Word: stated
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 2000-2000
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...federal statute holds that when the outcome of a presidential race is in doubt, a state's presidential electors "may be appointed...in such a manner as the legislature of such state may direct." Florida speaker of the house Tom Feeney ordered up a legal analysis that concludes that the legislature has the right to step in and select the state's 25 electors. If the outcome remains in doubt as the Dec. 12 deadline approaches, the Republican-dominated legislature may attempt simply to select the Bush electors. A more radical possibility is that if Gore is ahead of Bush...
...person, one-vote cases were aimed at laws that expressly gave some voters more representation than others. Florida's recount law, on the other hand, is designed to ensure that all voters in the state get the same vote. A recount should not give a county's voters more or less representation; it should simply ensure that everyone who cast a valid ballot is given a vote...
...possibility of a constitutional crisis when any two branches of government are locked in conflict. It is conceivable that the Florida Supreme Court, which is heavily Democratic, and the Florida legislature, which is heavily Republican, could reach a deadlock about which set of electors rightfully represents the state...
...Supreme Court held in Marbury v. Madison that in conflicts between the branches, the judicial branch has the final word. That principle applies at the state level as well. State courts regularly strike down laws passed by state legislatures and issue orders that are binding on Governors. That means that, presumptively, a ruling of the Florida Supreme Court would trump an act of the Florida legislature. But if the two branches reached an irresolvable impasse on a matter as important as a presidential election, it is probable that the U.S. Supreme Court would find a reason to come...
...each, to throw out Florida's electors. One reading of the 12th Amendment holds that Gore would then become President: he would have a majority of the remaining electors. But another reading says the election would then be thrown to the House to decide. In that case, each state would cast one vote, determined by the U.S. Representatives from that state. A majority of the congressional delegations, 28, are Republican. If a President were chosen in this manner, the U.S. Senate would then select the Vice President. The Senate will be evenly divided, 50-50, if Democrat Maria Cantwell hangs...