THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume VII, Issue # 71, April 5, 2005
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VERSUS MOB RULE
By Dr. Ron Paul
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE & ITS FUNCTION IN THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL FEDERAL REPUBLIC: WHY THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION PROVIDES FOR ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT BY THE FIFTY STATES THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF THE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE, RATHER THAN BY A NATIONWIDE DIRECT POPULAR VOTE -- HOW THE U.S. CONSTITUTION PROVIDES
SAFEGUARDS AGAINST MAJORITARIAN DICTATORSHIP & POPULAR TYRANNY IN AMERICAN NATIONAL POLITICS
FULL STORY:
Just after the closely contested presidential election of 2000, when one candidate lost the overall popular vote, but won a majority of
the votes in the Electoral College, thereby winning the election and becoming President of the United States, we were bombarded
with calls for a federal constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College and provide for election of the President by direct
nationwide popular vote. Liberal Leftist pundits argued that is "undemocratic" to deny the Presidency to the candidate who receives
the most popular votes.
This argument, however, is hostile to the United States Constitution, which expressly established the United States of America, not
as a centralized unitary state and direct democracy characterized by absolute and untrammeled rule by a nationwide popular majority,
but as a constitutional federal republic with a national government of constitutionally limited powers. The American Founding
Fathers sought to protect certain fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech, against the changing whims of popular opinion.
Similarly, they created the Electoral College to guard against majority tyranny in national elections. The President was to be elected by
the member-states of the American federal union, rather than by the American people directly, a constitutional arrangement designed
to ensure that less populated states had a voice in national elections. This is why the Founders blended Electoral College votes
between U.S. House seats, which are based on population, and U.S. Senate seats, which are accorded equally to each state. The goal
was to balance the inherent tension between majority will and and minority interests, to temper majority rule with protection of
minority rights. Those who wish to abolish the Electoral College because it’s not purely or absolutely democratic would, if consistent
and intellectually honest, carry their argument to its logical conclusion and maintain that less populated states like Rhode Island and
Wyoming do not deserve two U.S. senators.
A presidential campaign in a purely democratic system would look very strange indeed, as any rational candidate would focus only
on a few big population centers. A candidate receiving a large percentage of the popular vote in California, Texas, Florida and New
York, for example, could win the Presidency with very little support in dozens of other states. Moreover, a popular vote system
would only intensify political pandering, as national candidates would face even greater pressure than they face today to take
empty, middle-of-the-road, poll-tested, mainstream positions. Direct democracy in national politics would further dilute regional
differences of opinion on issues, further narrow voter choices, and further emasculate political courage.
Those who call for the abolition of the Electoral College are hostile to liberty. Not surprisingly, most advocates of abolition are
statist elites concentrated largely on the east and west coasts. These political, economic, academic, media, and legal elites
overwhelmingly favor a strong, centralized national government, and express contempt for the federalist concept of states’ rights
and a central government of constitutionally limited powers. They believe in omnipotent national power, with the states acting as
mere glorified administrative provinces carrying out commands from Washington.
The Electoral College threatens the imperial aims of these elites because it allows the individual states to elect the President, and,
in many states, the voters still believe in the U.S. Constitution, federalism, limited government, and a republican form of
government. Voters in Southern, Midwestern, and Western states – derided as “flyover” country – tend to value family, religion,
individual liberty, property rights, and gun rights. Washington elites abhor these values, and they hate it that middle and rural
America hold any political power whatsoever. Their efforts to discredit the Electoral College system are an open attack on the
voting power of the Conservative, pro-liberty states.
Sadly, we have forgotten that the states created the national government, not the other way around. The Electoral College
system represents an attempt, however effective, to limit national power and preserve states’ rights. It is an essential part
of our federalist balance. It also represents a reminder that pure democracy -- mob rule, or unlimited majority rule -- is
incompatible with liberty.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
American Government & the U.S. Presidency
American Government -- Constitutional System
The Constitution of the United States of America
The American Political System:
Politics & Government in the U.S.A.
The American Constitutional System -- Origins:
English Antecedents
The American Constitutional System -- Origins:
Colonial & Early American Antecedents
The American Constitutional System -- Origins:
The Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787
The American Constitutional System -- Origins:
The U.S. Constitution -- Ratification & Adoption
The American Constitutional System -- Origins:
The U.S. Constitution -- The Scheme of National Government
The American Constitutional System -- Principal Characteristics:
Constitutionalism, Republicanism, Separation of Powers,
Checks & Balances, Legislative Bicameralism,
& Balanced Government
The American Constitutional System -- Principal Characteristics:
Federalism -- Fedural Union of States
The U.S. Constitution -- Underlying Political Theory:
The Federalist -- Selected Essays
Dr. Ron Paul is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, elected from and representing the Fourteenth
Congressional District of Texas. Congressman Paul is considered to be one of America's leading spokesmen for constitutional
government, the rule of law, liberty under law, the private enterprise system,, free market economics, sound monetary policy, and
fiscal restraint on the part of the U.S. national government.
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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