Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Political elections: Political elections are a process by which citizens choose people to represent them in government. Elections are typically held at regular intervals, and voters can choose from a variety of candidates. Elections are not conducted by the state, but by the people. See also Democracy, Electoral systems._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Alexander Hamilton on Political Elections - Dictionary of Arguments
Levitsky I 48 Political Elections/Hamilton/Levitsky/Ziblatt: The American presidents (...) are not members of parliament, and they are not elected by Congress. At least theoretically they are elected by the Levitsky I 49 people, anyone can run for the presidency and if he or she finds enough support, he or she can win the office. Dilemma: On the one hand, [the authors of the American Constitution] did not want to install a monarch at the head of the state, but an elected president, one who fulfilled their idea of a republican people's government and reflected the will of the people. On the other hand, they did not fully trust the people's ability to decide on the suitability of a candidate for office. Alexander Hamilton: feared that a presidential office whose holder is elected by the people could all too easily fall to someone who exploits people's fears and ignorance to get elected and then rules as a tyrant(1). Elections [required] a built-in testing procedure(2). Solution/Hamilton: The instrument they created was the Electoral College. The second article of the American Constitution created an indirect electoral system, reflecting Hamilton's thought expressed in the Federalist Papers: "It is ... desirable that direct election be held by men best qualified to judge the qualities appropriate to the office. Moreover, these men should work under conditions that encourage objective advice and a wise combination of all the reasons and impulses that should reasonably determine their choice"(1). Electoral College: The electoral college, composed of prominent representatives from the individual states, should be responsible for electing the president. This, Hamilton further argued, "provides the moral certainty that the office of president is hardly ever held by a man who is not excellently equipped with the necessary qualities"(3). Problems/VsHamilton/Levitsky/Ziblatt: 1. The electoral college should meet only after the people have cast their votes; the electoral men played no role in the selection of candidates. 2. Secondly, nowhere in the constitution is there any mention of parties. >Political Representation, >Electoral systems. 1. Federalist Papers, No. 1, in: Alexander Hamilton/James Madison/John Ivy, Die Federalist Papers. Vollständige Ausgabe, hg. von Barbara Zahnpfennig, München 2007, p. 55ff. 2. James W. Ceaser, Presidential Selection. Theory and Development, Princeton, New Jersey, 1979, p. 64. 3. Federalist Papers, No. 68, in: Hamilton/Madison/Ivy, Die Federalist Papers, p. 405, 407._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Hamilton, Alexander | ||
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