perhaps the electoral college is reflecting the fact that us is a union of states, and power sharing is the cardinal principle of the constitution. does anyone bother to note that "democracy" is a formal term to be speeld out in different ways?
On Tue, 7 Dec 2010, Veronica Caley wrote:
Robert: "The Constitution does not require that presidents be elected by
a majority of the electorate; it does not even require that they be
elected by a plurality."
Which is why it is not all that democratic. The electoral college is to keep the
majority from making a "mistake."
Veronica Caley
Milford, MI
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Paul
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 10:37 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Giving Thanksgiving/Adorno and TAP
Omar wrote
I mean, I would think that what distinguishes an authoritatian
presidential system like the one in the US from dictatorship is the fact that
the US president rules with the consent of at
least the majority of the populace. If this circumstance were removed,
it would be a dictatorship then. Conversely, if Saddam Hussain had been
genuinely elected by the majority of Iraqis, he would not then have been a
dictator but an authoritarian president.
I'm not sure why you call the US form of government 'an authoritarian presidential
system.' It isn't "authoritarian' in any ordinary sense of that word. Laws are
passed by Congress and approved (or vetoed) by the president, although Congress may
in turn override a veto by a vote of at least 2/3rds of both houses. The president
appoints federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, but those nominated must
be approved by Congress. The Supreme Court can overturn presidential directives
(which are not voted on beforehand) such as Roosevelt's Executive Order 90662, which
called for the internment of persons of Japanese descent living west of the Rockie
Mountains. (In this case the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality.) A
president may be impeached or removed from office on other grounds by
Congress (or, I imagine, by the criminal justice system). And so on.
The Constitution does not require that presidents be elected by a majority of
the electorate; it does not even require that they be elected by a plurality.
See e.g. http://tinyurl.com/69yk5q
Robert Paul.
not running for anything
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