A History of the Electoral College

Research output: Non-textual formWebinar

Abstract

A History of the Electoral College

(Sept. 10, 2024) Session 1: The Electoral College: Background and Origins 

(Sept. 17, 2024) Session 2: The Electoral College Today: Pros and Cons

What is the Electoral College and how does it work… or not work? When the Framers were crafting this process, what were their concerns and rationale for such an unusual system for selecting a president? These crucial questions are the subject of a new two-session course with acclaimed author and historian Robert Watson.

Since its establishment during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the Electoral College has been mired in controversy. Sure enough, six times in our nation’s history, the College has produced contentious outcomes in the presidential race; and reformers have long debated whether the electors can legally vote contrary to the way their states voted. In recent elections, the party nominees pursue strategies tailored to the design of the Electoral College whereby only a few “swing” states end up determining the winner. On both sides of the aisle, Americans have questioned whether the system should be tweaked or replaced.

Robert Watson is an award-winning author, professor, historian, and analyst for numerous media outlets. He has published over forty books on history and politics and hundreds of scholarly journal articles, book chapters, and reference essays. With the presidential elections approaching, Watson examines the ins and outs of the Electoral College, and addresses all of the intriguing questions and debates surrounding this complex and powerful institution.

Original languageAmerican English
Media of outputOnline
StatePublished - Sep 2024
EventA History of the Electoral College - Roundtable by The 92nd Street Y, New York, United States
Duration: Sep 10 2024Sep 17 2024
https://roundtable.org/live-courses/history/a-history-of-the-electoral-college?fbclid=IwY2xjawIEoZlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWOprfauIGWTPj2iNg34naou8_qnxh-Dwx58l1LrcneJGGnkLz7g-bQFwg_aem_KYRwo-Qm-iCJE6yBUHHhuQ

Bibliographical note

Two session live, virtual course given on Sept. 10, 2024 and Sept. 17, 2024.

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