ELECTION

Leaders, as generally understood, are chosen in different ways, presently effected by way
of voting. As it is generally known, such a choice is known as an election. Other than an
election, leaders can be appointed by way of inheriting their jobs, as well as by lot, but
the fairest method is by election on which the United States and most other countries
must rely. he elections that are talked about nowadays are those of government officials,
but there are other kinds of elections, such as the !oman "atholic "hurch, elected by the
"ollege of "ardinals, schools, trade unions, business associations and social clubs.
Origin# $lection is a very old way of choosing leaders in government. %t began in ancient
&reece, as well as in the !oman republic, more than two thousand years ago, when
people were governed by kings and lords, whose leadership in government was
considered as a right of birth. Other groups were also elected, representing the interests
of the populace. 'ut such groups had wielded little power, not significant enough to be
effective.
%n the early days of the United States, not every citi(en could participate in elections.
)any states formulated their own rules and regulations, making it mandatory that people
who were not citi(ens were not permitted to vote. here were also certain provisions that
prevented poor people to vote. he rules were further reinforced to include the necessity
of owning property before a person was allowed to vote, but such an unfair provision was
later summarily changed. he "ivil *ar made it possible for +egro citi(ens of the
United States to vote. he U.S. "onstitution was amended in ,-.-, giving +egroes the
right to vote. /et another amendment in ,012, allowed women in the U.S. to vote for the
first time. %n this respect, the U.S. was considered to be far ahead of other countries in
giving the vote to women. %n 3apan, women were not allowed to vote until ,045. oday,
women vote in most of the civili(ed countries of the world, the voting age varying from
country to country. As it is widely known, there are primaryelections held prior to
regular elections.
6irect $lection# %n the U.S., voters vote for candidates running for office, such as
Senators and )embers of the 7ouse of !epresentatives.
%ndirect $lection# 8oters vote for representatives who will, in turn, vote for candidates
running for office. he 9resident and 8ice 9resident are elected by indirect election,
through the $lectoral "ollege. %n many countries, the heads of governments are elected
indirectly by members of the senate or parliament. %n :rance, the premier is elected by
members of the +ational Assembly, much like the U.S. 7ouse of !epresentatives.
A citi(en;s vote is a secret. %t is called a ballot, used all over the civili(ed world. Secret
votes are indispensable. %t acts as a protection from threats and intimidation.
$lectoral "ollege# his is a group of people that actually elect the 9resident and 8ice
9resident of the United States.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ELECTIONS
*hen running elections, there are four groups in the school that you are influencing#
hose that have had the positions for a year.
hose running in the elections.
he student body.
he staff.
A well run election will affect all of these groups positively.
he first group is using a year<s worth of e=perience >and the previous year<s files? to run
the elections, and in many ways they are passing on some of these skills as they put the
new group through the elections. he new group is watching the first very closely to see
how it is done and they are picking up a lot of tips on how to run a major event.
%f program is being well@run, never underestimate the amount of passive learning that is
occurring.
A well run election tells the students that this is important.
)any staff and students complain that elections are just popularity contests. hey are
right. %f the council does not run a proper election, the candidates who will get elected
will be the ones who are the most popular and not the most Aualified. /ou cannot blame
the voters for this. he voters can only judge the candidates by the process that is
available. 7owever, if a number of occasions are provided for all of the candidates to
demonstrate their abilities and organi(ational skills, the voters have a set of parameters to
judge the candidates. Bualified candidates will now assumea new definition of
popularity.


AC%+& $L$"%O+S S$!%OUSL/
,. Send a note to the homeroom teachers asking for their help. 7ave them
stress the importance of democratic elections, talk about responsibility to
vote, discuss issues, ask students to listen to speeches and campaign
promises, invite a candidate into your homeroom.
1. 9ost 3ob 6escriptions for all positions.
D. 7ave an all candidates meeting to discuss election procedures and answer
Auestions.
4. 7ave written regulations regarding campaign procedures.
5. 7ave the new president>s? actively involved in the election of the new
e=ecutive. his helps foster their position as leaders.
.. %ntroduce all new leaders, officially, to the school administration.
E. 9ersonally congratulate winners and thank the losers.
-. Start working with the new president>s? immediately to set the agenda for
the first meeting.

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,. 7ave the new president>s? call the first meeting and hand out the agenda.
1. Set dates for key planning meetings. >i.e. calendar, budget?
D. Schedule interviews between present and past leaders in all positions.
4. &ive all leaders a mail slot if you have a location of your own.
5. 7ave the new and old e=ecutive meet together to carry out some practical
business.
.. &ive each leader a daily planner and insist they use it. his may be the
greatest piece of leadership advice you can give them.
E. /ou may want to give them a major project to work on between the
elections and 3une. he new e=ecutive could be responsible for running
the grade eight orientation in )ay.
Election Commission of India
he Election Commission of %ndia is an autonomous, Auasi@judiciary constitutional body
of %ndia. %ts mission is to conduct free and fair elections in %ndia. %t was established on 15
3anuary ,052
F,G
under Article D14 of the "onstitution of %ndia.
Structure
he commission presently consists of a "hief $lection "ommissioner and two $lection
"ommissioners,appointed by the president.
Until October ,0-0, there was just one "hief $lection "ommissioner. %n ,0-0, two
$lection "ommissioners were appointed, but were removed again in 3anuary ,002. %n
,00,, however, the 9arliament of %ndia passed a law providing for the appointment of
two $lection "ommissioners. his law was amended and renamed in ,00D as the "hief
$lection "ommissioner and other $lection "ommissioners >"onditions of Service?
Amendment Act ,00D. As of Sunday, 10 August 12,2, the "$" is Shahabuddin /aAoob
Buraishi.
F1G
$stablishment of commission is on 15 3an ,052 before one day of !epublic
6ay.
he "hief $lection "ommissioner may be removed from his office in like manner and on
the like grounds as a judge of the Supreme "ourt.%t means the "hief $lection
"ommissioner may be removed from office by 9arliament by passing a resolution to that
effect,passed by special majority on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
he $lection "ommission shall consist of a "hief $lection "ommissioner and such other
"ommissioners as the 9resident may, from time to time, fi=. Other $lection
"ommissioner may be removed by the 9resident on the recommendation of the "hief
$lection "ommissioner. Salary of chief election commissioner is same as justice of
supreme court of %ndia. All three commissioner have same right of taking a decision.
enure of commissioners is . years or up to age of .5, whichever is earlier. he $lection
"ommission of %ndia has completed more than D22 elections.
he $lection "ommission shall have the power of superintendence, direction and control
of all elections to parliament and the state legislatures and of elections to the office of the
9resident and 8ice@9resident.
Powers and duties
he $lection "ommission enjoys complete autonomy and is insulated from any kind of
e=ecutive interference. he body also functions as a Auasi@judiciary body in matters of
electoral disputes and other matters involving the conduct of elections. %ts
recommendations and opinions are binding on the 9resident of %ndia. 7owever, the
decisions of the body are liable for independent judiciary reviews by courts acting on
electoral petitions.
he $lection "ommission is responsible for planning and e=ecuting a whole amount of
comple= operations that go into the conduct of elections. 6uring the elections, the entire
"entral >:ederal? and State government machinery including para@military forces and the
9olice is deemed to be on deputation to the $lection "ommission which takes effective
control of personnel, movable and immovable &overnment 9roperties it deems necessary
for successful completion of the electoral process. he Apart from conducting elections to
representative bodies, the $lection "ommission has been on many occasions, called upon
by the "ourts to oversee and e=ecute elections to various governing bodies of other
autonomous organisations, such as Syndicates of Universities, statutory professional
bodies, etc.
he following are the principal functions of the $lection "ommission of %ndia#
,. 6emarcation of "onstituencies.
1. 9reparation of $lectoral !olls.
D. !ecognition of 9olitical parties and allotment of symbols.
4. Scrutiny of nomination papers.
5. "onduct of polls.
.. Scrutiny of election e=penses of candidates.