Posted on 11/22/2016 10:44:54 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Charles B. Rangel introduced, H.J. Res 103, a bill today that would allow Congress to vote to eliminate the Electoral College system and decide future presidential elections by the outcome of the popular vote. This legislation is the House companion bill to S.J.Res.41, introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on November 15, 2016.
“I came to Congress on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, and I know how hard we fought for the sacred right to vote,” said Rangel. “To protect it, everyone should have access to the vote, and every vote must count. The fact that a candidate can receive more votes than the other but lose the election is fundamentally undemocratic.”
Secretary Hillary Clinton, who received at least 62,825,754 votes in the presidential election, won the popular vote over Donald Trump. It is estimated that by the time all the votes are counted, Secretary Clinton may win the popular vote by over two million votes and more than 1.5 percentage points. However, Secretary Clinton lost the Electoral College 232 to 306. This makes Donald Trump the fifth person in U.S. history and the second this century to lose the popular vote and still win the presidency.
The Boxer-Rangel legislation seeks to amend the U.S. Constitution and abolish the Electoral College. The amendment would take effect if ratified by three-fourths of the states within seven years after its passage in the U.S. Congress.
“It is time that we do away the antiquated and obsolete Electoral College system. True democracy should guarantee one person, one vote,” Rangel added.
Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who represents the 13th Congressional District of New York that includes Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, will be retiring at the end of the 114th Congress after 46 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is currently the second longest serving member in the U.S. Congress. A champion of civil rights, he marched from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 with John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr.
Text of Bill below:
H. J. RES. 103
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to abolish the Electoral College and to provide for the direct popular election of the President and Vice-president of the United States.
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:
The President and Vice President shall be jointly elected by the direct vote of the qualified electors of the several States and territories and the District constituting the seat of Government of the United States. The electors in each State, territory, and the District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the legislative body where they reside.
Congress may determine the time, place, and manner of holding the election, the entitlement to inclusion on the ballot, and the manner in which the results of the election shall be ascertained and declared.
Rangel knows nothing is going to change. He’s just showing off for his constituents. He’s powerless so he runs his mouth talking nonsense.
These people think Obama’s executive orders override the Constitution. There is not much hope they can figure this out.
It’s a law for a constitutional amendment which will never pass. In other words, it’s a complete waste of the tax payer’s time and money.
“Someone needs to tell him it is in the Constitution. A simple law won’t eliminate it... What an idiot.”
Rep Charlie Rangel is most definitely more than reason enough for EVERYONE IN CONGRESS to be subjected to TERM LIMITS.
We elect a President of the United States. Not a President of California and her surrounding territories.
Remember...Trump was smart enough not to waste money campaigning in California.
But since he managed to flip 5 states...ho knows. Surely he would have upped hi popular vote total by a couple mil.
Read the bill please....He is proposing a constitutional amendment.
Um, does he not know he needs a Constitutional amendment?
Tax evasion.
One electoral vote per congressional district carried. Plus two for carrying the majority of a state's CDs, or, in the event of a tie in CDs, the state's popular vote.
Oh! And get rid of those useless electors who meet on 19 December! Make the electoral vote automatic. Instead, write rules how the votes are to be counted in the event of a dead President Elect or similar.
“One person, one vote” soon evolves into “one person, one vote, one way, one time”, and the party put into power just says, “Thanks, we will take it from here.”
Kind of how the “democracy” of the Soviet Union was established. That, of course, and the power that grows out of the barrel of a rifle.
A pure democracy is no virtue, and soon expires of its own excesses. Democracy is but one ingredient of governance, and should be used sparingly, like salt in a recipe.
actually, the EC has saved us from being ruled by Californholes.
Thank God for the Electoral College!
or who said some island may tip over?
no
Rangel is a horses ass.
I have just written my state reps to reject this bill (Pennsylvania). Pennsylvania only gets a voice with the Electoral College.
IDK, could the Democrats have passed it if they got a supermajority, plus some rogue Republicans to their side?
Misleading, since Congress can vote all it wants, but Congress cannot, on its own, eliminate the Electoral College.
That would require 38 States to agree (i.e., for no more than 12 to disagree).
The 22 least populated states, together, equal the population of California.
There are 21 states with 3, 4, 5, or 6 electoral votes. It is incomprehensible that 13 of these 21 would vote to surrender their role in choosing a President.
Sure, Trump has the momentum. But his prospects for 270 electoral votes are dim.(Washington Post Sep 18, 2016)It is beyond dispute that Donald Trump has the momentum in the presidential race. It is also beyond dispute that he still has an incredibly narrow path to get to 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.Let’s start with the two most important numbers in this election: 18 and 13.
Eighteen is the number of states every Democratic presidential nominee has carried in each of the past six presidential elections, dating to 1992. Add in the District of Columbia, which also fits the bill, and you get 242 electoral votes.
Thirteen is the number of states every Republican presidential nominee has won in those same presidential elections. Add them up, and you get 102 electoral votes.......
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