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Bush v. Gore

Definition

Bush v. Gore is a controversial Supreme Court case decided in December 2000 that effectively resolved the dispute surrounding the 2000 presidential election by stopping Florida's recount process, thus awarding George W. Bush the presidency.

Analogy

Imagine a high-stakes game of musical chairs where two players - Bush and Gore - are fighting for the last seat (the presidency). The music stops and there's confusion about who sat down first (the disputed votes). Instead of letting them replay the round (recount), the referee (Supreme Court) decides who gets to sit based on their view of who sat first.

Related terms

Electoral College: The group of representatives from each state who formally cast votes for president and vice president according to how their state voted.

Florida Recount: An extended period following Election Day during which ballots were re-examined due to discrepancies and issues with voting machines; it was halted by the Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore.

Hanging Chads: Tiny pieces of paper punched out from voter ballots as people vote; they became an issue during Florida's recount because some didn't fully detach, leading to disputes over voters' intentions.