Question

Why is the 2000 presidential election significant? Give two reasons.

Answer 1

1. The outcome of the 2000 Presidential Election raised a question about the current electoral system in the United States, as Democratic Candidate Al Gore, which had achieved the most amount of votes would lose to George Bush, as the electoral college system granted a fixed number of electoral college votes per state. This meant that it considered majorities among states, regardless of the fact that nationwide votes would indicate the contrary.
2. The victory over the state of Florida was decisive during the election. The Supreme court ultimately declared that the recount of votes in the State of Florida was illegitimate, as different counting techniques in several counties violated the Equal Protection Clause. This resulted in the victory of George Bush over Gore.

Answer 2

1. Because the winner of the popular vote, Al Gore, lost the electoral college to Bush.
2. Because it's the first and for now the only time that Supreme Court decided on the out come of a presidential election. (They ruled in Bush's favor)