“Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives” (Harsanyi, 2014). While most believe that the United States is a democracy, considering being the first nation to adopt a democratic constitution, there are many democratic contradictions and inconsistencies of American politics that demonstrate otherwise.
Hamilton described the American government as being “in the hands of the representatives of the people” (Federalist No. 28). Strictly speaking, the people did not govern or rule themselves as democracy is described, but instead has representatives. Madison argued that representative structures would “refine and enlarge the public views by passing them through the …show more content…
As outlined in the Constitution, each state is represented in the Electoral College by its number of representatives in its congressional delegation, plus two for both of its senators. The number of representatives awarded to each state is based on population determined every decade by the Census. There is a belief that the Electoral College favors small states and swing states. Vanessa (2016) explains that “each voter in a ‘small population’ state casts a larger share of those two electoral votes [from the senators] than does a voter in a ‘larger population’ state”. It’s believed that smaller states’ citizens such as Iowa and Rhode Island have a more decisive vote, or their vote carriers more weight. Vanessa (2016) continues by saying “giving all states two electoral votes [the senators] regardless of their population means that voters from small population states cast significantly more per capita electoral votes”. Per capita meaning in relation to looking at people’s vote individually, which is reflected when you think about Wyoming’s 3 electoral votes in comparison to California’s 55 electoral votes. To see this in perspective, “the three electors in Wyoming represent an average of 187,923 residents each. The 55 electors in California represent an average of 677,355 each” (Petrocelli, 2017). While this gives smaller state citizens …show more content…
(Ginsberg et al., 2017). It’s possible that when drawing the districts, it gives a party advantage over the other by clumping voters with the same social and political characteristics together. By doing this those districts more than likely vote for a party’s candidate. Also, it’s possible to spread out where usual voting security occurs of one party over as many districts possible to prevent that party from dominating in any of those districts, thus reducing their power. Lastly, redistricting allows the possibility that “incumbents of the same party are put against one another, ensuring one of them must lose” (Ginsberg et al., 2017). Essentially, the party in power is choosing its voters instead of the voters choosing them. This is beyond contradictory to the idea that a democracy is to be a governmental system where the citizens have power over decisions through their votes, and leaders are selected by the people - not the other way around. By preordaining the election outcomes, gerrymandering makes voting less significant and may discourage voter turnout by the citizens. Another plausible reason why voter suppression may be
Hamilton described the American government as being “in the hands of the representatives of the people” (Federalist No. 28). Strictly speaking, the people did not govern or rule themselves as democracy is described, but instead has representatives. Madison argued that representative structures would “refine and enlarge the public views by passing them through the …show more content…
As outlined in the Constitution, each state is represented in the Electoral College by its number of representatives in its congressional delegation, plus two for both of its senators. The number of representatives awarded to each state is based on population determined every decade by the Census. There is a belief that the Electoral College favors small states and swing states. Vanessa (2016) explains that “each voter in a ‘small population’ state casts a larger share of those two electoral votes [from the senators] than does a voter in a ‘larger population’ state”. It’s believed that smaller states’ citizens such as Iowa and Rhode Island have a more decisive vote, or their vote carriers more weight. Vanessa (2016) continues by saying “giving all states two electoral votes [the senators] regardless of their population means that voters from small population states cast significantly more per capita electoral votes”. Per capita meaning in relation to looking at people’s vote individually, which is reflected when you think about Wyoming’s 3 electoral votes in comparison to California’s 55 electoral votes. To see this in perspective, “the three electors in Wyoming represent an average of 187,923 residents each. The 55 electors in California represent an average of 677,355 each” (Petrocelli, 2017). While this gives smaller state citizens …show more content…
(Ginsberg et al., 2017). It’s possible that when drawing the districts, it gives a party advantage over the other by clumping voters with the same social and political characteristics together. By doing this those districts more than likely vote for a party’s candidate. Also, it’s possible to spread out where usual voting security occurs of one party over as many districts possible to prevent that party from dominating in any of those districts, thus reducing their power. Lastly, redistricting allows the possibility that “incumbents of the same party are put against one another, ensuring one of them must lose” (Ginsberg et al., 2017). Essentially, the party in power is choosing its voters instead of the voters choosing them. This is beyond contradictory to the idea that a democracy is to be a governmental system where the citizens have power over decisions through their votes, and leaders are selected by the people - not the other way around. By preordaining the election outcomes, gerrymandering makes voting less significant and may discourage voter turnout by the citizens. Another plausible reason why voter suppression may be