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Summary Debates around the US constitution - notes
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DEBATES AROUND THE US CONSTITUTIONTHE EXTENT OF DEMOCRACY WITHIN THE US CONSITITUTION
The founding fathers were far from advocates of democracy in its purest form.
Sceptical for idealist reasons
Madison - belief that it would allow the 'rights of the minor party [to] become insecure' and for selfish
reasons.
They were all men, privileged and educated, slave-owners and most wealthy - so they had mistrust in
popular democracy.
Constitution 1787 - does not always reflect the 21st century understanding of democracy.
Limits on democracy in the constitution:
The Electoral College - by having an indirect method of election for the president, the direct influence of the
public was limited and could be overturned by the electors.
An originally appointed senate - while the house of representatives was to be elected, the senate was to be
appointed by state govts. This was especially important when the individual powers of the senate are taken
into account, giving this unelected branch considerable influence.
Equal representation for the states - while having 2 senators per state served to ensure that small states
could not be ignored, it meant that larger populations were essentially undervalued by the state.
The three-fifths compromise - with the number of congressmen being allocated in part on population, large
slave-owning states were keen for slaves to be counted, but not as whole people. The three-fifths
compromise valued slaves at three-fifths of a person.
The role of supermajorities - while these were meant to ensure a simple majority could not by tyrannous
over the minority, they allow either for complete ignorance of a smaller minority's view, or for a small
minority to stall major constitutional process.
2000 Election - Electoral College (backwards)
Poor areas support less polling stations
Geographical inequality
Republics more likely to turn out
Democrats at disadvantage as they usually live in poorer democratic areas.
Hanging Chad - poor areas, too many people per voting station, Florida and Lawyers
The governor of Florida was Jeb Bush - GEORGE BUSH'S BROTHER - AL GORE SHOULD HAVE WON
Shows that state can decide to run elections how they want - campaign by republicans to disenfranchise
voters
Republicans want low turnout
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