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Full-Text Articles in Law
Madison's Hope: Virtue, Self-Interest, And The Design Of Electoral Systems, James A. Gardner
Madison's Hope: Virtue, Self-Interest, And The Design Of Electoral Systems, James A. Gardner
Journal Articles
In recent years, perhaps no institution of American governance has been so thoroughly and consistently excoriated by legal theorists as the familiar American system of winner-take-all elections. The winner-take-all system is said to waste votes, lead to majority monopolization of political power, and cause the under representation and consequent social and economic subordination of political minorities. Some political scientists have attempted to defend winner-take-all systems on the ground that they perform better than PR in maximizing long-term collective and social interests. This article argues, in contrast, that winner-take-all electoral systems rest upon, and can be adequately defended, if at all, …
The Right To Vote And Its Implementation, Donald P. Kommers
The Right To Vote And Its Implementation, Donald P. Kommers
Journal Articles
The quest for political equality has been a major theme of American history. Indeed, since 1789, the American political system has undergone steady progress toward increasing democratization.' Slavery was abolished in 1865. The right to vote is no longer limited by restrictions based on property, race, color, or sex. Since 1913 United States senators have been elected by the people. Political equality is afforded to the citizens of each state through the equal protection and due process clauses of the fourteenth amendment. And the operation of the electoral college, originally intended to house a political elite, has been so modified …