2024 MOWW Phoenician SCHOLARSHIP Winners
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The Electoral College; the Conductor of Our Nation’s Political Symphony
Democracy is like a symphony orchestra, where each instrument plays its part. From the quaint ring of the triangle to the powerful sounds of the piano, all instruments must be in balance, or the music will falter. The conductor of this orchestra in the United States of America is the Electoral College. In 1787 the Founding Fathers met in Philadelphia to create The Constitution, which included the Electoral College, a new system of electing the president. The Electoral College allocates a certain number of electors to each state matching its representation in the House of Representatives and Senate. The electors are state-chosen representatives who vote for a given presidential candidate typically based on the popular vote of the state. The Electoral College was chosen over a nationwide popular vote because it carefully considers state interests, avoids majority tyranny, and ensures the delicate balance of power critical to a representative democracy. The Electoral College was specifically designed to ensure that all states remained relevant in the voting process. The number of electors in each state is based on state representation. Each state gets at least three electors, regardless of population. This ensures that sparsely populated states still have an effect on the election. A majority-based voting system, on the other hand, would coax candidates into putting their efforts into highly populated states making less-populated states irrelevant. As James Madison expressed in The Federalist Papers No.39, “The government is to be a republic, which consists of a union of the states.” This was only made possible by ensuring that each state has a stake in the democratic process thus making the Electoral College necessary. A fear among the founding fathers regarding democracy was the “Tyranny of the Majority.” To counter this, the Electoral College was established to ensure that the needs of all groups were addressed. Since a candidate must focus on a state as a whole to influence the electors, they are forced to appeal to rural and urban populations. In contrast, a majority vote influences potential candidates to suit their policies to the majority of urban populations. In effect, the majority would likely have total control over minority voters’ rights, as James Madison warned of in his arguments in The Federalist Papers No. 10. The Electoral College ensures that all groups have a say and that the majority doesn't infringe upon the rights of the minority. The Electoral College was also created as a compromise between the majority and legislative voting systems. The Electoral College allows states to decide how voting commences based on its popular vote, ensuring that the people receive their representation without consolidating too much power. Allowing the legislative branch to conduct voting would grant it excessive power over the executive branch. The electors serve as the legislative compromise. Gordon S. Wood, in The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787, stressed how the founding fathers aimed to balance the power of the people and the need for an executive independent of all other branches. The Electoral College was the best middle ground between the two powers. The equality of the political landscape in the US is only made possible by creating the Electoral College. It is responsible for ensuring that any voter in any state, in a rural or urban area, has an equal opportunity to express their opinion in the government. The Electoral College is the backbone of democracy and the balance of power. Without it, tyranny would ensue. Like a conductor, it ensures that the diverse voices of our nation’s symphony are heard. |
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The Genius of the Electoral College
In 1787, the Founders of the United States faced an important decision regarding how the president should be elected. Instead of adopting a simple majority vote, they opted for the Electoral College, a system outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This wasn’t a random choice; it was a carefully crafted solution to the new republic's challenges. The Founders’ reasons for preferring this system stem from federalism concerns, balancing the power between large and small states, and avoiding potential tyranny by a majority. At the time, the United States was a loose collection of states with their unique interests and concerns. A direct popular vote would have disproportionately benefited the more populated states, leaving smaller ones with little influence in choosing the president. By establishing the Electoral College, the Founders ensured that states retained a significant role in the election process. As seen in Federalist No. 68, Alexander Hamilton supported the Electoral College because it balanced popular input with the structure of federalism. It gave smaller states a voice while acknowledging larger states' size and importance. This compromise protected state sovereignty in a system where national power was also rising. The Founders were also concerned about the dangers of pure democracy, particularly the possibility of "tyranny of the majority." James Madison and others worried that under a direct popular vote system, large factions might dominate political decisions at the expense of the minority. The Electoral College was their way of preventing any one region or group from controlling the country’s highest office. Instead of focusing solely on popular centers of power, presidential candidates must appeal to a broad cross-section of states, promoting a more balanced and inclusive approach to governance. This system forces a more distributed political strategy, rather than just catering to populous urban areas. Another reason the Founders preferred the Electoral College is that it promotes political stability. In a pure popular vote, close elections could lead to disputes and uncertainty. The Electoral College, however, localizes election results, which helps reduce the chances of nationwide disputes over small margins. Moreover, by requiring candidates to win in various states, the system discourages candidates with extreme views who only appeal to certain factions. This built-in need for broad appeal ensures that extremist candidates face difficulty in winning the presidency, helping to keep the political environment more moderate and stable. The decision to use the Electoral College reflected the Founders' deep understanding of the complex challenges of creating a functional and balanced republic. Through this system, they addressed federalism concerns, prevented potential majority tyranny, and created a framework that encourages stability in leadership. Despite its ongoing debate, the Electoral College was a critical part of the Founders’ vision of a balanced and representative government. |
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