Bill Summary
This legislation is a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The amendment would abolish the electoral college and instead establish a direct election of the President and Vice President by the people of the several states and the district constituting the seat of government of the United States. This change is being proposed because the electoral college was established in an era of limited communication and information sharing, but with the development of mass media and the internet, citizens now have better access to information about out-of-state candidates. The resolution cites previous amendments that expanded the right to vote to all citizens regardless of race, gender, and age, and argues that the electoral college has become an outdated system. If the amendment is ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures within seven years, it will take effect one year after the first day of January following ratification.
Possible Impacts
1. The proposed amendment could affect people by giving them a more direct say in who becomes the President and Vice President of the United States. This could potentially increase the feeling of political empowerment and engagement among citizens.
2. The legislation could also potentially affect the power and influence of smaller states in the electoral process. Currently, the electoral college gives a disproportionate amount of weight to smaller states, but with a direct popular vote, their influence may be diminished.
3. The amendment could also potentially affect the way presidential campaigns are run. With a direct election, candidates may shift their focus and strategies to appeal to a broader, nationwide audience instead of targeting specific states. This could lead to changes in campaign tactics and messaging.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 7 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 7
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to
abolish the electoral college and to provide for the direct election of
the President and Vice President of the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2019
Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Garamendi, and Ms. Brownley of
California) submitted the following joint resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to
abolish the electoral college and to provide for the direct election of
the President and Vice President of the United States.
Whereas the Founders of the Nation established the electoral college in an era
of limited nationwide communication and information sharing;
Whereas the electoral college is premised on an antiquated theory that citizens
will have a better chance of knowing about electors from their home
States than about Presidential candidates from out of State;
Whereas the development of mass media and the Internet has made information
about Presidential candidates easily accessible to United States
citizens across the country and around the world;
Whereas citizens now have a far better chance of knowing about out-of-State
Presidential candidates than about Presidential electors from their home
State;
Whereas Thomas Jefferson wrote, ``I am not an advocate for frequent changes in
laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand
with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed,
more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and
manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances,
institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as
well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as
civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous
ancestors.'';
Whereas since the Nation's founding, United States citizens have amended the
Constitution to expand the opportunity for citizens to directly elect
their elected leaders;
Whereas the 15th Amendment guarantees the right of all citizens to vote
regardless of race;
Whereas the 19th Amendment guarantees the right of all citizens to vote
regardless of gender;
Whereas the 26th Amendment guarantees the right of all citizens 18 years of age
and older to vote regardless of age;
Whereas the 17th Amendment establishes both a precedent and a preference for the
direct election of citizens' elected representatives; and
Whereas the electoral college has become an anachronism: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House
concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States
within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:
``Article--
``Section 1. The President and Vice President shall be elected by
the people of the several States and the district constituting the seat
of government of the United States.
``Section 2. The electors in each State shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors of the most populous branch of
the legislature of the State; although Congress may establish uniform
age qualifications.
``Section 3. Each elector shall cast a single vote for two persons
who have consented to the joining of their names as candidates for
President and Vice President. No elector shall be prohibited from
casting a vote for a candidate for President or Vice President because
either candidate, or both, are inhabitants of the same State as the
elector.
``Section 4. The pair of candidates having the greatest number of
votes for President and Vice President shall be elected.
``Section 5. The times, places, and manner of holding such
elections and entitlement to inclusion on the ballot shall be
determined by Congress.
``Section 6. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the
death or any other disqualification of any candidate for President or
Vice President before the day on which the President-elect or Vice
President-elect has been chosen; and for the case of a tie in any
election.
``Section 7. This article shall take effect one year after the
first day of January following ratification.''.
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