CAP on Elections Flashcards
The electoral college should be reformed as it defies
the popular vote
highlights outdated nature of the constitution
examples for the EC defying popular vote
Clinton 48% 2016 3 million more than trump with 46%
Al Gore 48% popular vote compares to Bush 271/226 ecv
the electoral college over represents
small states
makes some votes in larger states worthless
Examples of states that are over/under represented
Wyoming 3 ecv population 580k
Florida 30 ecv population 22 million
DC 3 ecv population 680k
political power of states is disproportional
electoral college excludes
third parties from completing for presidency
often have dispersed support
winner of states takes all ecv apart from Maine and Nebraska
examples of EC excluding third parties
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
Ec protects against
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
examples that show how tyranny of the majority is protected
700 attempts to get rid of EC
Prevents dictatorship - Trump will find it hard to pass policy
EV ensures Protection of
smaller states
US popular is concentrated in a few costal states
Sparsely populated stars could be ignored without EC
Examples that show how the EC protects small states
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
EC creates a what type of system and how is this beneficial
Two party system with a clear winner
in all but 2 elections
Winner can then claim mandate
Clear winners in elections
Trump 2024 312 ecv and 48% vote
Obama 2012 332 ecv and 51% vote
Lengthy process of elections ensures
candidates are resilient and can withstand demands of being president
Examples of lengthy process proving candidates are unable to stand
Primaries serve as a “litmus test”
Biden March 2024 that he was too old
Positive of increased media attention
allows more access to candidates, debates, nominees to inform public
more people will be educated, aware of candidates and policies
examples of media attention informing the public
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
disadvantages of media attention
increasing media attention may damage democracy by giving unfair influence to candidates
Examples of media attention giving candidates unfair influence
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
Primary process protects ?
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
Extended nature of election allows some states to have more/less influence over others, disproportionate
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
Advantages of national party conventions
allow candidates to set narrative and define key elements of platform/campaign
examples of NPC being effective
2024 Harris stating Trump would bring a national abortion ban
Key element of her campaign
led 4% in polls
Negatives of NPC and
lack of debate little detail about policy and soundbites also fake news
examples of npc being negative
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
examples of clear winners and two horse race
27/40 elections from 1864 till now have had clear winners
excluding 1992 1996 2000 2016
Obama 51 - 61
Trump 48 - 312
