From: rdubbs@cs.tamu.edu (Roger B. Dubbs III)
Subject: Proposal to amend the Constitution
Summary: electoral college reform
Organization: Computer Science Department, Texas A&M University
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 00:58:10 GMT

I decided to put my ideas into a more polished form.  I tried to make
this look as much like a "real law" and a "real amendment" as
possible.  I would like all comments, both pro and con about the text.
Even spelling flames/grammar flames are welcome (by email.)  I would
also like to know how you think it would fare in Congress.  It seems to
me that the Democrats might actually prefer such a plan to the current,
since they control Congress, and could presumably control the College.

Some comments of my own:  

Section 1 is intended to eliminate the winner-take-all method of
selecting electors.

Section 2 is intended to allow electors to make deals in the event of
an initial indecision, rather than immediately throwing the election
into Congress.  The seven day deadline is intended to prevent
deadlocks.  The travel allowance is intended to allow poorer citizens
to serve as elector.

The third section is intended to give electors a purpose past the
initial election, and also to prevent an "unelected president" such as
Gerald Ford was.

The final section is to ensure that no ongoing presidential race is
affected by the ratification of the amendment.

/Roger
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A BILL to amend the Constitution of these United States.

  Be it resolved that, pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the
  United States, the following Article of Amendment shall be submitted to
  Conventions in each of the several States for ratification.

     "Section 1. The Electors of a state shall be elected in the same
  manner as the Representatives and Senators of that State's
  congressional delegation for terms of four years each.  In the event
  of a vacancy in an electors seat, the rules set for replacement of a
  congressman shall apply."

     "Section 2. The Election of the President shall be made at the
  seat of government of the United States seven days after appointed
  day of selection of electors. Electors shall enjoy all the immunities
  of members of Congress while meeting for the purposes of election,
  and shall be paid a travel allowance determined by Congress. Electors
  shall remain in session for seven days, or until a President and a
  Vice President have been seperately elected by a majority.  In the
  event that no decision is made by the end of seven days, then the
  Congress shall decide as provided in the twelfth article of
  amendment."

     "Section 3. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice
  President, the electoral college shall again meet to select a new
  Vice President.  Congress shall provide for the notification of
  electors, and electors will have seven days to meet after said
  notification."

     "Section 4. This article shall not be operative until one year has
  passed after ratification of this article."
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Newsgroups: alt.politics.usa.constitution,talk.politics.misc