Enlightened Democracy

by Ross, Tara; Will, George

• ISBN13: 9780977072224
• ISBN10: 0977072223
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-09-03
• Publisher: Colonial Pr L P

Summary

Pick up a newspaper and read about the Electoral College. It is a sure recipe to losing respect for the institution. Media commentators are swift to dismiss the institution as outdated and elitist, an anachronism that should be replaced by a direct popular vote. In recent years, this discontent has found a voice as a well-funded, California-based effort seeks to bypass the constitutional amendment process and effectively eliminate the Electoral College through a series of state laws.& ; & ; Such efforts to eliminate the Electoral College are misguided, and this book shows why. Written in straightforward language, Enlightened Democracy traces the history of the Electoral College from the Constitutional Convention to the present. This second edition of the book is revised and expanded to include a new section about the National Popular Vote legislative effort. After reading this book the case is clear: The Electoral College protects our republic and promotes our liberty. Americans should defend their unique presidential election system at all costs. They will be defending their own freedom.

Author Biography

Tara Ross is a lawyer and a co-author of Under God: George Washington and the Question of Church and State. Her work has been published in numerous venues, including the National Law Journal, USA Today, National Review Online, WeeklyStandard.com, FoxNews.com, and The Washington Times. She obtained her B.A. from Rice University and her J.D. from the University of Taxes School of Law. She is a former Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Review of Law Politics.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
The Origins of the Electoral College
An American Balancing Act	p. 15
The Great Compromise	p. 27
The Constitution's Election Process	p. 41
An 18th-Century Solution for the 21st Century
A Rapidly Changing Society	p. 55
The Benefits of Federalism	p. 67
Moderation and Compromise	p. 81
Stability and Certainty in Elections	p. 97
Refuting Remaining Criticisms
The Faithless Elector Problem	p. 109
The Contingent Election	p. 121
Concerns About Legitimacy	p. 133
Alternative Proposals	p. 141
The National Popular Vote Plan
NPV's Attack on the Electoral College	p. 151
Logistical Problems with NPV	p. 157
Legal Problems with NPV	p. 169
The Electoral College in Action
Successful Results Over the Years	p. 187
Harrison & Bush: Narrow Victories	p. 197
Roosevelt & Reagan: Landslide Victories	p. 211
Conclusion	p. 221
Selected Constitutional Provisions	p. 225
Election Results: 1789-2008	p. 229
Notes	p. 235
Index	p. 277
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