Overview
This lecture examines the evolution of representative government in the United States, focusing on the Constitution’s provisions, voting rights, and current issues like voter ID laws and gerrymandering.
Origins of Representative Government
- The framers designed Congress as the first branch to represent the people, but only the House was directly elected by voters.
- Initially, senators and presidents were not chosen by popular vote; state legislatures selected senators, and the Electoral College chose the president.
- The Great Compromise created a bicameral Congress: House representation by population (direct vote), and two senators per state (chosen by legislatures).
Early Changes and Expanding Democracy
- Critics like Jefferson argued the people had too little power and advocated for term limits and more direct elections.
- Andrew Jackson promoted greater democracy by eliminating property requirements for voting and tying electoral votes to popular vote outcomes.
- The 17th Amendment later established the direct election of senators, responding to corruption in state legislatures.
Voting Rights and Restrictions
- The original Constitution let states set voting rules, leading to property, gender, and racial exclusions.
- The 15th Amendment prohibited racial discrimination, but Southern states used tactics like literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses to disenfranchise Black voters.
- The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the 24th Amendment ended most race-based restrictions and poll taxes.
Voter Registration and Turnout
- US government places responsibility for registration on individuals, unlike most European democracies where it is automatic.
- The Motor Voter Act (1993) made registration easier by allowing it during DMV and public assistance visits, mainly benefiting Democrats, but also increased Republican registrants.
- Voter turnout in the US is low compared to other democracies, especially among lower-income and minority groups.
Voter ID Laws and Modern Restrictions
- Voter ID laws, introduced mainly by Republican state legislatures, require photo identification and disproportionately impact poor, young, and minority voters.
- Supreme Court decisions have generally upheld voter ID laws but struck down those with proven discriminatory intent.
- Evidence shows voter fraud is extremely rare, but ID laws can modestly suppress turnout among disadvantaged groups.
Gerrymandering and Redistricting
- Partisan gerrymandering manipulates district boundaries to advantage the majority party, making many House races uncompetitive.
- The Supreme Court has mostly avoided intervening, except in extreme or discriminatory cases.
- Some states use nonpartisan commissions for redistricting, but most legislatures retain control.
The Electoral College
- The president is chosen by electoral votes, not the national popular vote, benefitting smaller states.
- The Electoral College remains due to the difficulty of amending the Constitution, despite repeated attempts to abolish it.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Great Compromise — Agreement creating a two-chamber Congress: House (by population), Senate (equal per state).
- Electoral College — System where electors chosen by states select the president.
- 17th Amendment — Established direct election of U.S. senators by voters.
- 15th Amendment — Prohibits voting discrimination based on race.
- Voting Rights Act — 1965 law prohibiting racial discrimination in voting.
- Motor Voter Act — 1993 law allowing voter registration at DMVs and public assistance agencies.
- Gerrymandering — Drawing electoral district boundaries to favor one party.
- Voter ID Laws — Laws requiring government-issued identification to vote.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on the question: Which is a bigger threat to democracy—officials setting rules or public disengagement?
- Review the constitutional amendments and court cases discussed.
- Prepare for class discussion on the impact of current voting laws and redistricting practices.