Electing the president is an important part of American democracy. Americans want a qualified, mature person whom they can trust to head the executive branch. Should the presidential eligibility requirements or the Electoral College requirements be changed to reflect the changes in demographics and education of American voters? Explain.
Post a detailed response to the Should Eligibility Requirements and Processes of Electing the President Remain? prompt. Then respond to two posts.
Participate in the discussion to learn more about the eligibility requirements and processes of electing the president.
The question of whether the presidential eligibility requirements and Electoral College requirements should be changed in order to reflect changes in demographics and education of American voters is a complex issue that requires careful consideration.
On one hand, some argue that the current requirements for presidential eligibility, specifically the age and citizenship requirements, are outdated and should be revised. The current age requirement of being at least 35 years old was established in the 18th century when life expectancies were much lower, and individuals were considered mature at a much younger age. With advancements in healthcare and increased life expectancies, it can be argued that younger individuals may possess the necessary qualifications and maturity to effectively lead the country. Moreover, the citizenship requirement of being a natural-born citizen has been viewed as exclusionary and discriminatory towards individuals who have immigrated to the United States and have lived there for a significant amount of time.
Additionally, some believe that the Electoral College system should be reformed or even abolished entirely in order to better represent the changing demographics of the country. The current system, which allocates electoral votes based on a state's population, can lead to situations where the candidate who receives the most popular votes nationwide does not win the presidency. This can have the effect of disenfranchising voters in states with smaller populations and can create a disconnect between the will of the people and the outcome of the election. Therefore, there is a legitimate argument to be made in favor of changing the Electoral College system to a more proportional representation system, where the popular vote determines the outcome of the election.
On the other hand, there are valid reasons for maintaining the current eligibility requirements and Electoral College system. The age and citizenship requirements serve as safeguards to ensure that individuals seeking to become president have sufficient life experience, maturity, and loyalty to the United States. These requirements also maintain a level of stability and continuity in the executive branch, preventing inexperienced or potentially harmful individuals from assuming the highest office in the country.
Similarly, the Electoral College system was implemented to distribute political power among states and prevent the domination of presidential elections by highly populated areas. This ensures that smaller states still have a voice in the election and prevents candidates from solely focusing on densely populated urban areas while neglecting the concerns of rural and less populated regions. The Electoral College acts as a safeguard to ensure the interests of all states are taken into account during the presidential election process.
In conclusion, the question of whether the presidential eligibility requirements or Electoral College requirements should be changed in response to changes in demographics and education of American voters is a complex one with valid arguments on both sides. While there may be a need to update certain aspects to reflect modern realities, it is important to carefully consider the potential consequences and impacts of any changes made to these core elements of American democracy.