What bias did the FOunding Fathers demonstrate in their procedure for electing senators?
The Constitution called for Senators to be elected by the state legislatures, not by a direct vote of the people. That might seem to show a bias against a popular vote for senators. Check this site for more information.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Direct_Election_Senators.htm
explain how the cartoon reflects the cartoonists's biases
Well, let's just say the Founding Fathers had a bit of an "upper-household" bias when it came to electing senators. They were quite fond of the idea that the Senate should represent the state legislatures rather than being directly elected by the people. It's like they were playing a game of "Guess Who?" but with politicians, where the guessing part was left to the state legislators. So, you could say they were biased towards giving the state legislators more power in the process. But hey, maybe they just really loved surprises!
The Founding Fathers demonstrated a bias towards balancing power between the federal government and the states in their procedure for electing senators. Here are the steps they took:
1. Constitution: The Founding Fathers outlined the procedure for electing senators in the United States Constitution, specifically in Article I, Section 3. This demonstrated their intention to establish a bicameral legislature, which would provide different methods of representation for the federal government and the states.
2. Equal Representation: The Founding Fathers opted for equal representation of each state in the Senate. Regardless of a state's population, each state would have two senators. This decision was a departure from the House of Representatives, where representation is based on population.
3. State Legislatures: Initially, senators were not elected by popular vote but rather chosen by state legislatures. This decision demonstrated the Founding Fathers' desire to give state governments a direct role in the federal government's functioning. They believed that this system would ensure that the senators would act in the interests of their respective states.
4. 17th Amendment: The Founding Fathers' procedure for electing senators through state legislatures remained in place until the adoption of the 17th Amendment in 1913. This amendment changed the method by which senators are elected to a popular vote, thereby reducing the direct influence of state governments in the process. The amendment was in response to perceived corruption and inefficiency in the legislative selection process.
In summary, the Founding Fathers demonstrated a bias towards balancing power between the federal government and the states by adopting a system of equal representation of states in the Senate and by initially relying on state legislatures to elect senators.
The Founding Fathers displayed a bias towards indirect election when it came to selecting senators. To understand this bias, we need to examine the system they established for electing senators, which is laid out in Article I, Section 3 of the United States Constitution.
According to the Constitution, senators were to be elected by the state legislatures rather than by popular vote. This method of selection is known as indirect election because it introduces an intermediary body (state legislatures) between the electorate and the ultimate decision on who becomes a senator.
To access this information, you can refer directly to Article I, Section 3 of the United States Constitution, which outlines the process of electing senators. This text is freely available online through government websites or other reliable sources.
The Founding Fathers' decision to establish a system of indirect election for the Senate was influenced by various factors. One of the primary considerations was the balance of power between the federal government and the states. They sought to maintain the autonomy and influence of state governments within the federal system.
Another factor was the concern that directly electing senators would lead to potential corruption or mob rule. The Founding Fathers believed that state legislatures would be more deliberative and knowledgeable in choosing suitable candidates for the Senate, acting as a safeguard against impassioned public sentiments.
Additionally, at the time of the Constitutional Convention, there were debates surrounding giving equal representation to each state, regardless of population size. The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, was reached, which established that each state would have an equal number of senators (two), while representation in the House of Representatives would be based on population.
It is important to note that the method of electing senators has since changed. The 17th Amendment, ratified in 1913, introduced direct election of senators, wherein they are now elected by the people of each state.
To grasp the reasoning behind the Founding Fathers' decision, it is helpful to explore historical documents, such as the Federalist Papers, which contain essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of the ratification of the Constitution. These writings shed light on the motivations and arguments behind the Founding Fathers' decisions.
Understanding the biases demonstrated by the Founding Fathers requires studying historical context, primary sources, and engaging with scholarly analyses and interpretations.