MONROVIA – The United States Foreign Press Election Reporting tour has kicked off with more than 225 journalists around the world.
Report by Massa Kanneh, [email protected], Contributor
The virtual reporting tour or briefing commenced on Monday, September 21 with expert briefer, Professor Mark J. Rozell drilling the journalists through the U.S. electoral system via Zoom.
Prof. Rozell is a Dean of Schar School of Policy and Government at Georgia Mason University in the United States.
During his introductory statement, Prof. Rozell informed the reporters the US practices a Federal form of governance. As such, unlike parliamentary democracies, the United States does not elect the entire national government in one year – it is done by stages.
He said every two years the U.S. elects members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate, while the President is elected once every four years.
This year, the President, the House of Representatives and a third of Senate would be elected.
Due to the federalism system of Government in the America, other local authorities including, state governors, states legislative bodies, county, city, township, village officials, public school boards and public library boards are also elected.
Prof. Rozell said during the formation of the United States of America in the late 18th century, there was a devised system of divided and centralized authority to prevent any one group from controlling all powers and to weaken the federal level authority while leaving much power in the hands of States and local governments.
He lamented in U.S. election, the President wins election and claims a mandate to govern. But after two years of service, the nation elects new members of Congress, which is usually the opposition party that gains seats in these elections, thereby constraining the President’s authority for the remaining two years.
Prof. Rozell added that the 2020 Presidential Election is a multi-staged process in which multiple candidates compete for each political party’s nomination over a several months in a series of primaries.
The two major parties hold nominating conventions to ratify their choice for President, he added. The President names a running mate, which is also confirmed by votes at the convention.
During the election, eligible adult citizens vote in the general election and the Electoral College ratifies the outcome, he said.
He said while November 3 would be the election day, the next President would be formally elected in December 2020 by the 538 members of the Electoral College.
To claim victory, a presidential candidate must win 270 of the Electoral College. If a Presidential candidate cannot win said 270, the House of Representatives will choose the President.