Reference: Austin Plier, William & Mary Law Review, 2020
Tom Mast, founder Solve American Gridlock
America should have more than two parties! Essentially all of the world’s key democracies except the U.S. have more parties, their average being 3.9. This has been shown to provide more viewpoints, negotiation, and problem solving. Why do we have only our two parties that have degenerated into a permanent gladiatorial relationship?
Single-member districts in the House are a key reason. We have gerrymandered these districts to the point that some 85%+ of them are considered as “safe” seats, and the delicate balance of these seats has made hurting the other party become the highest priority. #gerrymandering #rankedchoicevoting
Congress voted in 1967 to mandate single-member districts in the House. Per the referenced William & Mary Law Review article, this action was triggered by a fear states could adopt multi-member districts with winner-take-all voting in an attempt to keep black candidates from winning seats. But, the law since “…has had unintended and far-reaching consequences for America’s national political health.” “…Congress has reached peak levels of dysfunction and partisan gridlock, and the composition of Congress lags behind the growing diversity of the American electorate.”
The article goes on to say that “…in the 115th Congress, every member of the U.S. House belonged to one of the two major parties, leaving minor-party voters and those dissatisfied with major-party policy positions with the unenviable choice of voting their conscience – and in all likelihood, wasting their vote – or holding their noses and voting for one of the two major parties.”
The article also made the case that the law was unconstitutional. Be that true or not, if Congress had the power to move to single-member districts, it has the power to legislate multi-member districts per Article I, Section 4 of the constitution that says “…but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Place of Choosing Senators.” This action coupled with Ranked Choice Voting would provide candidates elected by more proportional voting and lead to our having more than two parties – like other democratic countries.
Comments