Political Science // The Differences between the Electoral College Vote and the National Popular Vote
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The Differences between the Electoral College Vote and the National Popular Vote
A marked characteristic of American culture is its emphasis of democracy arising from liberal context of society that integrated in the people as channel of internalization of unified states’ identity. According to Lynd, “when a part of culture is thus singled out and capped and gowned with symbols of authority and prestige, it tends to play the role expected of it (1939, p.118).” Such perspective is more or less coherent conjecture in the existing decline of American culture with regard to civic engagement. In this regard, it has been recognized that there is indeed a changing pattern of cultural interests even in people’s political participation. While recently, the essential trends in American life was engaged in the propensity for civic associations, which even all ages, all stations of life, and all types of disposition have emerged to emphasize the strong and active consolidation of democracy.
The protracted litany of political debacles and scandals that triggered the understandable repugnance for politics and government among Americans and that consecutively has motivated the civil engagement to withdrawal. Americans have more than concern of government performance than the issues concerned about international problems. The complex cross concurrent of American participation has declined due to federal government’s undermining legitimacy of political process manifested in the exercise of right to vote, unfavorable consideration and unmerited limitations to Americans social engagement. Americans politics defined the American landscape over the last several decades. That is, the interests to criticizing and demanding the federal government to act on certain issues are more dynamic and persuasive when claims would be in support for the government. As American culture is known to liberality and independence in deciding conflicts, the electorates are viewed to be more conscious of discerning to whom their vote will be trusted.
The Electoral College affects the Executive Office in effectively selecting the next American president. Simply put, the election of president is in the hands of Electoral College. Election in America works this way because it is based on U.S. Constitution that gives power to elect the executive officer (Ross & Hardaway, 2014). On the other hand, popular vote indicates the choice of the people. What is indicated in the popular vote projects the electoral vote which is the key component in election. States that favored Romney or Obama were showed in popular vote had significantly reflected in the actual voting. It may not reflect all the votes of the people but it strategically indicates the majority choice of the people. Romney’s campaign had said to have defied logic. The claim of over-estimating the number of Democrats in the time of Election Day was the said to be the reason why Romney failed election. As they merely depended on the absence of minorities to support Obama in 2012 this raise public polls flawed against the strategy of Romney and Republicans (Abramson, Aldrich, & Rohde, 2011). The party must not be so confident that the path of victory is on their side instead they should focus more on emphasizing their strategic actions and plans for America in the coming years.
Obama and Biden campaign had win because of the debate performance of Obama restoring the momentum of the Democrats. It is said that the confidence has been placed more on the efforts and wit to give arguments that strategically build confidence to the team and the Democrat party as well. The governance of Democrats through the leadership of Obama is the continuance of the policies and reforms to continue the growth of U.S. economy, supporting the values of international order and strengthening the national security for the protection of American people in the coming years.
In contemporary times, American vote had grown to become a force in US politics. American communities became organized in recent years and constituted a strong grassroots support base for an aspiring presidential candidate. In the last 2008 presidential elections, candidates actively courted the American vote, discussing their program geared towards this often marginalized and discriminated American community (Abramson, Aldrich, & Rohde, 2011). For more than ten years, American grassroots groups networked and discussed common issues and grounds that they can present and lobby to politicians and concerned government agencies. They had also been tapping the power of the Internet in these drives. The racial or ethnicity card is still a burning issue in American politics despite allusions to racial equality and egalitarianism. This explains why candidates would want to portray themselves as champions of underprivileged ethnic communities, such as the Americans, as it is a popular and effective campaign strategy. As such, getting the American vote can contribute to the electoral success of a presidential hopeful.
Nationally speaking, native American voters did not believe that Arizona solon John McCain will be beaten by Barack Obama. Oklahoma is considered the state with the largest American population and McCain won here. Nonetheless, Illinois Senator Barack Obama won in Indiana, and Texas, states harboring considerable American population. Candidates who can mobilize and win the support of the American vote will, thus, have a considerable leverage over its rivals. As such, it is incumbent upon all aspirants to work across tribal jurisdictions and enlist American voters.
Although at about 3 million, they only represent 1 percent of the US population, Americans are crucial stakeholders in any electoral contest forming a significant voting bloc that can spell the difference between a loss and a victory, especially for a tightly contested race. And in several US states with substantial American population, the support played a key role in local and state elections. For instance, the vote contributed a lot in the election of two Democrat senators- Senator Tim Johnson from South Dakota in 2002 and Senator Jon Tester from Montana in 2006. They won only by a very narrow margin and it is the American vote that turned the table in their favor. The growing importance of the American West underscores the future importance of the American constituency, particularly in such bustling states as Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. This further adds impetus to the need to woo the vote all the more.
The heightened political interest in the American community can help improve the plight of this otherwise forgotten and impoverished American community. This could contribute to a shift in the traditional outlook and treatment of Indians. Because of the crucial role they can play in the political career of politicians vying for local, state and even national posts, a discussion of the issues and problems concerning Indians all over the United States may take place and the government may become more determined to address them. In their bid to win the Indians on their side, contenders will compete for the most pro- American program that they can include as part of their national platform or agenda. If translated into strong political will after an electoral triumph, this could help bring about improvement in the living conditions in many American communities. Better access to education, job and economic opportunities, as well as higher sharing for resources obtained from Indian lands can be proposed and realized. Protection of the Indian culture through state support of the promotion of American languages or dialects, cultural practices and traditions may also be adopted. Protection of Indian reservations may also be enhanced.
The Pacific Northwest region, which is inhabited by several American Indian tribes, is described as a hinterland – an area that lies behind a seaport and which, in turn, supplies the goods for the seaports. The region was historically one of the most remote and hardly inaccessible areas of the United States, far from the seats of political and economic powers. It was often seen as an appendage to the more developed urbanized areas within or near the region, especially those situated along the coast. The presence of many religious and ethnic minorities in the region, notwithstanding the presence of sizable American communities, made for a more pluralistic and tolerant society. This enabled localization and enhanced the resolve of the people to support and empathize with minority issues. This provided a good ground to encourage Americans to participate in electoral exercises. The region, therefore, serves not only as an important case for harmonious inter-cultural relations, but also exemplifies active local support for engaging minorities, among them the Indians, in the state and national political life.
Educating and mobilizing Americans to exercise their right of suffrage contributes to national integration and nation building. By helping Americans to articulate and express their interests and demands to the government, they can become more empowered and socially responsible members of a melting pot nation called America. This can be carried out within American government structures. The role of education and provision of economic opportunities will be pivotal in soliciting the support of the American community in any national enterprise. And in this noble undertaking, mass media, the educational establishment, the private and the nonprofit sector and the government have their respective functions to fulfill.
The elections make the past decade to showcase the role of the government in effecting change, with the increased emphasis being put in place in the area of public policy and planning. This area entails Americans empowering them in the process of delivering government programs and services. As politics change the society, it is election and the candidates vote by electorates is ones which continue to maximize the resource of nation through planning and public policy. Electoral community has gradually more claiming possession of policy process and issues. The role of globalization and fiscal resource constraints have largely contributed to this confusion. The demand for superior public policy development is steadily increasing especially at this point of complex environment. Upgrading of the capabilities of the policy analysts, planners, managers, and others involved in the design and delivery of government programs and policies is somehow significant in affecting change throughout the society.
References
Abramson, P.R., Aldrich, J.H., & Rohde, D.W. (2011). Change and Continuity in the 2008 and 2010 Elections. Washington, DC: CQ Press. ISBN: 1608717984, 9781608717989.
Lynd, R.S. (1939). Knowledge for what?: the place of Social Science in American culture. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Ross, T., & Hardaway, R. M. (2014). The Compact Clause and National Popular Vote: Implications for the Federal Structure. NML Rev., 44, 383.
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