Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More The Electoral College
Sep 30, 2020
The Electoral College faces scrutiny every four years, yet few know its fascinating history. Discover how it was designed, the framers' original intentions, and recent challenges surrounding its function. Dive into controversies where presidents won without the popular vote. The podcast also explores bold reforms, including changing the size of the House of Representatives and tackling the issue of faithless electors. It's a captivating look at a system that shapes American democracy, one election at a time.
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Purpose And Design Of The Electoral College
- The Electoral College is an indirect election mechanism created to mirror Congress while keeping the branches independent.
- It was designed to prevent quid pro quo and concentrate the presidential selection in a single-purpose body of electors.
Early Flaw Produced Opposing Leaders
- The original system awarded the presidency to the top vote-getter and the vice presidency to the runner-up, which caused inter-party conflict.
- The 12th Amendment fixed the problem after Adams and Jefferson served in opposing roles.
How Practice Diverged From Framers' Expectations
- Founders expected electors to be knowledgeable independents who'd deliberate, but states instead used winner-take-all slates.
- Only Maine and Nebraska still use district-based elector allocation like the framers envisioned.