Debating the Role of the Electoral College (2000)

The presidency hinging on Florida’s 25 electoral votes decided by razor-thin outcomes in a handful of counties cast a glaring spotlight on the historic intricacies of the electoral college—a system of representative voting outlined in Article II of the Constitution. While the design and function of the electoral college in presidential election has been debated since its inception in 1787, the legal quagmires presented in 2000 offered a unique chance to question the utility of an 18th century practice at the dawn of the 21st. In this clip, a panel of professors in law and political science explain the historical contexts of the electoral college and debate ways in which it may undermine the will of the people as expressed by the popular vote.

NewsHour with Jim Lehrer | NewsHour Productions (Television station : Washington, D.C..)| November 23, 2000 This video clip and associated transcript appear from 21:06 - 35:48 in the full record.