FOR CLASSROOM DISCUSSION
21. Is the Federal Constitution too difficult of amendment? Is it too easily amended?
22. Does the Constitution adequately protect state governments against Federal aggression?
23. Has judicial interpretation of the Constitution proved helpful or harmful?
24. Has constitutional modification through usage proved helpful or harmful?
CHAPTER XL
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
A. CHOOSING THE PRESIDENT
508. ORIGINAL METHOD OF CHOOSING THE PRESIDENT.—The Federal Constitution sought to protect the office of chief magistrate against popular passion by providing for the indirect election of the President. According to the Constitution, each state was to appoint, "in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct," a number of electors equal to the state's combined quota of senators and representatives in Congress. These electors were to meet, each group in its own state, and were to vote by ballot for two persons. These ballots were then to be transmitted sealed to Congress, where the President of the Senate was to open and count them in the presence of both houses. The person receiving the highest number of votes was to be declared President, while the individual obtaining the next highest number was to fill the office of Vice President.
509. CHANGES IN THE ORIGINAL METHOD OF CHOOSING THE PRESIDENT.—Three important changes have been brought about in the original method of choosing the President.