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Why did the framers of the constitution create the electoral college to choose the president?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
There was considerable debate about how the chief executive was to be selected, but the electoral college was finally settled on as a compromise between those who wanted pure popular vote and those who wanted state legislatures to choose. The popular vote was turned down largely because, due to lack of widespread communications ability, the voters in each state would pick a regional local, not knowing anything about central figures [after the founding fathers would have passed on], so that regionalism multiplied by 13 would always result in the most populous states deciding the presidency. The electoral college at least gave some weighted influence to the smaller states.
This reason for the electoral college has now died with the growth of communications and political parties, and the demise of state sovereignty interests. And, with the increased size of the population and Congress, just 11 states now have enough electoral votes to decide the election, so the advantage has swung away from the smaller states.
Another reason for the College was that if states submitted direct votes, they might possibly be inflated, or manipulated. The electoral college limited the influence of a state or group of states, while still giving some advantage by population. Thomas Jefferson himself benefited from the 3/5 Compromise which used slaves to increase the electoral votes of Virginia and other Southern states.
Fear of Mob Democracy
Some writers of the Constitution felt that the common citizen would be both less-informed and more easily influenced as voters, and so the US Senators were initially chosen by state legislatures. Similarly, the early electors were known representatives of their parties and states (while not being candidates themselves) and were considered less likely to be influenced. Eventually, in all but two states, all electors for a state were from the same party.
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoMany people could not read or write at the time the constitution was written. They were also poorly informed on matters of the day because there was no media to speak of. Thus the framers of the Constitution felt that the election of the President should be placed in the handsof a few who knew the candidates and what each represented.
Wiki User
∙ 5y agoThey believed that ordinary people didn't have the intelligence, education, and experience to pick the best leaders.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe didn't think that the people would be able to make a wise choice for President.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoThey did not trust the judgment of the common people in electing the President
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What was the purpose of the Electoral College when the Framers wrote the Constitution?
What was the purpose of the Electoral College when the Framers wrote the Constitution?
What were the three methods of presidential election discussed by the framers of the Constitution?
The three methods of presidential election discussed by the framers of the Constitution include using electoral college, simply selecting the president, and electing directly. As of 2014, the president is elected using the electoral college.
Why did the framers of the constitution not include the direct election of the president?
They instead used an electoral college to prevent a majority mob rule
The framers of the Constitution intended to create a presidency capable of what?
The framers wanted a presidency that could withstand intense popular pressure. It set out to accomplish this by having the president elected via the electoral college.
What were three method of presidential election discussed by the framers?
The three methods of the presidential election discussed by the framers of the Constitution were; Congressional selection, direct vote of the people and electoral college. In the end electoral college won out.
The Electoral College was included in the Constitution primarily because the Framers believed that .?
General public might be swayed by a charismatic leader.
The Electoral College was included in the Constitution primarily because the Framers believed that __________.?
General public might be swayed by a charismatic leader.
Electoral College was included in the Constitution primarily because the Framers believed that?
General public might be swayed by a charismatic leader.
How does the way the electoral college functions today differ from the framaers' intentions?
The way the electoral college functions today differs from the Framers intentions because the electors are just used as "rubber stamps." They are expected to vote automatically for their party's candidates for President and Vice President. In short, the electors go through the form set out in the constitution in order to meet the letter of the Constitution, but their behavior is a far cry from its original intent.
Why did the Framers of the Constitution not want to have the President selected by Congress?
They wanted the President to be elected by the people of the United States. In a compromise (Remember, the Constitution is a bundle of compromises), they Founding Fathers decided to have an "Electoral College," a group of common civilians who's sole purpose for being elected is to go and elect the President. Of course, in this day and age, with technology making a popular vote of the President much more practical, many people advocate the abolishment of the Electoral College. They argue that the popular vote should elect the President, rather than the people who elect the President.
How did the Electoral College show what the Framers thought about the idea of people electing the President?
The electoral college would show the basic plan of government that was created over 200 years ago. The electoral college was a group of electors, who selected the president. And each state legislaturecould determine how that state's electors would be chosen. Hopefully that helps, i got it out of my textbook :)
How have party conventions and time changed this original role of the Electoral College?
The parties have converted the electoral college, the group that makes the formal selection of the nation's president, from what the framers intended into a "rubber stamp" for each state's popular vote in presidential elections.
