CAP on Elections

Question 1

The electoral college should be reformed as it defies

Answer 1

the popular vote
highlights outdated nature of the constitution

Question 2

examples for the EC defying popular vote

Answer 2

Clinton 48% 2016 3 million more than trump with 46%

Al Gore 48% popular vote compares to Bush 271/226 ecv

Question 3

the electoral college over represents

Answer 3

small states
makes some votes in larger states worthless

Question 4

Examples of states that are over/under represented

Answer 4

Wyoming 3 ecv population 580k
Florida 30 ecv population 22 million
DC 3 ecv population 680k

political power of states is disproportional

Question 5

electoral college excludes

Answer 5

third parties from completing for presidency
often have dispersed support
winner of states takes all ecv apart from Maine and Nebraska

Question 6

examples of EC excluding third parties

Answer 6

Rose Perot 1992 won 19% of popular vote but no ecv
creates a lesser of two evils contest
entrenched two party system - always Democrat or Republican

Question 7

Ec protects against

Answer 7

tyranny of the majority
Founding Fathers did this as they were wary of unrestricted popular vote and new ideas/ideologies so they wrote protections against it

Article 5 allows amendments but is difficult to do

Question 8

examples that show how tyranny of the majority is protected

Answer 8

700 attempts to get rid of EC
Prevents dictatorship - Trump will find it hard to pass policy

Question 9

EV ensures Protection of

Answer 9

smaller states
US popular is concentrated in a few costal states
Sparsely populated stars could be ignored without EC

Question 10

Examples that show how the EC protects small states

Answer 10

in close contests every vote matters
Nevada 2024 swing state 6 ecv but still very important
Democrats safe seats on blue belt, Vermont 3 ecv, New hampshire 3 ecv
New hampshire was a swing state in 2000

All ensures equity of states to elect president

Question 11

EC creates a what type of system and how is this beneficial

Answer 11

Two party system with a clear winner
in all but 2 elections
Winner can then claim mandate

Question 12

Clear winners in elections

Answer 12

Trump 2024 312 ecv and 48% vote

Obama 2012 332 ecv and 51% vote

Question 13

Lengthy process of elections ensures

Answer 13

candidates are resilient and can withstand demands of being president

Question 14

Examples of lengthy process proving candidates are unable to stand

Answer 14

Primaries serve as a “litmus test”
Biden March 2024 that he was too old

Question 15

Positive of increased media attention

Answer 15

allows more access to candidates, debates, nominees to inform public
more people will be educated, aware of candidates and policies

Question 16

examples of media attention informing the public

Answer 16

2011 Rick Perry couldn’t remember the names of the departments he woukd get rid of if he was elected president
He then won than less than 1% of the new hampshire primary

Question 17

disadvantages of media attention

Answer 17

increasing media attention may damage democracy by giving unfair influence to candidates

Question 18

Examples of media attention giving candidates unfair influence

Answer 18

2024 Musks support of Trump allowing the use of X algorithm
promising to pay voters in swing states to get their friends to register

also 2020 5 republican debates where trump did not attend any

Question 19

Primary process protects ?

Answer 19

smaller states by giving them influence over who the candidates are
Primaries and Caucuses - upholds federalism as they can choose which one and choose when they hold it
Iowa/NH also hold first - small states

Question 20

Extended nature of election allows some states to have more/less influence over others, disproportionate

Answer 20

importance of swing states - always most important in comparison to other states

Super Tuesday 15 states 2024, increase prominence over other states

Iowa has first caucus although their population is not representative of the US, outcome may influence other states as the earliest states are vital in securing nomination

Question 21

Advantages of national party conventions

Answer 21

allow candidates to set narrative and define key elements of platform/campaign

Question 22

examples of NPC being effective

Answer 22

2024 Harris stating Trump would bring a national abortion ban
Key element of her campaign
led 4% in polls

Question 23

Negatives of NPC and

Answer 23

lack of debate little detail about policy and soundbites also fake news

Question 24

examples of npc being negative

Answer 24

Kamala 2024 led misleading claims
Trump will not being a abortion ban, states will vote
he will also not limit birth control, this refers to a religious research group who campaign for trump to implement this

Question 25

examples of clear winners and two horse race

Answer 25

27/40 elections from 1864 till now have had clear winners
excluding 1992 1996 2000 2016

Obama 51 - 61
Trump 48 - 312