US electoral college essays

US electoral college essays ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM: Is it time for a change? The recent presidential election brought to the forefront of the American publics mind the question of whether the Electoral College remains an appropriate method of electing the nations highest-ranking public official. Although the closeness of this race reminded the general public that they did not have the right to directly elect the president, the debate as to the value of this system, or the question of what is the best method, is not new. In fact, the shortcomings of the Electoral College system have for some time been the subject of academic debate (Abbott). Over the years, the favor, and disfavor, of the Electoral College system has ebbed and flowed with the possibility of an election resulting in no majority winner, due to a viable third party candidate, or the possibility of a president being elected without winning the popular vote. Thus, with the recent election of president Bush, who failed to win the popular vote, yet garnered the 270 Electoral Votes necessary to atta in a majority, the debate has again gained momentum as not a purely academic question (Wildvasky). While the Electoral College system does serve several arguably desirable objectives, it also limits the personal power of the voter. This paper will look at both sides of the debate, and then draw a conclusion as to whether or not the value of the Electoral College system outweighs the costs. However, before looking at the pros and cons of our present system, it is best to begin with an explanation of how the Electoral College system came about and its original intended purposes. By understanding this, the foundation of the Electoral College system can be applied to the 21st century and examined for its relevance. Finally, this paper will conclude that the Electoral College system does not fit with the realities of 21st century elections, nor is it even being used, as it was intended when adopt...

Poring over Pore and Pour

Poring over Pore and Pour Poring over Pore and Pour Poring over Pore and Pour By Maeve Maddox Some confusion appears to exist regarding the use of pour and pore. Charlie complains that he has to pour through stacks of badly-written letters to the editor every day. In this context the word should be pore. The usual idiom is to pore over. Apparently the preposition through has entered into use, as in the above quotation, and as in this headline in the New York Times: Teachers Pore Through Stacks Of Possibilities The verb pore, with the meaning examine closely, may derive from two Old English words, a verb, spyrian, meaning to investigate, examine, and a noun, spor, meaning a trace, vestige. The noun pore, meaning an opening in the skin, is not related to the verb in the expression to pore over. The noun comes from a Greek word meaning a passageway. The verb pour, meaning to transfer water or some other substance from a container, came into English by way of Old French from a Latin verb, purare, to purify. In ritual practice, objects are purified by pouring water over them. The English word pure comes from Latin purus, pure. The Latin verb came from the Latin noun. Memory device: Lore is learning, knowledge, doctrine. To become well-versed in computer lore or the lore of magic, or the lore of religion, one must pore over learned tomes. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Congratulations on or for?How to spell "in lieu of"8 Great Podcasts for Writers and Book Authors