Enlightened Democracy: The Case For The Electoral College

Rating:
Summary: A Solid Primer
Review: Enlightened Democracy: The Case for the Electoral College is a solid primer for those who are either simply unfamiliar with the Electoral College and Election Process as a whole, or for those who would like to know more about our nation's great, democratic structure. Ross tackles the widely debated issue of the Electoral College by first providing a detailed background on our Founding Fathers and their decision to form such a process and then moving on to not only explain the Electoral College thoroughly but also to list its numerous advantages and past successes in helping our nation select a Commander-in-Chief.

Rating:
Summary: A Comprehensive Guide to a Widely Misunderstood Issue
Review: Like many of my peers, I have never really understood why the Electoral College was used in the U.S. (as opposed to direct voting). The breadth of my knowledge in this area came from my schooling, and now I realize that this part of my education was left sadly unattended. Thankfully, books like this exist to fill in what the education system left out.

The Electoral College was a thoroughly researched system of checks and balances worked into the fabric of the U.S. voting system. In her study of the electoral system, Ms. Ross does an excellent job of explaining the thought processes that went behind this invention of our founding fathers. She also delves into the anomalies of such contentious elections as the 1888 and 2000 campaigns, giving thought provoking reasons as to why these elections demonstrate the success of the electoral college, rather than the demise of an anachronistic electoral machine.

"Enlighened Democracy" is a great choice for anyone who left the 2000 election worrying that our voting system is antiquated or problem - riddled. Ms. Ross deliberately explains the founding fathers' plan and shows how that plan has succeeded in its intentions time and again.