The American Plan for Presidential Primaries
The American Plan proposes a structured overhaul of the primary season, replacing the current haphazard schedule with a mathematical system of ten distinct two-week periods. By regulating when states can vote based on their electoral weight, the plan aims to balance the influence of small and large states while managing the intensity of the campaign trail.
How the American Plan Works
Under this proposal, the primary season is divided into ten periods, each lasting two weeks. The system operates on a scaling mechanism where the number of electoral votes contested increases every period. In the first period, any combination of randomly selected states or territories can vote, provided their combined electoral votes total eight. In each subsequent period, the number of contested votes increases by an additional eight.
To ensure inclusivity, the plan assigns one electoral vote each to the District of Columbia and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. While these territories typically send delegates to nominating conventions rather than electors to the Electoral College, they are integrated into the American Plan's mathematical framework.
The progression of the campaign is defined by the mathematical expression: ∑ n = 1 to 10 of 8n. This means the early stages of the campaign focus on a few small states or a small cluster of territories, gradually becoming more demanding as the number of available votes grows.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Managing High-Population States
Because of the significant population gaps between states, the American Plan naturally pushes the most populous states toward the end of the calendar. For example, Texas, New York, and Florida—the second, third, and fourth largest states—could vote as early as the fourth period. However, California, as the most populous state, would normally be restricted to the seventh period or later.
The California Plan Adjustment
To prevent California from always being relegated to the very end of the campaign, the plan introduces a staggered sequence for the later stages. This adjustment reorders specific periods to create a more balanced flow: the seventh period (56 votes) is moved before the fourth (32 votes), the eighth (64 votes) before the fifth (40 votes), and the ninth (72 votes) before the sixth (48 votes).
Key Facts
- Structure: The primary season consists of ten two-week periods.
- Scaling: The number of electoral votes contested increases by 8 in each period.
- Territory Inclusion: DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands are each counted as having one electoral vote.
- California's Role: Due to its size, California cannot vote before the seventh period.
- Staggering: The "California Plan" reorders later periods to balance the campaign's momentum.
Electoral Vote Distribution by Period
| Period Number | Electoral Votes |
|---|---|
| 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 16 |
| 3 | 24 |
| 4 | 56 |
| 5 | 32 |
| 6 | 64 |
| 7 | 40 |
| 8 | 72 |
| 9 | 48 |
| 10 | 80 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is each period in the American Plan?
Each of the ten periods in the primary season lasts exactly two weeks.
How are US territories handled in this system?
American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, along with the District of Columbia, are each assigned one electoral vote for the purpose of scheduling.
Why can't California vote in the early periods?
Because the number of electoral votes contested increases incrementally (starting at 8), California's high population and large number of electoral votes exceed the limits of the early periods.
What is the purpose of the California Plan adjustment?
The adjustment staggers the later periods (moving the 7th, 8th, and 9th periods earlier in the sequence) to ensure that the most populous state does not always vote at the very end of the campaign.
What is the mathematical formula for the vote increase?
The number of votes is determined by the expression ∑ n = 1 to 10 of 8n, where the votes increase by 8 for every period n.