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Evolution And Challenges Of The United States Electoral College

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San Diego State University From Compromise to Controversy: The Evolution and Challenges of the United States Electoral College. Maria Sakhnova POL S436: The American Presidency. Prof. Kimberley Fletcher. 21 March. 2024 The Electoral College, as envisioned by the Framers of the Constitution, was intended to serve as a compromise between the presidential election by Congress and the popular vote. However, the practical application of this system has experienced significant challenges, specifically in how states select electors. These changes have steered the institution away from its foundational goals, thereby affecting its effectiveness and the level of democratic representation it provides in American politics. This essay argues …show more content…

Secondly, this paper investigates specific amendments and legislative reforms intended to improve the Electoral College system, focusing specifically on the implications and outcomes of the 12th Amendment. Next, an examination of the fluctuations in state-level electoral methods, highlighting the diverse approaches such as the winner-take-all rule, and the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, will demonstrate their significant impact on the Framers’ intended balance of power. Finally, this paper concludes with an evaluation of how current changes at the state level have impacted the Electoral College’s effectiveness and alignment with the original democratic ideals envisioned by the Founding Fathers. This analysis will explore whether these changes only solve operational challenges within the Electoral College, or if they represent a significant departure from the foundational democratic ideas that the Framers aimed to incorporate into American electoral processes. The Electoral College was established during the 1787 Constitutional Convention in response to disputes over the presidential election process. A faction led by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton sought a federal

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