the states in a way to be determined by their legislatures. Initially, the person who received the most electoral votes would be the president and the second highest total would be the vice president. Although larger states maintained an advantage, smaller states had equal representation in the event that the electoral vote was indecisive.

A major problem occurred with the Electoral College during the election of Andrew Jackson in 1824. Jackson received the majority of the popular vote, yet he did not win the electoral decision. His outrage caused many states to question the tenets of the Electoral College and left lingering doubts. "Whichever candidate received the most popular votes in a state got all the electoral votes of the state....which maximized the state's voting power, but also created the possibility of a disparity between the popular and and electoral votes in the nation as a whole. Thus, it became possible for the candidate with the most popular votes to lose in the Electoral College" (Edwards & Wayne 62). Such incidents also happened with Rutherford B. Hayes and Benjamin Harrison. Early disputes such as these lay the foundation for the popular versus electoral vote that continues to affect elections in our country.

Examing the contemporary impact of the Electoral College speaks volumes for its impact on the office of the presidency. Citizens do not vote directly for the president; instead, they vote for Electoral College representatives who vote for the candidate of their choosing. "Because all electors in a state will generally vote for the presidential candidate that receives the most votes in that state, U.S. presidential campaigns concentrate on winning the popular vote in a combination of states that choose the majority of the electors rather than campaigning to win the most votes nationally" (Wikipedia). Candidates must receive a 270 majority of electoral votes to win the election, and if there is no majority, the decision goes to the House of Representatives. However, there is not always a clear decision: most adults recall the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore-- who had won the popular vote-- where everything depended on the state of Florida. Without Florida, neither candidate had a majority yet with Florida they both did. After careful examination of voting methods within the state and a recount, "the tabulated vote gave Bush a 537 vote lead over Gore; thus giving the state's 25 electoral votes and the presidential election to Bush" (Edwards & Wayne 64). This incident caused widespread skepticism amongst citizens about the Electoral College, and also demonstrated the fact that many people do not understand its significance and the way in which it works.

Presidential hopefuls must convince not only the people, but the electorate. With the tremendous influence exerted by political parties, candidates must campaign relentlessly and rely on careful strategies to secure their nomination. Ideally this creates a powerful president who has the support of their country and their fellow politicians. Yet because of our nation's bi-partisian politics, it is extremely important who controls Congress when it comes to whether the next president will be a Democrat or a Republican. Swing voters are considered especially crucial and their opinions fluctuate based on current issues.

The presidential term is four years, with the possibility of reelection for a total term of eight years, as opposed to a single term of six or seven years. Benefits of this system include the opportunity to elect another president within a relatively short period of time if the current one is not satisfactory. It also requires the president address the needs of his Congress and his country if he hopes to extend his time in office. Drawbacks arise in the sense that a few years does not offer the president to accomplish as much as he could with a longer term. Also, campaigning for re-election distracts from the duties facing the president while still acting as our country's leader.

Four year terms with the opportunity for re-election is the most advantageous for the American people.

WORKS CITED

Edwards, George C & Wayne, Stephen J. Presidential Leadership. Thomson Wadsworth: Belmont, CA. 2006.

"Electoral College." 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Electoral_College