Electoral process and direct democracy

Question 1

How effective is the US electoral system?
- effective

Answer 1

• huge number of elections, more participation
• majoritarian system so clear single party control
• electoral system reflects federal nature of US
• primaries and caucuses enable voters to play a role in selecting candidates
• EC reinforces federal nature to make sure smaller states are not overlooked

Question 2

How effective is the US electoral system?
- not effective

Answer 2

• voter fatigue as soo many elections
• electoral system favours two party system
• two parties often control one chamber each, gridlock more common
• electoral manipulation, gerrymandering
• primaries and caucuses encourages division in parties
• electoral distortion with EC which can exaggerate power of smaller states

Question 3

Primary and caucus system
- advantages

Answer 3

• boosts opportunities for participation
• allows political outsider to run, Trump
• in democracy better to let people choose
• road test candidates abilities to raise money etc
• caucuses enable ordinary voters to discuss candidates

Question 4

Primary and caucus system
- disadvantages

Answer 4

• increases focus on candidate as opposed to party or policies
• outsiders lack the DC connections
• 35% of voters said primaries are a good way of selecting nominees
• turn out low
• add to cost and length of campaigns
• bring out strong ideological turnout so skewed results

Question 5

Should the electoral college be abolished?
- yes

Answer 5

• winner of popular vote can fail to be elected, Gore 2000
• exaggerates margins of victory, 1984 Reagan won 59% of vote but 97% of ECVs
• smaller states overrepresented, California one ECV per 712,000 people, Wyoming has one ECV per 195,000 people
• encourages candidates to only campaign in swing states
• faithless electors
• winner takes all depresses turnout + third parties = wasted vote
• 61% supported abolition

Question 6

Should the electoral college be abolished?
- no

Answer 6

• reflects federal nature of USA
• nationwide vote would lead to campaigning in just urban areas
• faithless electors never affected outcome

Question 7

Should US campaign finance be regulated?
- yes

Answer 7

• 2020 out of control spending, over $14 billion
• emphasis of fundraising distracts HoR from job
• cost of election means only wealthy can afford to enter politics (Bloomburg, Trumo)
• SC rule of citizen united added to problem of spending
• many loopholes in system

Question 8

Should US campaign finance be regulated?
- no

Answer 8

• fundraising and donations are a crucial part of democracy
• political donation are free market, citizens united 2010 1st amendment
• donations come with transparency and disclosure
• whatever reforms are passed wealthy will find loopholes

Question 9

How well does direct democracy work in the USA?
- well

Answer 9

• allows voters to have a direct say in framing laws, purer democracy
• allows variation in laws between states
• improves state level accountability
• adds additional check and balance to state exec
• increases opportunities for participation

Question 10

How well does direct democracy work in the USA?
- not well

Answer 10

• tyranny of the majority (driving tests only in english)
• adds another opportunity for stalemate
• inconsistencies in laws between states
• promotes democratic overload
• turnout is low
• ordinary voters may not fully understand complex laws