Description
Book SynopsisThinking About Political Reform: How to Fix, or Not Fix, American Government and Politics offers the most comprehensive, yet easily readable, and well researched analysis of the major flaws and weaknesses of American political institutions and processes, with a thorough list and analysis of reform proposals considered in the light of the scholarship of political science, economics, and law.
Trade ReviewI would definitely recommend it as one of the best summaries and critical evaluation of reform proposals currently available. One of the book's best points is the appreciation of how reforms interact, and how any serious reform proposal has to take this into account and also consider the consequences if only part of their reform package is actually adopted. As the author notes, we have got part of the package of responsible party government, but without the full adoption it doesn't seem to be working so well. There are many good insights like this throughout the text. * Taylor E. Dark III, Cal State University, Los Angeles *
This book's competitive advantage is that it is more complete in its coverage of reform ideas across traditional course topics. American government courses are typically divided into three parts: foundations, politics, and institutions. This book includes chapters appropriate for all three parts of the course. There are no gaps. * Rodd Freitag, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire *
If you wanted to read a text that made a pretty grand attempt at uncovering and explaining a huge array of political and electoral reforms that challenges established conventions, you should read this. - Rick D. Henderson, Texas State University
To my knowledge, there is nothing else out there on the market today that attempts to tackle the subject of reform in American politics in such a comprehensive and sweeping way... it also stands out in its embedding of a truly huge range of issues within a broader theoretical framework that connects quite naturally to the basic themes that are addressed in an introductory American politics course. * John P. Forren, Miami University *
Table of ContentsPreface ; Part One: Introduction: How to Think About Reform ; Chapter 1. A Framework for Reform ; 1.1 Reforms: What and Why? ; 1.2 Guiding Principles ; 1.3 Goals, Values, and Criteria for Evaluating Institutions ; 1.4 The Need for Limits and Controls: Safety ; 1.5 Goals, Values, and Criteria for Evaluating Popular Sovereignty ; 1.6 Complications ; 1.7 How to Think About Reform ; Questions to Consider ; Chapter 2. Radical Reform ; 2.1 Parliamentary Government in Washington - With or Without a King? ; 2.2 A Flag Without Fifty Stars? - Unitary Government Rather than Federalism ; 2.3 Implications ; Questions to Consider ; Part Two: A Focus on Participation, Representation, Responsiveness, and Accountability ; Chapter 3. The People's Role ; 3.1 The Problem: Low Turnout and Participation ; 3.2 Enhancing Participation: Problems and Reforms ; 3.3 Securing the Vote ; 3.4 Conclusion ; Questions to Consider ; Chapter 4. Election Processes and Systems ; 4.1 Basic Electoral Rules ; 4.2 Reforming Electoral Rules ; 4.3 Direct Democracy ; 4.4 Alternatives ; 4.5 Conclusion ; Questions to Consider ; Chapter 5. Political Parties ; 5.1 What Parties Can Do ; 5.2 What Kind of Parties? ; 5.3 Reforms ; 5.4 Alternatives and Prospects ; 5.5 Conclusion ; Questions to Consider ; Chapter 6. Choosing the Candidates: Nominations ; 6.1 Caucuses and Conventions: Congress ; 6.2 Primary Elections ; 6.3 Which Are Better: Conventions or Primaries? ; 6.4 Presidential Nominations ; 6.5 Reforms ; 6.6 Conclusion ; Questions to Consider ; Chapter 7. Campaigns and Campaign Finance ; 7.1 The Problem: Campaign Messages ; 7.2 Debates ; 7.3 The Media Sometimes is the Message ; 7.4 Competition ; 7.5 Let's Buy an Election - Campaign Finance ; 7.6 Reforms ; 7.7 Conclusion and Prospects ; Part Three: Government Institutions and Policymaking ; Chapter 8. How to Think about the Policy Makers ; 8.1 A Framework for Analyzing Reforms ; Chapter 9. Congress ; 9.1 What's Wrong with Congress? ; 9.2 Blame the Members ; 9.3 Structures Cause Problems ; 9.4 Committees and Subcommittees Bring Complexity ; 9.5 The Parties ; 9.6 Procedures - How Does Anything Get Done? ; 9.7 Fixing the Problems: Reforming Congress ; 9.8 Are Reforms Possible? ; Questions to Consider ; Chapter 10. The Presidency ; 10.1 The Matter of Power ; 10.2 Accountability: Hiring and Firing Presidents ; 10.3 The Electoral College ; 10.4 The Two Term Limit ; 10.5 Effectiveness in Governing the Executive Branch ; Questions to Consider ; Chapter 11. President, Congress, and the Policy Process ; 11.1 Problems of Shared Policymaking Call for Reforms ; 11.2 Improving Fiscal Policy and the Budget Process ; 11.3 Reforming National Security Policymaking ; 11.4 Solving Governmental Deadlock ; Questions to Consider ; Exercise ; Chapter 12. Unelected Policymakers ; 12.1 The Judiciary: Protector of or Threat to American Democracy? ; 12.2 The Executive Bureaucracy ; Questions to Consider ; Part Four: Conclusion: Issues and Prospects ; Chapter 13. Conclusion - Thinking About Reform ; 13.1 The Lessons of Reform: What is Involved? ; 13.2 Is Reform Possible? ; 13.3 Conclusion ; Questions to Consider ; Exercise ; Part Four: Conclusion
