Constitution Day at the United States Senate

U.S. Senate Associate Historian Don Ritchie spoke at a ceremony honoring Constitution Day. He spoke about his book Our Constitution (Oxford University Press, 2006), as well as federal elections for presidents and for members of Congress and the modifications that have been made over the years from the disputed election of 1800, which led to the 12th Amendment fixing the Electoral College. Other topics included the elections of 1824 and 1876, the Supreme Court’s intervention in Bush v. Gore to resolve the dispute over the 2000 Florida recount, the changes in senatorial elections with the17th Amendment, the five amendments that expanded voting rights to women, minorities, the poor, the District of Columbia, and 18 to 21-year-olds. He cautioned about the possible unintended consequences of efforts to reform the electoral system. Mr. Ritchie responded to questions from members of the audience. close