robert alexander electoral college

It is unlikely to witness constitutional change in the near future. What role do electors play in American democracy? It will be front and center Wednesday when the Supreme Court hears arguments concerning a seemingly small but essential part of the complicated process we use to select the president and vice-president of the United States. This outstanding work is an excellent primer for those who wish to unpack the core elements of the Electoral College and come to grips with this antidemocratic aspect of America's struggling democracy.-" -- Michael A. Genovese, President, Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University, "This well-written and accessible work, sure to be a hit with students, offers revealing interviews with electors who struggled over whether to support the unpopular presidential candidates endorsed by their home states-an issue that will certainly arise again.-" -- Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science, University of Mary Washington, "Both proponents and opponents of the Electoral College will find that Alexander offers a balanced view. Representation and the Electoral College Robert M. Alexander Abstract. These electors are selected by their parties and the office is typically seen as a reward for devoted party service. Robert Alexander . About six weeks after the election, electors meet in their respective state capitols to cast their votes for president and vice-president. (CNN)The Electoral College continues to be perhaps the most maligned feature in our Constitution. In the, In the weeks prior to the meeting of the Electoral College in 2016, the so-called, Although Hillary Clinton had won the popular vote, members of the Hamilton movement were not looking to select her as the president. If the Supreme Court is to remain faithful to the Constitution, it is likely it will permit the continued existence of faithless electors. Opinion by Robert Alexander 11/3/2020. UNE Center for Global Humanities and its founding director, Anouar Majid, host Robert Alexander on "American Democracy and the Electoral College." First, the position of elector could be eliminated. https://global.oup.com/academic/covers/pop-up/9780190939427, Oxford Scholarly Editions Online - Medieval Poetry, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online, The European Society of Cardiology Series, Oxford Research Encyclopedias: Global Public Health, Museums, Libraries, & Information Sciences, Oxford Handbooks Online: Political Science, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Philosophical Foundations of Constitutional Law, Presents never-before-published surveys of presidential electors from the 2016 election, Includes an in-depth analysis of the 2016 election in the context of the Electoral College, Collects the most robust treatment of the Electoral College in over a decade, Proposes the thesis that it should be acknowledged that the "original Electoral College" diverges from the "evolved Electoral College", provides a more objective account of the Electoral College, nesting its analysis in the context of how it performs relative to norms of representation, His research was cited during oral arguments before the US Supreme Court in Electoral College cases. The purpose of the study is to help readers understand the ways in which the institution does or does not align with expectations relating to representative democracy. Robert M. Alexander is a professor of political science at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. -- Lilly Goren, New Books Network, "Alexander provides a thorough, thoughtful, balanced analysis, carefully and engagingly shedding light on the multiple ways the Electoral College affects the nature of representation in the US. DedicationAcknowledgments Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Theories of RepresentationChapter 3: The Founding and Evolution of the Electoral CollegeChapter 4: Federalism and the Electoral CollegeChapter 5: The Popular Vote and Misfires in the Electoral CollegeChapter 6: Presidential Electors as Agents of RepresentationChapter 7: Alexander Hamilton and the 2016 ElectionChapter 8: Reform Efforts and Thoughts on the Electoral College. They are frequently lobbied to use their discretion, and many consider doing so. During this time, we have made some of our learning resources freely accessible. Still, regardless of the court's ruling, few will agree with Hamilton that if the Electoral College is ", "Representation and the Electoral College.". View Robert Alexander’s profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. In the last election, ten electors sought to exercise their independence. Should the Electoral College exist at all? Learn more about these useful resources on our COVID-19 page. Representation and the Electoral College Robert M. Alexander. Christopher Suprun, a Republican elector from Texas offered an, Suprun and fellow Texas elector Bill Greene were the only two Republicans to. This is an essential volume for students and scholars of the American presidency and an insightful read for the interested citizen" -- Terri Towner, Associate Professor of Political Science, Oakland University. The Founding and Evolution of the Electoral College The Founding and Evolution of the Electoral College Chapter: (p.45) 3 The Founding and Evolution of the Electoral College Source: Representation and the Electoral College Author(s): Robert M. Alexander Publisher: Oxford University Press The fact is that the Electoral College created by the Framers bears little resemblance to the process we now have. At the outset, I indicated how resilient the Electoral College has been to change. This title is available as an ebook. If advocates of the Electoral College wish to hold true to the original body, then they should be fine with independent electors and have no problem giving up their right to vote for president. In the 2016 United States presidential election, ten members of the Electoral College voted or attempted to vote for a candidate different from the ones to whom they were pledged. It would also be more consistent with the evolved Electoral College process that we have today, in which electors are expected to vote in line with the popular result. Drawing on historical primary source materials, original surveys of presidential electors, and previous scholarly work, Alexander explores the Founders' design of and original intent for the Electoral College and looks at how the institution has consistently evolved away from its origins. Please contact our Customer Service Team if you have any questions. In exploring the origin, development, and practice of the Electoral College, this study also presents the most extensive analysis of presidential electors to date. Federalism is a key focus. It is "a means to vent," says Robert Alexander, a political scientist at Ohio Northern University and Electoral College expert. Instead, they suggested that electors could band together to select a unity candidate. As a global organization, we, like many others, recognize the significant threat posed by the coronavirus. Representation and the Electoral College Robert M. Alexander. -- M. D. Brewer, University of Maine, CHOICE, "Every decade or so there is an important new book on the Electoral College. Robert Alexander, a political science professor and author of 'Representation and the Electoral College', discusses faithless electors and their impact in an election. In my. Alexander frames the book with the theoretical … Will Hamilton electors throw away their shot? Much confusion surrounds this institution, in large part because of how the original Electoral College varies from its contemporary counterpart, the evolved Electoral College. Nearly 800 proposals have been made to amend or abolish the Electoral College, and its divisiveness raises many questions. Follow him on Twitter: @onuprof. Three of these votes were invalidated under the faithless elector laws of their respective states, and the elector either subsequently voted for the pledged candidate or was replaced by someone who … While addressing the problem of faithless electors, such an amendment would require states to address how they would handle the death of a candidate during the interregnum period --. Robert Alexander writes that the Electoral College has been resilient to change and has withstood over 700 attempts to amend or abolish it. He is the author of four books and has served on the National Executive Committee for Pi Sigma Alpha and on the National Liaison Advisory Board for The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. I have been surveying presidential electors for nearly two decades and have discovered a great deal more is going on within this mysterious body than I previously imagined. While the. -- - Larry Lessig, American academic, attorney, and political activist, "This book is an important analysis of the Electoral College, from the debates about it at the constitutional convention and during the early days of the republic to contemporary controversies that surround this unique construction. Sign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter. The Electoral College Was Terrible From the Start It’s doubtful even Alexander Hamilton believed what he was selling in “Federalist No. Alexander frames the book with the theoretical conundrum of representation, unpacking different kinds of representation and how these competing interpretations of representation have contributed to the ways in which voters, parties, candidates, and electors approach the Electoral College and understand its function within the American constitutional system." In the days leading up to the 2016 Electoral College vote. You forget they exist until there is a problem. To purchase, visit your preferred ebook provider. If subverting the will of the people is at the heart of concerns over faithless electors, then moving to the direct election of the president would seem to be the logical solution. In 2016, however, 20% percent of Republican electors responding to the survey gave some consideration to voting for someone other than Donald Trump. Robert Alexander is a professor of political science at Ohio Northern University and the author of "Representation and the Electoral College." That electors were not given a briefing suggests they were not viewed by the Obama administration as having the role Hamilton envisioned. Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. 68.” September 8, 2019 His pioneering work on presidential electors has positioned him as an expert on the Electoral College. Concerns raised by Republican electors gave them some hope. Robert Alexander, a political science professor at Ohio Northern University and author of 'Representation and the Electoral College' breaks down the history and representation of … This suggests as many as 60 Republican electors at least thought about not voting for Trump, indicating that the Hamilton electors were right to think that at least 37 Republican electors were uneasy about Trump carrying their party's banner. As one might expect, Alexander gives particular attention to those presidential contests in which the winner of the Electoral College vote did not win the popular vote, singling out the 2016 election. While the thought of upending Trump in the Electoral College seemed far-fetched, the consideration among Republican electors was more widespread than I expected. Electors almost always vote as expected for the candidate to whom they are pledged and their day in the sun often passes with little notice. The Supreme Court's decision to hear arguments regarding faithless electors -- those who do not vote for their party's registered candidate -- suggests a significant problem requiring a remedy before the 2020 election. The last time the Court addressed the role of elector independence was in Ray v. Blair (1952). The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. Focusing on the controversial 2016 election, in which Trump received nearly three million fewer popular votes than Clinton, Representation and the Electoral College shows how the Electoral College acts on behalf of the American public and alters election outcomes. Presents never-before-published surveys of presidential electors from the 2016 election; Includes an in-depth analysis of the 2016 election in the context of the Electoral College; Collects the most robust treatment of the Electoral College in over a decade Opinion: The Electoral College is not going to give Trump a second term By Robert Alexander cnn.com — (CNN)Four years ago in this space, I swatted down the idea that so-called "faithless electors" would deny Donald Trump the presidency when electors met to cast their votes for president and vice president in late December of that year. This book helps readers to understand the distinction and how we got where we are today. It would appear that Suprun, Greene, Vu, and Sisneros were not alone in their concerns with Trump and a real audience existed within the Electoral College to deny him the presidency. Robert Alexander is a professor of political science and the Founding Director of the Institute for Civics and Public Policy at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. This outstanding work is an excellent primer for those who wish to unpack the core elements of the Electoral College and come to grips with this antidemocratic aspect of America's struggling democracy.-" Taken together, electors believe they have discretion and enjoy having discretion. Ironically, Federalist 68 devotes attention to the role of the Electoral College in protecting the country from foreign interference in our presidential selection process. The Electoral College has been a controversial topic over the past few years. We now have the hindsight of the Mueller investigation and impeachment proceedings, but even in December of 2016, electors had questions about foreign interference in the election. All of these issues are at stake with the current Supreme Court ruling. Robert Alexander’s new book, Representation and the Electoral College (Oxford University Press, 2019) is an important analysis of the Electoral College, from the debates about it at the constitutional convention and during the early days of the republic to contemporary controversies that surround this unique construction. “It could be the autonomy of electors is going to come under very close scrutiny,” said Robert Alexander, an Electoral College expert from Ohio Northern University. This book is available as part of Oxford Scholarship Online - view abstracts and keywords at book and chapter level. The question before the court stems from two cases, Chiafalo v. Washington and Colorado Department of State v. Baca, both of which challenge a state's authority to compel an elector to vote for a specific candidate. This would ensure the winner of a state's popular vote receives all of the electoral votes they earn. The Electoral College exists … It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Robert Alexander — professor of political science and founding director of the Institute of Civics and Public Policy at Ohio Northern University in Ada and author of the 2019 book, Representation and the Electoral College — says prospective electors lobby for their positions at the party conventions. Robert Alexander’s knowledge regarding the Electoral College comes as a result of his Centrist political views The important thing to note about centrists, Alexander stressed, is that the only thing they strongly oppose is any factor tending to enforce a dominance of either the Republican or Democratic party. They argued that Trump was unfit for office and offered several Republican alternatives including, If that were to happen the hope was that the House of Representatives would be prompted to support a compromise candidate. An invaluable examination of the Electoral College at a critical juncture in American politics, this book could not be more timely." In the wake of the 2016 "misfire" election, Alexander's is that book. Juliet Christian-Smith, Peter H. Gleick, Heather Cooley... Adam Roberts, Michael J. Willis, Rory McCarthy... H. Jefferson Powell and Philip C. Bobbitt, Social Sciences > Politics > US Politics Social Sciences > Politics > Political Institutions Social Sciences > Politics. This would be an excellent addition to any undergraduate course covering elections, American political development, or the presidency." The author closes with insightful thoughts on possible reform options. If the circumstances surrounding the 2016 election did not warrant elector discretion, then it is hard to imagine any future occurrence will. "Robert Alexander, master of all things related to the Electoral College, approaches this paradoxical institution with clarity and balance. Eighty electors. The second and perhaps more direct option is to ditch the Electoral College in favor of a national popular vote. Presents never-before-published surveys of presidential electors from the 2016 election; Includes an in-depth analysis of the 2016 election in the context of the Electoral College; Collects the most robust treatment of the Electoral College in over a decade Robert Alexander is a professor of political science at Ohio Northern University and the author of "Representation and the Electoral College." He is the author of two books on the Electoral College, including most recently Representation and the Electoral College, Oxford University Press, 2019. It has withstood over 700 attempts to amend or abolish it and it is unlikely to witness constitutional change in the near future. In many ways, electors are like vestigial organs. Dr. Robert Alexander is a professor of political science and the Founding Director of the Institute for Civics and Public Policy at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. In the aftermath of the 2016 election, heated calls to abolish the Electoral College were made in large part because the winning candidate received nearly 3 million fewer votes from across the country than their opponent. In 2008, for instance, 83% of all electors were contacted to change their votes -- including 9 out of 10 Democrats.These Electoral College lobbyists argued that Barack Obama was ineligible to serve as president as they falsely claimed he was not an American citizen. This book evaluates the Electoral College as it relates to relevant theories of representation. In Federalist 68, Hamilton argued that the Electoral College would provide "a moral certainty, that the office of president will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications" and members of the Hamilton movement believed that Trump fell short of those qualifications. His pioneering work on presidential electors has positioned him as an expert on the Electoral College. Some may not realize that it is presidential electors who receive our votes on election day in November, not presidential candidates themselves. View more opinion at CNN. In May, the court heard oral arguments in the combined cases of Colorado v. Baca and Chiafalo v. Washington about the individuals who make up the Electoral College and ultimately cast the ballots that decide the U.S. president and vice president. The campaign to lobby members of the 2016 Electoral College to dump Trump was widely publicized -- including. "It is an extraordinary contribution — not just the theoretical parts about representation, but especially the empirical work about electors."

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