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So how does your government work?
SeaMonkey:
Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of its U.S. senators (2 in each state) plus the number of its U.S. representatives, which varies according to the state's population.
This is the same divistion of power that the legislative branch has, as it is BASED on their population, for the state in which the electors are formed.
In other words, if one is fair, then they both are. If you are going to do away with one, then it would follow your arguments for doing so would also do away with the other.
It is built on the idea that not only do we have individual power, but that the state, by virtue of their existance, have a certain level of sovereingty that gives the state its self a level of voting power. (As is also the case with the entire legislative branch.)
These electors are charged with casting their votes, with the will of the people in their representitive state.
This process smooths out perterbations, and also gives a clearer winner. It also protects the incumbant from errors on the state popular vote level, after the fact, as he/she was not actually elected by those votes.
It also protects the future from dictatorship.
Hamilton wrote in the Federalist Papers:
--- Quote ---It was equally desirable, that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station, and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice. A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations. It was also peculiarly desirable to afford as little opportunity as possible to tumult and disorder. This evil was not least to be dreaded in the election of a magistrate, who was to have so important an agency in the administration of the government as the President of the United States. But the precautions which have been so happily concerted in the system under consideration, promise an effectual security against this mischief.
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I am not a Hamilton fan, and do not completely agree with his statements, but his point is well taken.
Abolition of this institution takes voices away from the people who need it most. Blacks and gays would be the biggest hit in a popular vote. Blacks are 7% or less than the popular vote, and gay issues take a HUGE bashing on popular votes, in the U.S.
California is the perfect model of why some votes should not be popular votes, but rather voted by representitives, charged with that duty. They have so many voter initiatives, they could not pay for them all if they were all to actually take effect. Some of their voter initiatives conflict with each other. This is what the founding fathers called "the excesses of majoritarianism".
Who would listen to anything Wyoming had to say, if not for the electorial college? You would have a state without voice. (More than one, actually, you would have three or four states with a voice.)
The main argument I hear for doing away with it is, "But that means we are not a TRUE DEMOCRACY!"
True. The word democracy doesn't appear in the U.S. Constituion. We are a republic. We were always a republic. (And to the REPUBLIC, for which it stands.....)
And now a break-down of the other terms I used to describe the U.S. Government:
--- Quote ---Our executive branch is the President. He appoints judges, and signs legislation.
The power of the executive branch is vested in the President, who also serves as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The President appoints the Cabinet and oversees the various agencies and departments of the federal government.
In order for a person to become President, he or she must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, be at least 35 years of age, and have resided in the United States for at least 14 years. Once elected, the President serves a term of four years and may be re-elected only once.
Our judicial branch interprets law. Term is maxed by human life span.
The judicial branch hears cases that challenge or require interpretation of the legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President. It consists of the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts. Appointees to the federal bench serve for life or until they voluntarily resign or retire. The Supreme Court is the most visible of all the federal courts. The number of Justices is determined by Congress rather than the Constitution, and since 1869, the Court has been composed of one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. Justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The legislative branch creates law.
The legislative branch of the federal government consists of the Congress, which is divided into two chambers (Term is either 2 or 6 years. ) -- the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each member of Congress is elected by the people of his or her state. The House of Representatives, with membership based on state populations. Members of the House of Representatives are elected for two-year terms, and Senators are elected for six-year terms.
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missioncontrol:
Are you allowed to put Government and work in the same sentence? ;)
Stingray:
Q: So how does your government work?
A: Poorly
-S
Dexter:
--- Quote from: SeaMonkey on February 22, 2005, 12:48:10 pm ---A system that is so uniquely fair, it could only be American.
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ROTFLMAO!! Thanks for that, I needed a good howl. I was actually going to rent a comedy DVD but I think I've had my ration for the day
SeaMonkey:
--- Quote from: menace on February 22, 2005, 08:52:22 am ---(no flaming others--there are enough other threads for that).
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