National Commission on Federal Election Reform
Encyclopedia
The United States presidential election, 2000
was one of the most controversial ever. Legal challenges were taken all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States
before Al Gore
conceded the election to President George W. Bush
.
As a result of this contentious election, the National Commission on Federal Election Reform was formed by the University of Virginia
's Miller Center of Public Affairs
and The Century Foundation
. Its goal was to evaluate election reform, review policy proposals, and offer a bipartisan analysis to the United States Congress
, the US Executive Branch, and the American people. The Commission was cochaired by former Presidents Jimmy Carter
(honorary), Gerald Ford
(honorary), Robert H. Michel
and Lloyd N. Cutler, and included distinguished public leaders from across the political spectrum
The Commission held four public hearings and organized task forces on the federal election system, election administration, and constitutional and federal election law issues.
They released its final report to Congress and the White House
on July 31, 2001.
In 2002, the bipartisan Help America Vote Act
(HAVA) was passed by the Congress and signed into law by President Bush. The law was in part based on recommendations found in the report.
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
was one of the most controversial ever. Legal challenges were taken all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
before Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
conceded the election to President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
As a result of this contentious election, the National Commission on Federal Election Reform was formed by the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
's Miller Center of Public Affairs
Miller Center of Public Affairs
The Miller Center of Public Affairs is a non-partisan research institute that is part of the University of Virginia.Founded in 1975, the Miller Center is a leading public policy institution that serves as a national meeting place where engaged citizens, scholars, students, media representatives and...
and The Century Foundation
The Century Foundation
The Century Foundation is an US progressive think tank. It was founded as a nonprofit public policy research institution on the belief that the prosperity and security of the United States depends on a mix of effective government, open democracy, and free markets. The Foundation is headquartered...
. Its goal was to evaluate election reform, review policy proposals, and offer a bipartisan analysis to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, the US Executive Branch, and the American people. The Commission was cochaired by former Presidents Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
(honorary), Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
(honorary), Robert H. Michel
Robert H. Michel
Robert Henry "Bob" Michel is an American Republican Party politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives for 38 years. He represented central Illinois' 18th congressional district, and was the GOP leader in Congress, serving as Minority Leader for 14 years during an era...
and Lloyd N. Cutler, and included distinguished public leaders from across the political spectrum
The Commission held four public hearings and organized task forces on the federal election system, election administration, and constitutional and federal election law issues.
They released its final report to Congress and the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
on July 31, 2001.
In 2002, the bipartisan Help America Vote Act
Help America Vote Act
The Help America Vote Act , or HAVA, is a United States federal law which passed in the House 357-48 and 92-2 in the Senate and was signed into law by President Bush on October 29, 2002. Drafted in reaction to the controversy surrounding the 2000 U.S...
(HAVA) was passed by the Congress and signed into law by President Bush. The law was in part based on recommendations found in the report.