Congress Calendars the College, Constitution Article 2 §1.4

These days I’m studying Article 2 of the Constitution, which deals with the Executive branch of government. That’s a hot topic these days, and one our current Executive doesn’t seem to understand very well. Last week in Article 2 §1.3 I started to learn about what the electors do. This week I’m looking at Article 2 §1.4 which puts Congress in charge of the electors.

Article 2 §1.4

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

Well, there is a lot to say about the electoral college, and a lot to criticize. But this clause isn’t really part of the problem. It just gives the Congress calendar control over the presidential election. And that’s a pretty insignificant thing when you’ve just spent the last three clauses and a couple hundred years of judicial action blocking the popular vote, which is the definition of democracy.

democracy

1. government in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives; rule by the ruled
2. a country, state, etc. with such government
3. majority rule
4. the principle of equality of rights, opportunity, and treatment, or the practice of this principle
5. the common people, esp. as the wielders of political power

Emphasis mine.