Eva Sheppard Wolf, Professor of History
SF State University
Fall 2016
We have the Electoral
College because of . . .

Republican ideology
Talent percolating up
The debates of the Constitutional
Convention and concerns about power
and practicality
Republican Ideology

 Community over individual need
 The public good
 “All government . . . Is or ought to be, calculated for
the general good and safety of the community.”
[George Mason]
 Virtue a necessity
 Aristocracy of talent rather than birth
 Talent/greatness percolating up
How to Help Talent
Percolate Up?

 Elections!
 The people will protect their own liberty.
 “Election” in 18th-century context has a religious
overtone
 Election as a sort of natural process, part of a plan by
a Divine force
Why not direct elections
for high offices?

 “I have ever observed
that a choice by the
people themselves is not
generally distinguished
for it’s wisdom. This first
secretion from them is
usually crude and
heterogeneous. But give
to those so chosen by the
people a second choice for
themselves, and they
generally will chuse wise
men. “
Outline of the Constitutional
Convention

 Virginia Plan, May 29
 New Jersey Plan, June 15
 Discussion, Crisis, and Great Compromise, June 19July 16
 Additional discussions, provisions, including over
electoral college, July 17-26
 Committee of detail, July 27-Aug. 6
 Final discussions and compromises, Aug. 6-Sept. 10
 Includes creation of Electoral College
Virginia Plan—Talent Percolating
Up

National, bicameral legislature
Members of the lower house of legislature
choose members of the upper house from
those nominated by state legislatures
Legislature (both houses) chooses
president
Debates over Virginia Plan
Provisions for Election of President

 Question of term limits/legislative role in selection
 If re-election possible, president might court favor
with legislature
 If no re-election, president has insufficient incentive to
perform duties faithfully
 Direct election by the people seen as impractical in
18th-c
 James Wilson (PA) proposes electors
 Wilson’s plan originally defeated
Debates over Virginia Plan Provisions for
Election of President, cont.

 Hamilton’s plan (after intro. of NJ Plan)
 Includes provision that executive and senate to be
chosen by electors, who are chosen by people.
 Not adopted
 After Great Compromise in July, much discussion of
 Length of executive’s term
 Re-election possible?
 Who elects executive?
James Madison on election of
president by people

 “It would be as unnatural
to refer the choice of a
proper character for chief
Magistrate to the people,
as it would to refer a trial
of colours to a blind man.
The extent of the Country
renders it impossible that
the people can have the
requisite capacity to judge
of the respective
pretensions of the
Candidates.”
Debates over Virginia Plan Provisions for
Election of President, cont

.
 Agree to election by national legislature, 7-year term,
no re-election.
 This provision was in draft produced by Committee of
Detail
 Enlargement of presidential powers by Committee of
Detail
 Convene Congress in extraordinary circumstances
 Recommend measures to Congress
 Commander in chief
Debates over Virginia Plan
Provisions for Election of President,
cont.

 Late August: a vote on direct election by the people:
defeated
 James Wilson: “This subject has greatly divided the
House . . . . It is in truth the most difficulty of all on which
we have had to decide.”
 Aug. 31-Sept. 4: A committee tries to iron out remaining
details
 Recommends electors chosen in each state as legislators
there direct
 In each state, one of electors’ two choices not to be a
resident of that state
 Electors’ votes sent to Senate, who choose from top 5 if there
is no majority; and who decide in case of a tie.
Electoral College as a
Compromise

 Some, like Madison, saw direct election as inadvisable.
The people could not have the proper judgment.
 Others thought direct election a good idea, but
impractical.
 Large states wanted a bigger say in elections because they
had more people.
 Smaller states wanted a say, too  idea that Senate would
choose if no majority among electors
 Election in House of Reps substituted for election in Senate
in order to keep Senate from being too powerful
 Each state to have one vote in House of Reps if no majority
from state electors
 Not foreseeing a party system
Take-aways:

 The Electoral College reflects the republican idea of
talent percolating up rather than a democratic idea of
direct governance by the people.
Take-aways, cont.

 Creation of the electoral college was one of the last
details the Constitutional Convention settled.
 Election of the president was a sticky problem.
 Election of the president was not seen as the central
problem (the legislature was).
Take-aways, cont.

 Requirement of a simple majority in the Electoral
College in order to prevent election by the House of
Reps. may help reinforce two-party system.
 Ironic because the Electoral College was created in the
absence of any notion of national political parties.