The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy and the Program on Law & Government at American University's Washington College of Law presented:

Is America Ready for Popular Election of the President? A Debate on the National Popular Vote Movement

On Tuesday, November 17, ACS and the Program of Law & Government at American University's Washington College of Law hosted a debate on the merits of the National Popular Vote Interstate compact. Five states have adopted the compact by which states will cast their Electoral College votes in presidential elections for the winner of the national popular vote. Is this the "next logical step" in the unfolding of political democracy in America, as advocates claim? Is it the undoing of a careful compromise by the Framers that has served America remarkably well, as opponents argue? Four leading experts from different perspectives will debate the issue and invite audience questions and discussion.

The debate featured:

• Moderator, Caroline Fredrickson, Executive Director, American Constitution Society for Law and Policy
• Jamin Raskin, Director of the Law & Government Program, Washington College of Law; Maryland State Senator
• John Koza, Chairman, National Popular Vote Inc.
• John Samples, Director, CATO Institute's Center for Representative Government
• Alexander Belenky, Visiting Scholar, MIT's Center for Engineering Systems Fundamentals; author of How America Chooses Its Presidents

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
American University Washington College of Law, Student Lounge (6th Floor)
4801 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016