Understanding the American Election Process

Jul 16, 2024

Understanding the American Election Process

Introduction

  • Importance of the choice between political parties.
  • Confusion and irrelevance felt by non-Americans regarding the US elections.
  • The symbolic significance of blue (Democrats) and red (Republicans).
  • Influence of US elections on a global scale.

Explanation of the 2016 Elections

  • Hillary Clinton received more votes than Trump (66M vs. 63M).
  • Trump won due to the Electoral College system.
  • Historical precedents of similar outcomes in the US elections (e.g., 1876, 1888, 2000).

Electoral College System

  • US elections rely on the Electoral College, not direct popular vote.
  • 538 delegates are responsible for voting and choosing the president.
  • Example from the 2016 election:
    • Trump: 304 delegates
    • Hillary: 227 delegates
  • Delegates represent individual states rather than the nationwide popular vote.

Historical Context

  • The formation of the Electoral College dates back to the late 18th century.
  • Articles of Confederation and the need for a Congress to represent a growing population.
  • Issues of representation: larger vs. smaller states.
  • The Connecticut Compromise:
    • House of Representatives: based on population.
    • Senate: equal representation for all states.

Establishing a Presidential Election Method

  • Concerns about a too powerful president.
  • Need for balance between state and federal authority.
  • The concept of separation of powers:
    • Legislative: Congress
    • Executive: President
    • Judiciary: Courts
  • Initial suggestions considered:
    • Congress choosing the president?
    • State legislatures choosing the president?

Compromise Solution: Electoral College

  • Electoral College balances direct voting and state involvement.
  • Each state's representation in the Electoral College based on Senators + House Representatives.
  • Over time, the system has encountered issues and changes to expand voting rights.

Evolution of Voting Rights

  • Initially limited to wealthy, free white men (6% of the population).
  • Enslaved people were counted as three-fifths of a person for Congressional representation.
  • Expanded voting rights in the 19th and 20th centuries:
    • 14th Amendment: Citizenship to all born/naturalized in the USA.
    • 15th Amendment: Voting rights to Black men.
    • 19th Amendment: Women's suffrage.
    • The struggle for African American suffrage continued into the 1960s.
    • Literacy tests, poll taxes, and other barriers used to disenfranchise Black voters.

The Nomination Process

  • Presidential candidates must be born in the USA, ≥35 years old.
  • Two major political parties dominate: Democrats and Republicans.
  • Other parties exist (e.g., Green Party) but have less influence.

Primary Elections and Caucuses

  • States have different systems for primary elections (closed vs. open).
  • Important states like Iowa and New Hampshire play a pivotal role.
  • The primaries help filter out weaker candidates.
  • Examples from past elections where early caucuses influenced final outcomes: Obama in Iowa (2008).

National Conventions and Superdelegates

  • Parties hold national conventions to nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
  • Superdelegates (party leaders) have a significant influence.
  • Historical example: 1968 Democratic primary and Hubert Humphrey.

General Election Process

  • Delegates in the Electoral College cast the electoral votes for the president.
  • 'Winner-Take-All' rule: Delegates from a state vote based on the state majority.
  • Faithless Electors: rare but notable cases where delegates vote against the voters' mandate.

Swing States Influence

  • Certain swing states (Michigan, Pennsylvania) control election outcomes due to their unpredictability.
  • Voter turnout and campaign efforts focused more in swing states.

Criticism and Modernization

  • The Electoral College creates a discrepancy between national popular vote and election outcome.
  • Frequent proposals for reform but major changes have not been implemented.
  • Ongoing debate about moving to a direct popular vote system.
  • Issues of small vs. large state influence and fairness.

Conclusion

  • American election system is evolving but complex.
  • It affects not only Americans but has global implications, especially in the Middle East.
  • Need for continued improvements and understanding the historical contexts behind the system.

Final Thought

  • Political reforms should aim at better representation and fairness.
  • The complexity of the American election system serves as both its strength and its flaw.