It basically hasn't changed. The process is outlined in the constitution . Campaign money and donors has become more important and since the Supreme Court found corporations are human this has changed how much money is given by special interests, corporations, and the wealthy. Two or three very wealthy men are spending millions in the current election to get the person they want elected.

No. Shiite Islam is another sect with as much legitimacy as Sunni Islam. There just happen to be fewer Shiite Muslims. The initial separation was over political successorship to Mohammed, but over time smaller differences developed as the two theological communities remained separate. However, these differences do not compromise the core teachings of Islam that Sunnis, Shiites, Ibadis, and Kharijites share.

Addtionally, please see the Related Link below.

It is unclear what is meant by "philosophy of Islam", since Islamic philosophy did not really engage Shiite Islam; it was primarily done by Sunni Muslims.

If the question is asking about religious differences, the key really lies in successorship to the Prophet Mohammed, both in his earthly domains (i.e. the ruler of the Islamic State) and his spiritual qualities (i.e. his perfection as a person and instrument of God). The Sunnis believe that revelation ended with Mohammed and that the Islamic States should be ruled by qualified individuals chosen in any viable mechanism. The Shiites believe that revelation continued after Mohammed through the lips of the Infallible Imams (of which there were 5, 7, 11, or 12, depending on which form of Shiite Islam a person practices) and that only those appointed by God from Mohammed's family have the right to rule Islamic States.

<p>Lahiri Mahasaya is the respectful salutation given to Shyama Charan Lahiri (Dev Sharma) a Bengali Brahmin settled in Kashi (Benares, India). In 1861 he had a unique experience near Rishikesh (Uttaranchal, India) when he encountered the astral projection of Master Hemandranath, a Brahmic Raja Yogi of Kolkatta who had achieved synthesis with Brahman (ie. embodiment of Time and Space). Lahiri Mahasaya was touched and instantly absorbed into Master's ancient Brahmic Mul mantra which was later developed by Mahasaya into Kriya Yoga and distributed freely to anyone who approached the Mahasaya. Kriya Yoga has many developments such as Shirdi Sai Baba, Chinmayananda Mission etc. Although many non-family members of Lahiri Mahasaya claim his successorship (with numerous fanciful biograhies, fantastic autobiographies and concoctions targeted to Westerners), the true developments of Lahiri Mahasaya's philosophy are through 2 independent branches of descent through his 2 sons TinCouri (now vested in Pandit Shibendu Lahiri's NGO) and DuCouri (World Brahmic Council) both of which are non-commercial.</p>