| Description |
1 online resource (viii, 267 pages) |
| Contents |
Exit And Public Voice In Representative Democracy -- Why Elections Fail To Ensure Accountability -- Appraising Radical And Conventional Electoral Reforms -- Public Expression In American Politics -- Glimpses Of The Deliberative Public -- The Citizen Panels Proposal -- The Political Impact Of Citizen Panels -- Electoral Experimentation |
| Summary |
John Gastil challenges conventional assumptions about public opinion, elections, and political expression in this persuasive treatise on how to revitalize the system of representative democracy in the United States. Gastil argues that American citizens have difficulty developing clear policy interests, seldom reject unrepresentative public officials, and lack a strong public voice. Our growing awareness of a flawed electoral system is causing increased public cynicism and apathy. The most popular reforms, however, will neither restore public trust nor improve representation. Term limits and campaign finance reforms will increase turnover, but they provide no mechanism for improved deliberation and accountability. Building on the success of citizen juries and deliberative polling, Gastil proposes improving our current process by convening randomly selected panels of citizens to deliberate for several days on ballot measures and candidates. Voters would learn about the judgments of these citizen panels through voting guides and possibly information printed on official ballots. The result would be a more representative government and a less cynical public. America has a long history of experimentation with electoral systems, and the proposals in By Popular Demand merit serious consideration and debate |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 239-257) and index |
| Notes |
English |
|
Print version record |
| Subject |
Political participation -- United States
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Elections -- United States.
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Representative government and representation -- United States
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Forums (Discussion and debate)
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POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Political Process -- Elections.
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Elections
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Forums (Discussion and debate)
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Political participation
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Representative government and representation
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Repräsentation Politik
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Wahl
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Politische Beteiligung
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Verkiezingen.
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Representatie (politicologie)
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Democratie.
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Élections -- États-Unis.
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Régime représentatif -- États-Unis.
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Participation politique -- États-Unis.
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Elections -- Etats-Unis.
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Débats et controverses -- Etats-Unis.
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Représentation politique -- Etats-Unis.
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United States
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USA
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| ISBN |
9780520925007 |
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0520925009 |
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0585389853 |
|
9780585389851 |
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1597345180 |
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9781597345187 |
|
