Quote:
Originally Posted by DonQuigleone
The plus side of allocating seats by congressional district, rather then by state popular vote, is that it means whoever controls congress will also usually control the presidency. Of course the fact that congress is gerrymandered is somewhat problematic....
Then again, if it was done by congressional district, suddenly you might see candidates campaign more widely, and the democrats might take some of these districts the republicans created with "thin" margins.
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I agree with these observations. I think it would make American elections more "parliamentary" in nature and would give Presidential candidates an incentive to campaign nationally. Madison would probably have objected to the former rationale for fear of the "tyranny of the majority." The American Constitution is largely constructed to make it difficult for the Federal government to do much of anything without substantial majorities in favor.