Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylinder
Congress had a very big stick to wield in that instance - highway funding - and solid public support. Even with that, there was a big stink raised over states' rights. Notice that the same tactic did not work as well with the the 55 MPH federally-mandated speed limit.
The problem with Congress mandating election law is that it undercuts the process by concentrating the power to dictate the electoral process with the very people that process was intended to subjugate. Not a good formula, IMHO.
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Hm. Quite true. I keep forgetting that seperation of powers and states' rights are far more vigorously enforced in the US. Contrast Canada: we have a fusion of powers and favour centralization. The first is due to the fact that we're a Westminster system, and the second due to the fact that in 1867, we had just seen the US Civil War and equated it to states' rights.
Still, couldn't you get a summit of governors to discuss standardizing election methods? Or is a governors/first ministers meeting another Canada-only concept?