Title Americans, Congress, and democratic responsiveness : public evaluations of Congress and electoral consequences / David R. Jones and Monika L. McDermott

Published Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, 2010

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Description 1 online resource (x, 221 pages) : illustrations Contents Responding to Congressional policy -- Failing pop quizzes but passing the test -- Evaluating Congress ideologically -- Voting the bums out -- Riding the electoral wave -- Responding to public evaluations Summary Annotation <div><div>"Jones and McDermott restore meaning to democratic responsibility by finding that public evaluations affect Congress. In contrast to the popular depiction of the representatives controlling the represented<br />rampant in the political science literature, Jones and McDermott show that the people are in control, determining not only the direction of policy in Congress, but also who stays, who retires, and who faces difficult reelection efforts. This book makes an important correction to our understanding of how Congress operates."<br />--Sean M. Theriault, University of Texas at Austin</div><div></div></div><div>Voters may not know the details of specific policies, but they have a general sense of how well Congress serves their own interests; and astute politicians pay attention to public approval ratings. When the majority party is unpopular, as during the 2008 election, both voters and politicians take a hand in reconfiguring the House and the Senate. Voters throw hard-line party members out of office while candidates who continue to run under the party banner distance themselves from party ideology. In this way, public approval directly affects policy shifts as well as turnovers at election time. Contrary to the common view of Congress as an insulated institution, Jones and McDermott argue that Congress is indeed responsive to the people of the United States.</div><div></div><div>David R. Jones is Professor of Political Science at Baruch College, City University of New York.</div><div></div><div>Monika L. McDermott is Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University.</div> Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-216) and index Notes English Print version record Subject United States. Congress -- Public opinion. United States. Congress -- Elections. SUBJECT United States. Congress fast USA Congress gnd Subject Voting -- United States Public opinion -- United States POLITICAL SCIENCE. American Government / General. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Government -- Legislative Branch. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- American Government -- Legislative Branch. Elections Public opinion Voting Öffentliche Meinung Government - U.S. Law, Politics & Government. Political Institutions & Public Administration - U.S., Legislative Branch. United States Form Electronic book Author McDermott, Monika L., 1966- ISBN 9780472022137 047202213X 1282761005 9781282761001 9786612761003 6612761008 047203409X 9780472034093

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