Why does the U.S. continue to have the Electoral College, despite the problems associated with it?
Im in a political science class and i am missing this answer from my notes. Can someone help me out.
2007-03-07 03:37:04 · 8 answers · asked by skiingfreak99 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
This way every state has a say in the election process. If the vote was decided on popular vote, then the politicians would just need a majority in about 10 of our biggest cities. Everyone else could be ignored.
2007-03-07 03:40:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Originally the Executive had less power than he has today, and the Constitution was an agreement among the independent states. They worked out different arrangements to pick Representatives, Senators and the President and this is what they came up with for President.
Is it silly today? I think so, because I think a lot of individual citizens don't vote simply because their vote "doesn't count."
What you can't do is go back and try to re-write what might have happened in a given election if it were done a different way. Al Gore did not "win the popular vote" in 2000 - there IS no "popular vote" - both sides' stratagies were based on the rules as they were, and nobody knows how many would-be Bush voters or would-be Gore voters didn't vote because their states were solidly red or blue.
2007-03-07 03:48:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To make sure the people (electorate) has no say in the outcome of a Presidential Election. During those times when the public has not been conned by the monarchy the electoral college is used by them to fix your error.
2007-03-07 03:44:14 · answer #3 · answered by Rja 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why we still use this backwards version of democracy when most democratic countries use the parliamentary version of government. The Electoral College system allowed Bush to steal the 2000 election even though Al Gore had the most votes. It's a sham.
2007-03-07 03:44:11 · answer #4 · answered by itsdabigbadwolf 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, because originally we were the United statesof America, rather than the United States of America. It all has to do with states' rights. That is why you can have a President win an election even without the popular vote. The states were much more important than they are today.
2007-03-07 03:42:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a device to keep the people from controlling the government, courtesy, the left-wing liberals.
It is the belief of left-wingers that only the political elite should run the government. Electoral college is one means of seeing to it that they will stay in charge.
2007-03-07 03:43:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Nothing like NY city out voting entire states.
2007-03-07 03:49:14 · answer #7 · answered by JohnFromNC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the Founders deemed it necessary. And they were much smart smarter than you or I.
2007-03-07 03:43:30 · answer #8 · answered by webbrew 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋