If the election of 2016 reminded us of one important civics lesson, it is this: The United States is not, and has never been, a direct democracy. It is a democratic republic.

If it were intended to be a direct democracy, it would be the United Citizens of America. Rather, it is the United States of America, with 50 separate sovereignties that have surrendered some of their sovereignty to the federal government under strict terms delineated in the Constitution.

The Electoral College was a compromise — the original plan was for the House of Representatives to elect the president. In the Articles of Confederation, which preceded the Constitution, the Congress elected a committee with one representative from each state. That committee, in turn, elected the president. The first president was actually John Hanson. George Washington was the first president under the Constitution.

So even though Hillary Clinton won the popular election by nearly 3 million votes, 31 of the 50 states elected Donald Trump.  Time for a change?

Donald Rowland, Camarillo

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