Contents: (1) Intro.; (2) Competing Approaches: Direct Popular Election v. Electoral College Reform; (3) Direct Popular Election: Pro and Con; (4) Electoral College Reform: Pro and Con; (5) Electoral College Amendments Proposed in the 111th Congress; (6) Contemporary Activity in the States; (7) 2004: Colorado Amendment 36; (8) 2007-2008: The Presidential Reform Act (California Counts); (9) 2006-Present: National Popular Vote -- Direct Popular Election Through an Interstate Compact; Origins; The Plan; National Popular Vote, Inc.; Action in the State Legislatures; States That Have Approved NPV; National Popular Vote; (10) Prospects for Change -- An Analysis; (11) State Action -- A Viable Reform Alternative?; (12) Concluding Observations.

Contents: (1) Intro.: Appointments (App.) Process: Selection, Clearance, and Nomination; Senate Consideration; App.; Recess App.; Temporary App.; App. During the 110th Congress; Average Time to Confirm a Nomination; (2) Nominations and Incumbents: Full-Time (FT) Positions in Indep. Agencies; (3) Nominations and Incumbents: FT Positions in the Exec. Office of the Pres.; (4) Nominations and Incumbents: FT Positions in Multilateral Org.; (5) Nominations and Incumbents: FT Positions in Legislative Branch Agencies. Appendixes: Summary of all Nominations and App. to Independent and Other Agencies; Nomination Action by Agency; Senate Intersession Recesses and Intrasession Recesses of 4 or More Days. Tables. A print on demand report.