Why We Need the Electoral College
August 1, 2020
For August’s Book of the Month, we selected Tara Ross’ book, “Why We Need the Electoral College,” published in 2017 by Regnery Publishing. Tara Ross is a retired lawyer and a former Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Review of Law & Politics. She appears often as a guest on a variety of talk shows nationwide, and she regularly addresses civic, university, and legal audiences. She is nationally recognized for her expertise on the Electoral College, and is the author of several bestselling books.
About the book…
Is the Electoral College anti-democratic?
Some would say yes. After all, the presidential candidate with the most popular votes has nevertheless lost the election at least three times, including 2016.
To some Americans, that’s a scandal. They believe the Electoral College is an intolerable flaw in the Constitution, a relic of a bygone era that ought to have been purged long ago.
But that would be a terrible mistake, warns Tara Ross in this vigorous defense of “the indispensable Electoral College.” Far from an obstacle to enlightened democracy, the Electoral College is one of the guardrails ensuring the stability of the American Republic.
In this lively and instructive primer, Tara Ross explains:
- Why the Founders established the Electoral College—and why they thought it vital to the Constitution
- Why the Electoral College was meant to be more important than the popular vote
- How the Electoral College prevents political crises after tight elections
- Why the Electoral College doesn’t favor one party over the other
- Why the states are the driving force behind presidential elections and how efforts to centralize the process have led to divisiveness and discontent
- Why the Electoral College is inappropriately labeled a “relic of slavery”
Every four years, the controversy is renewed: Should we keep the Electoral College? Tara Ross shows you why the answer should be a resounding Yes!