Direct Versus Indirect Elections

[Keith Broaders]

Ia pure democracy the representatives of the people elected by the people directly. This is how Congressional Representatives are chosen. Originally, the legislatures of the states chose their senators. This is an example of an in-direct election, where the representatives of the people in their state legislature choose their senators.

The direct election of members of the House of Representatives is based on proportional representation, while the membership in the senate is based on equal representation.

There is a direct collation between the caliber of the candidates elected and the caliber of the voters. A large pool of uneducated voters makes it more difficult for the best candidates to get elected.

If the right to vote is limited to the honest, ethical and well educated individuals it is likely that they will elect superior candidates to office.

Should the votes individuals with IQ's under 80 have the same weight as people with IQ's of over 130 be counted the same?