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In reply to the discussion: Lifting the 435 seat limit on the size of the U.S. House would make the Electoral College fairer. [View all]Gothmog
(179,451 posts)60. Read the case law
I had looked at this a while back. Here is a simplistic explanation for the laypersons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Popular_Vote_Interstate_Compact
Supporters believe the compact is legal under Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the plenary power of the states to appoint their electors in any manner they see fit: "Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress
" Proponents of this position include law professor Jamie Raskin (now U.S. Congressman-elect for Maryland's 8th congressional district), who, as a state legislator, co-sponsored the first NPVIC bill to be signed into law, and law professors Akhil Reed Amar and Vikram Amar, who were the compact's original proponents.[38]
A 2008 assessment by law school student David Gringer suggested that the NPVIC could potentially violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965, but the U.S. Department of Justice in 2012 precleared California's entry into the compact under Section 5 of the Act, concluding that the compact had no adverse impact on California's racial minority voters.[39][40] FairVote's Rob Richie says that the NPVIC "treats all voters equally."[41]
Gringer also assailed the NPVIC as "an end-run around the constitutional amendment process." Raskin has responded: "the term 'end run' has no known constitutional or legal meaning. More to the point, to the extent that we follow its meaning in real usage, the 'end run' is a perfectly lawful play."[42] Raskin argues that the adoption of the term "end run" by the compact's opponents is a tacit acknowledgment of the plan's legality.
Ian Drake, an assistant professor of Political Science and another critic of the compact, has argued that the constitution both requires and prohibits Congressional approval of the compact. In Drake's view, only a constitutional amendment could make the compact valid.[43] Authors Michael Brody,[44] Jennifer Hendricks,[45] and Bradley Turflinger[46] have examined the compact and concluded that the NPVIC, if successfully enacted, would pass constitutional muster. Brody has put forth a unique theory that the legality of the NPVIC could potentially hinge on the notion that faithless electors are not necessarily obligated to vote for the candidate to whom they are pledged.[47]
It is possible that Congress would have to approve the NPVIC before it could go into effect. Article I, Section 10 of the US Constitution states that: "No State shall, without the Consent of Congress . . . enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power." However, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Virginia v. Tennessee, 148 U.S. 503 (1893), and in several more recent cases, that such consent is not necessary except where a compact encroaches on federal supremacy.[48] Every Vote Equal argues that the compact could never encroach upon federal power since the Constitution explicitly gives the power of casting electoral votes to the states, not the federal government. Derek Muller argues that the NPVIC would nonetheless affect the federal system in such a way that it would require Congressional approval,[49] while Ian Drake argues that Congress is actually prohibited under the Constitution from granting approval to the NPVIC.[43] NPVIC supporters dispute this conclusion and state they plan to seek congressional approval if the compact is approved by a sufficient number of states.[50]
A 2008 assessment by law school student David Gringer suggested that the NPVIC could potentially violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965, but the U.S. Department of Justice in 2012 precleared California's entry into the compact under Section 5 of the Act, concluding that the compact had no adverse impact on California's racial minority voters.[39][40] FairVote's Rob Richie says that the NPVIC "treats all voters equally."[41]
Gringer also assailed the NPVIC as "an end-run around the constitutional amendment process." Raskin has responded: "the term 'end run' has no known constitutional or legal meaning. More to the point, to the extent that we follow its meaning in real usage, the 'end run' is a perfectly lawful play."[42] Raskin argues that the adoption of the term "end run" by the compact's opponents is a tacit acknowledgment of the plan's legality.
Ian Drake, an assistant professor of Political Science and another critic of the compact, has argued that the constitution both requires and prohibits Congressional approval of the compact. In Drake's view, only a constitutional amendment could make the compact valid.[43] Authors Michael Brody,[44] Jennifer Hendricks,[45] and Bradley Turflinger[46] have examined the compact and concluded that the NPVIC, if successfully enacted, would pass constitutional muster. Brody has put forth a unique theory that the legality of the NPVIC could potentially hinge on the notion that faithless electors are not necessarily obligated to vote for the candidate to whom they are pledged.[47]
It is possible that Congress would have to approve the NPVIC before it could go into effect. Article I, Section 10 of the US Constitution states that: "No State shall, without the Consent of Congress . . . enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power." However, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Virginia v. Tennessee, 148 U.S. 503 (1893), and in several more recent cases, that such consent is not necessary except where a compact encroaches on federal supremacy.[48] Every Vote Equal argues that the compact could never encroach upon federal power since the Constitution explicitly gives the power of casting electoral votes to the states, not the federal government. Derek Muller argues that the NPVIC would nonetheless affect the federal system in such a way that it would require Congressional approval,[49] while Ian Drake argues that Congress is actually prohibited under the Constitution from granting approval to the NPVIC.[43] NPVIC supporters dispute this conclusion and state they plan to seek congressional approval if the compact is approved by a sufficient number of states.[50]
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Lifting the 435 seat limit on the size of the U.S. House would make the Electoral College fairer. [View all]
Ken Burch
Jan 2017
OP
I've thought about that too. Right now it probably can't be done because of the makeup of
shraby
Jan 2017
#1
We should have it in the platform and require all congressional candidates to pledge to support it.
Ken Burch
Jan 2017
#2
You have something there. Maybe the ACLU could be persuaded? If not, a high profile
shraby
Jan 2017
#3
If we are to stick with our current system it is the right thing to do ...
etherealtruth
Jan 2017
#5
We can use this as a way of mobilizing opposition to them and getting them out.
Ken Burch
Jan 2017
#15
I sure hope so. The pessimist in me says it's too late. They've already stacked the deck....
Adrahil
Jan 2017
#29
the Country was set up to provide equal representation and two Senators per state
rufus dog
Jan 2017
#21
I've read that the House should have more than 1000 members by now to be fair. n/t
Turn CO Blue
Jan 2017
#12
That will be found unconstitutional under the Compact Clause unfortunately
Grey Lemercier
Jan 2017
#45
states cannot enter into binding compacts that have a national impact without approval of Congress
Grey Lemercier
Jan 2017
#75
You do understand that the rather silly proposal advanced in the OP need congressional approval
Gothmog
Jan 2017
#82
passing an new Act (when and if we get control back) is MUCH easier than an Amendment to the
Grey Lemercier
Jan 2017
#84
I am not changing my mind, and those examples of Compacts did NOT have national ramifications
Grey Lemercier
Jan 2017
#89
The only alternatives offerred involve getting Congressional republicans to agree
Gothmog
Jan 2017
#115
I would say keep the ratio static, Wyoming rounded down to nearest 100000 and the....
Humanist_Activist
Jan 2017
#43
If that's true then the democratic solutions would be breaking up the country...
Humanist_Activist
Jan 2017
#56
we could sue, saying it is no longer one man one vote using Wyoming as our example.
Hamlette
Jan 2017
#44
THIS!!!!!!! ....I have been screaming this for years, long before I joined this board
Grey Lemercier
Jan 2017
#47
The reverse is even worse, ie. a citizen gets lost in the crush of far too many people
Grey Lemercier
Jan 2017
#50
I am truly open to alternative suggestions, do you have any? this problem is going to just keep
Grey Lemercier
Jan 2017
#52
Does anyone really think that Congressional republicans will vote to increase the size of the house
Gothmog
Jan 2017
#83
The concept of a lawsuit attacking the apportionment act is dumb and would be rejected by the courts
Gothmog
Jan 2017
#107
Ken-your contemplated lawsuit was a very dumb idea and had no chance in the real world
Gothmog
Jan 2017
#121