Tag: The Federalist Papers

It certainly did give them more weight, but I don't see that that was the purpose of the EC. The EC proposal came about as a result of a bunch of proposals, counter-proposals, and attempts to balance the wishes of big states, small states, popular vote vs. appointment by legislature, and, yes, free states and slave states). instance even with an eligibility afterwards would not establish an improper connection between the two departments. every mode that has been, or perhaps can be proposed [for electing the President]. or State Constitutions — or by some special authority derived from the people — or by the people themselves. The option before us then lay between an appointment by Electors chosen by the people — and an immediate appointment by the people. He thought the former mode free from many of the objections which had been urged agst. The second difficulty arose from the disproportion of qualified voters in the N. & S. States, and the disadvantages which this mode would throw on the latter. That local considerations must give way to the general interest. **No senator, representative, or other person holding a place of trust or profit under the United States, can be of the numbers of the electors.