Electoral College Archives

Books

After the People Vote: Steps in Choosing the President

– American Enterprise Institute Press, 1983; second edition, 1992.

Explains how electors are appointed, how ballots are cast and votes are counted, and what happens if no one has a majority; and discusses three disputed elections.

Third Party Candidates

– Panel discussion hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, March 27, 1992.

The panel discussed the potential of a third party candidate in the presidential primary, the possibility of Ross Perot entering the presidential race, the public assesment of the current… More

Electoral College Proceedings

– C-SPAN, July 3, 1992.

Mr. Berns discussed the electoral college and its functions in the election process. Mr. Berns recently authored a book about the electoral college entitled, After the People Vote.

An Office That We Take More Seriously Today

– Washington Times, July 27, 1992.

Excerpt: Perhaps never before in an election year has so much attention been paid to the vice presidency. And while the names Bush and Clinton headline the two major tickets, stay tuned for… More

History of Electoral College in Election

– C-SPAN, September 28, 1992.

Representatives of various groups discussed the electoral college and its origins. The group also talked about presidential elections where the electoral college was significant.

Electoral College Quiz

– Washington Times, November 3, 1992.

Excerpt: On Jan. 8, 1981, following the election in which John Anderson ran for president as an independent candidate, I began an article under this same title by pointing out that… More

When the Last Vote Is Cast…

– Washington Times, November 3, 1992.

Excerpt: On Jan. 8, 1981, following the election in which John Anderson ran for president as an independent candidate, I began an article under this same title by pointing out that… More

Let’s Hear It for the Electoral College

– Wall Street Journal, December 2, 1992; reprinted in Walter Berns, In Defense of Liberal Democracy (Regnery Gateway, 1984).

Excerpt: Once again we have reason to be grateful for the Electoral College. Bill Clinton’s victory has been widely termed a “landslide.” Yet it was that, of course, only… More

Electoral College Procedure

– C-SPAN, January 6, 1993.

Mr. Berns discussed the origins and history of the electoral college process, with the 1992 electoral college scheduled to take place later in the day. He also commented on footage from… More

Third Party Candidates Face a High Hurdle in the Electoral College

– The American Enterprise, January 1, 1996.

Excerpt: In the century and a half since the emergence of our current two-party system the United States has avoided any crisis in selecting a new president and vice-president–in… More

Testimony of Walter Berns on the Electoral College

– Subcommittee Hearing on "Proposals for Electoral College Reform: H.J. Res. 28 and H.J. Res. 43," U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, September 4, 1997.

Excerpt: In 1981, I began an article The Wall Street Journal by pointing out that “where the Electoral College is concerned, nothing fails to succeed like success.” What was… More

Has the Electoral College Flunked Out?

– Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg, PBS, November 16, 2000.

This week, Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg takes an in-depth look at the history and purpose of the electoral college. The controversy surrounding the 2000 election has led many to question… More

Popular vs. Electoral College Vote

– Panel discussion hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, November 1, 2000.

Participants spoke about the role and workings of the Electoral College. They talked about such topics as the history of the Electoral College and the role it had played in past… More

Electoral College

– Panel hosted by Georgetown University, November 29, 2000.

Panelists talked about the electoral college system of voting for president in the U.S. They also talked about which voters have the most power under the current system.

Electoral College Votes Preview

– C-SPAN, December 18, 2000.

Mr. Berns and Mr. White talked about the Electoral College process. They focused on how the process is run and why it was created by the Founding Fathers. They also responded to viewer… More

Should the Current Electoral College System Be Preserved?

– Congressional Digest 80:1 (January 2001), 16.

Presents arguments in favor of preserving the Electoral College system of electing the president of the United States. American Enterprise Institute resident scholar Walter Berns; State… More

Two-and-a-Half Cheers for the Electoral College

– Ashbrook Center, April 2001; reprinted in Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought (AEI Press, 2006).

Excerpt: Andy Warhol once said that everyone has fifteen minutes of fame during a lifetime—or, at least, is entitled to fifteen minutes of fame. His began when he painted his picture of a… More

Election Reform

– Discussion hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, April 5, 2001.

The panelists discussed efforts to reform the U.S. election system since the contested presidential vote in Florida last year and answered questions from the audience of high school… More

The Insignificant Office

– National Review Online, July 9, 2004; reprinted in Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought (AEI Press, 2006).

Excerpt: Why should John Edwards or anyone else want to be vice president? One of the men who held the post spoke of it as “the most insignificant office” ever contrived by the… More

Recipes for Anarchy

– Washington Post, July 16, 2004.

In his column [“The Right Plan for Iraqi Voters,” op-ed, July 6] Andrew Reynolds makes much of what advocates see as the chief merit of proportional representation–namely,… More

Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought

– AEI Press, 2006.

Excerpt: One of the distinctive things about America is that its Founders were political theorists as well as practitioners. Consider, as the most telling example, the Declaration of… More

Outputs: The Electoral College Produces Presidents

– Securing Democracy: Why We Have an Electoral College, Gary L. Gregg II, ed. (Wilmington, DE: ISI Books, 2008).

The distinguished contributors to Securing Democracy—including Michael Barone, Walter Berns, and Daniel Patrick Moynihan—have an uncommonly complete understanding of the nature of… More

The Case for Keeping the Electoral College

– Roll Call, April 3, 2008.

Excerpt: Although national attention continues to focus on an especially riveting nomination contest, a consequential change to the Electoral College, the so-called National Popular Vote… More

Walter Berns’ Constitution by Christopher DeMuth

– Remarks by Christopher DeMuth at a Constitution Day seminar in honor of Walter Berns, hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, September 20, 2011.

Excerpt: In America today, the Constitution has come to mean constitutional law. Most Americans venerate their Constitution and realize that it is an important source of their liberties and… More

Essays

After the People Vote: Steps in Choosing the President

– American Enterprise Institute Press, 1983; second edition, 1992.

Explains how electors are appointed, how ballots are cast and votes are counted, and what happens if no one has a majority; and discusses three disputed elections.

Third Party Candidates

– Panel discussion hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, March 27, 1992.

The panel discussed the potential of a third party candidate in the presidential primary, the possibility of Ross Perot entering the presidential race, the public assesment of the current… More

Electoral College Proceedings

– C-SPAN, July 3, 1992.

Mr. Berns discussed the electoral college and its functions in the election process. Mr. Berns recently authored a book about the electoral college entitled, After the People Vote.

An Office That We Take More Seriously Today

– Washington Times, July 27, 1992.

Excerpt: Perhaps never before in an election year has so much attention been paid to the vice presidency. And while the names Bush and Clinton headline the two major tickets, stay tuned for… More

History of Electoral College in Election

– C-SPAN, September 28, 1992.

Representatives of various groups discussed the electoral college and its origins. The group also talked about presidential elections where the electoral college was significant.

Electoral College Quiz

– Washington Times, November 3, 1992.

Excerpt: On Jan. 8, 1981, following the election in which John Anderson ran for president as an independent candidate, I began an article under this same title by pointing out that… More

When the Last Vote Is Cast…

– Washington Times, November 3, 1992.

Excerpt: On Jan. 8, 1981, following the election in which John Anderson ran for president as an independent candidate, I began an article under this same title by pointing out that… More

Let’s Hear It for the Electoral College

– Wall Street Journal, December 2, 1992; reprinted in Walter Berns, In Defense of Liberal Democracy (Regnery Gateway, 1984).

Excerpt: Once again we have reason to be grateful for the Electoral College. Bill Clinton’s victory has been widely termed a “landslide.” Yet it was that, of course, only… More

Electoral College Procedure

– C-SPAN, January 6, 1993.

Mr. Berns discussed the origins and history of the electoral college process, with the 1992 electoral college scheduled to take place later in the day. He also commented on footage from… More

Third Party Candidates Face a High Hurdle in the Electoral College

– The American Enterprise, January 1, 1996.

Excerpt: In the century and a half since the emergence of our current two-party system the United States has avoided any crisis in selecting a new president and vice-president–in… More

Testimony of Walter Berns on the Electoral College

Excerpt: In 1981, I began an article The Wall Street Journal by pointing out that “where the Electoral College is concerned, nothing fails to succeed like success.” What was… More

Has the Electoral College Flunked Out?

– Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg, PBS, November 16, 2000.

This week, Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg takes an in-depth look at the history and purpose of the electoral college. The controversy surrounding the 2000 election has led many to question… More

Popular vs. Electoral College Vote

– Panel discussion hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, November 1, 2000.

Participants spoke about the role and workings of the Electoral College. They talked about such topics as the history of the Electoral College and the role it had played in past… More

Electoral College

– Panel hosted by Georgetown University, November 29, 2000.

Panelists talked about the electoral college system of voting for president in the U.S. They also talked about which voters have the most power under the current system.

Electoral College Votes Preview

– C-SPAN, December 18, 2000.

Mr. Berns and Mr. White talked about the Electoral College process. They focused on how the process is run and why it was created by the Founding Fathers. They also responded to viewer… More

Should the Current Electoral College System Be Preserved?

– Congressional Digest 80:1 (January 2001), 16.

Presents arguments in favor of preserving the Electoral College system of electing the president of the United States. American Enterprise Institute resident scholar Walter Berns; State… More

Two-and-a-Half Cheers for the Electoral College

– Ashbrook Center, April 2001; reprinted in Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought (AEI Press, 2006).

Excerpt: Andy Warhol once said that everyone has fifteen minutes of fame during a lifetime—or, at least, is entitled to fifteen minutes of fame. His began when he painted his picture of a… More

Election Reform

– Discussion hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, April 5, 2001.

The panelists discussed efforts to reform the U.S. election system since the contested presidential vote in Florida last year and answered questions from the audience of high school… More

The Insignificant Office

– National Review Online, July 9, 2004; reprinted in Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought (AEI Press, 2006).

Excerpt: Why should John Edwards or anyone else want to be vice president? One of the men who held the post spoke of it as “the most insignificant office” ever contrived by the… More

Recipes for Anarchy

– Washington Post, July 16, 2004.

In his column [“The Right Plan for Iraqi Voters,” op-ed, July 6] Andrew Reynolds makes much of what advocates see as the chief merit of proportional representation–namely,… More

Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought

– AEI Press, 2006.

Excerpt: One of the distinctive things about America is that its Founders were political theorists as well as practitioners. Consider, as the most telling example, the Declaration of… More

Outputs: The Electoral College Produces Presidents

– Securing Democracy: Why We Have an Electoral College, Gary L. Gregg II, ed. (Wilmington, DE: ISI Books, 2008).

The distinguished contributors to Securing Democracy—including Michael Barone, Walter Berns, and Daniel Patrick Moynihan—have an uncommonly complete understanding of the nature of… More

The Case for Keeping the Electoral College

– Roll Call, April 3, 2008.

Excerpt: Although national attention continues to focus on an especially riveting nomination contest, a consequential change to the Electoral College, the so-called National Popular Vote… More

Walter Berns’ Constitution by Christopher DeMuth

– Remarks by Christopher DeMuth at a Constitution Day seminar in honor of Walter Berns, hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, September 20, 2011.

Excerpt: In America today, the Constitution has come to mean constitutional law. Most Americans venerate their Constitution and realize that it is an important source of their liberties and… More

Commentary

After the People Vote: Steps in Choosing the President

– American Enterprise Institute Press, 1983; second edition, 1992.

Explains how electors are appointed, how ballots are cast and votes are counted, and what happens if no one has a majority; and discusses three disputed elections.

Third Party Candidates

– Panel discussion hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, March 27, 1992.

The panel discussed the potential of a third party candidate in the presidential primary, the possibility of Ross Perot entering the presidential race, the public assesment of the current… More

Electoral College Proceedings

– C-SPAN, July 3, 1992.

Mr. Berns discussed the electoral college and its functions in the election process. Mr. Berns recently authored a book about the electoral college entitled, After the People Vote.

An Office That We Take More Seriously Today

– Washington Times, July 27, 1992.

Excerpt: Perhaps never before in an election year has so much attention been paid to the vice presidency. And while the names Bush and Clinton headline the two major tickets, stay tuned for… More

History of Electoral College in Election

– C-SPAN, September 28, 1992.

Representatives of various groups discussed the electoral college and its origins. The group also talked about presidential elections where the electoral college was significant.

Electoral College Quiz

– Washington Times, November 3, 1992.

Excerpt: On Jan. 8, 1981, following the election in which John Anderson ran for president as an independent candidate, I began an article under this same title by pointing out that… More

When the Last Vote Is Cast…

– Washington Times, November 3, 1992.

Excerpt: On Jan. 8, 1981, following the election in which John Anderson ran for president as an independent candidate, I began an article under this same title by pointing out that… More

Let’s Hear It for the Electoral College

– Wall Street Journal, December 2, 1992; reprinted in Walter Berns, In Defense of Liberal Democracy (Regnery Gateway, 1984).

Excerpt: Once again we have reason to be grateful for the Electoral College. Bill Clinton’s victory has been widely termed a “landslide.” Yet it was that, of course, only… More

Electoral College Procedure

– C-SPAN, January 6, 1993.

Mr. Berns discussed the origins and history of the electoral college process, with the 1992 electoral college scheduled to take place later in the day. He also commented on footage from… More

Third Party Candidates Face a High Hurdle in the Electoral College

– The American Enterprise, January 1, 1996.

Excerpt: In the century and a half since the emergence of our current two-party system the United States has avoided any crisis in selecting a new president and vice-president–in… More

Testimony of Walter Berns on the Electoral College

Excerpt: In 1981, I began an article The Wall Street Journal by pointing out that “where the Electoral College is concerned, nothing fails to succeed like success.” What was… More

Has the Electoral College Flunked Out?

– Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg, PBS, November 16, 2000.

This week, Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg takes an in-depth look at the history and purpose of the electoral college. The controversy surrounding the 2000 election has led many to question… More

Popular vs. Electoral College Vote

– Panel discussion hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, November 1, 2000.

Participants spoke about the role and workings of the Electoral College. They talked about such topics as the history of the Electoral College and the role it had played in past… More

Electoral College

– Panel hosted by Georgetown University, November 29, 2000.

Panelists talked about the electoral college system of voting for president in the U.S. They also talked about which voters have the most power under the current system.

Electoral College Votes Preview

– C-SPAN, December 18, 2000.

Mr. Berns and Mr. White talked about the Electoral College process. They focused on how the process is run and why it was created by the Founding Fathers. They also responded to viewer… More

Should the Current Electoral College System Be Preserved?

– Congressional Digest 80:1 (January 2001), 16.

Presents arguments in favor of preserving the Electoral College system of electing the president of the United States. American Enterprise Institute resident scholar Walter Berns; State… More

Two-and-a-Half Cheers for the Electoral College

– Ashbrook Center, April 2001; reprinted in Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought (AEI Press, 2006).

Excerpt: Andy Warhol once said that everyone has fifteen minutes of fame during a lifetime—or, at least, is entitled to fifteen minutes of fame. His began when he painted his picture of a… More

Election Reform

– Discussion hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, April 5, 2001.

The panelists discussed efforts to reform the U.S. election system since the contested presidential vote in Florida last year and answered questions from the audience of high school… More

The Insignificant Office

– National Review Online, July 9, 2004; reprinted in Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought (AEI Press, 2006).

Excerpt: Why should John Edwards or anyone else want to be vice president? One of the men who held the post spoke of it as “the most insignificant office” ever contrived by the… More

Recipes for Anarchy

– Washington Post, July 16, 2004.

In his column [“The Right Plan for Iraqi Voters,” op-ed, July 6] Andrew Reynolds makes much of what advocates see as the chief merit of proportional representation–namely,… More

Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought

– AEI Press, 2006.

Excerpt: One of the distinctive things about America is that its Founders were political theorists as well as practitioners. Consider, as the most telling example, the Declaration of… More

Outputs: The Electoral College Produces Presidents

– Securing Democracy: Why We Have an Electoral College, Gary L. Gregg II, ed. (Wilmington, DE: ISI Books, 2008).

The distinguished contributors to Securing Democracy—including Michael Barone, Walter Berns, and Daniel Patrick Moynihan—have an uncommonly complete understanding of the nature of… More

The Case for Keeping the Electoral College

– Roll Call, April 3, 2008.

Excerpt: Although national attention continues to focus on an especially riveting nomination contest, a consequential change to the Electoral College, the so-called National Popular Vote… More

Walter Berns’ Constitution by Christopher DeMuth

– Remarks by Christopher DeMuth at a Constitution Day seminar in honor of Walter Berns, hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, September 20, 2011.

Excerpt: In America today, the Constitution has come to mean constitutional law. Most Americans venerate their Constitution and realize that it is an important source of their liberties and… More

Multimedia

After the People Vote: Steps in Choosing the President

– American Enterprise Institute Press, 1983; second edition, 1992.

Explains how electors are appointed, how ballots are cast and votes are counted, and what happens if no one has a majority; and discusses three disputed elections.

Third Party Candidates

– Panel discussion hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, March 27, 1992.

The panel discussed the potential of a third party candidate in the presidential primary, the possibility of Ross Perot entering the presidential race, the public assesment of the current… More

Electoral College Proceedings

– C-SPAN, July 3, 1992.

Mr. Berns discussed the electoral college and its functions in the election process. Mr. Berns recently authored a book about the electoral college entitled, After the People Vote.

An Office That We Take More Seriously Today

– Washington Times, July 27, 1992.

Excerpt: Perhaps never before in an election year has so much attention been paid to the vice presidency. And while the names Bush and Clinton headline the two major tickets, stay tuned for… More

History of Electoral College in Election

– C-SPAN, September 28, 1992.

Representatives of various groups discussed the electoral college and its origins. The group also talked about presidential elections where the electoral college was significant.

Electoral College Quiz

– Washington Times, November 3, 1992.

Excerpt: On Jan. 8, 1981, following the election in which John Anderson ran for president as an independent candidate, I began an article under this same title by pointing out that… More

When the Last Vote Is Cast…

– Washington Times, November 3, 1992.

Excerpt: On Jan. 8, 1981, following the election in which John Anderson ran for president as an independent candidate, I began an article under this same title by pointing out that… More

Let’s Hear It for the Electoral College

– Wall Street Journal, December 2, 1992; reprinted in Walter Berns, In Defense of Liberal Democracy (Regnery Gateway, 1984).

Excerpt: Once again we have reason to be grateful for the Electoral College. Bill Clinton’s victory has been widely termed a “landslide.” Yet it was that, of course, only… More

Electoral College Procedure

– C-SPAN, January 6, 1993.

Mr. Berns discussed the origins and history of the electoral college process, with the 1992 electoral college scheduled to take place later in the day. He also commented on footage from… More

Third Party Candidates Face a High Hurdle in the Electoral College

– The American Enterprise, January 1, 1996.

Excerpt: In the century and a half since the emergence of our current two-party system the United States has avoided any crisis in selecting a new president and vice-president–in… More

Testimony of Walter Berns on the Electoral College

Excerpt: In 1981, I began an article The Wall Street Journal by pointing out that “where the Electoral College is concerned, nothing fails to succeed like success.” What was… More

Has the Electoral College Flunked Out?

– Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg, PBS, November 16, 2000.

This week, Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg takes an in-depth look at the history and purpose of the electoral college. The controversy surrounding the 2000 election has led many to question… More

Popular vs. Electoral College Vote

– Panel discussion hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, November 1, 2000.

Participants spoke about the role and workings of the Electoral College. They talked about such topics as the history of the Electoral College and the role it had played in past… More

Electoral College

– Panel hosted by Georgetown University, November 29, 2000.

Panelists talked about the electoral college system of voting for president in the U.S. They also talked about which voters have the most power under the current system.

Electoral College Votes Preview

– C-SPAN, December 18, 2000.

Mr. Berns and Mr. White talked about the Electoral College process. They focused on how the process is run and why it was created by the Founding Fathers. They also responded to viewer… More

Should the Current Electoral College System Be Preserved?

– Congressional Digest 80:1 (January 2001), 16.

Presents arguments in favor of preserving the Electoral College system of electing the president of the United States. American Enterprise Institute resident scholar Walter Berns; State… More

Two-and-a-Half Cheers for the Electoral College

– Ashbrook Center, April 2001; reprinted in Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought (AEI Press, 2006).

Excerpt: Andy Warhol once said that everyone has fifteen minutes of fame during a lifetime—or, at least, is entitled to fifteen minutes of fame. His began when he painted his picture of a… More

Election Reform

– Discussion hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, April 5, 2001.

The panelists discussed efforts to reform the U.S. election system since the contested presidential vote in Florida last year and answered questions from the audience of high school… More

The Insignificant Office

– National Review Online, July 9, 2004; reprinted in Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought (AEI Press, 2006).

Excerpt: Why should John Edwards or anyone else want to be vice president? One of the men who held the post spoke of it as “the most insignificant office” ever contrived by the… More

Recipes for Anarchy

– Washington Post, July 16, 2004.

In his column [“The Right Plan for Iraqi Voters,” op-ed, July 6] Andrew Reynolds makes much of what advocates see as the chief merit of proportional representation–namely,… More

Democracy and the Constitution: Landmarks of Contemporary Political Thought

– AEI Press, 2006.

Excerpt: One of the distinctive things about America is that its Founders were political theorists as well as practitioners. Consider, as the most telling example, the Declaration of… More

Outputs: The Electoral College Produces Presidents

– Securing Democracy: Why We Have an Electoral College, Gary L. Gregg II, ed. (Wilmington, DE: ISI Books, 2008).

The distinguished contributors to Securing Democracy—including Michael Barone, Walter Berns, and Daniel Patrick Moynihan—have an uncommonly complete understanding of the nature of… More

The Case for Keeping the Electoral College

– Roll Call, April 3, 2008.

Excerpt: Although national attention continues to focus on an especially riveting nomination contest, a consequential change to the Electoral College, the so-called National Popular Vote… More

Walter Berns’ Constitution by Christopher DeMuth

– Remarks by Christopher DeMuth at a Constitution Day seminar in honor of Walter Berns, hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, September 20, 2011.

Excerpt: In America today, the Constitution has come to mean constitutional law. Most Americans venerate their Constitution and realize that it is an important source of their liberties and… More

Tag: Electoral College

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