Rob Graham wrote:
As the article points out, it's not really circumventing the electoral college, since it's up to each state to determine how the electoral college votes are divided up (some already allocate proportionally, others are winner take all).
I think it does so long as each state agrees to the compact because it effectively bypasses the electoral college by considering national results rather than state results. I also think is probably unconstitutional per Section 10:
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any duty of Tonnage,
keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or
Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless
actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay
I believe this is probably something only Congress would be authorized to do and, even then, only through an amendment (since such legislation would go against the electoral college.
Rob Graham wrote:
They did not do that blindly, and it was debated hotly at the time. I'm not entirely convinced that they were wrong in their final decision - pure democracy would give the edge to New York and California, since a candidate could affort to tie or lose in all the rest if assured of a sufficient majority in just those two.
I think it goes back to the fact that our government is a republic composed of states with their own governments. I think that's a good system, but people tend to minimize the role of the state government in national affairs.
"You act like jew." -Score: 1.0 (3 votes).