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Rethinking American electoral democracy / Matthew J. Streb.
LIBRA JK1976 .S77 2008
Available from offsite location
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Streb, Matthew J. (Matthew Justin), 1974-
- Series:
- Controversies in electoral democracy and representation
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Elections--United States.
- Elections.
- United States.
- Democracy--United States.
- Democracy.
- Physical Description:
- xiv, 226 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm.
- Place of Publication:
- New York : Routledge, 2008.
- Summary:
- In this critical examination of the state of the American electoral process, Matthew Streb analyzes the major debates that embroil scholars and reformers on subjects ranging from the number of elections we hold and the use of nonpartisan elections, to the presidential nominating process and campaign finance laws. Ultimately, Streb makes an argument for a less burdensome democracy, a democracy in which citizens can participate more easily. This book is designed to get students of elections and American political institutions to think critically about what it means to be democratic and how democratic the United States really is.
- Contents:
- 1 Creating a model electoral democracy 1
- Criteria for a model electoral democracy 2
- A few comments 5
- Part I Rethinking the costs of voting 9
- 2 Factors that influence voter turnout 11
- "Didn't we just vote?" 11
- Other barriers to voting 16
- 3 The offices we elect 26
- Do we really need to vote for coroner? 27
- The case of judicial elections 29
- 4 Direct democracy 44
- What is the initiative process and how does it work? 45
- Some misconceptions about the initiative process 47
- Why the public supports the initiative proces 54
- The problems with the initiative process 57
- Some potential reforms 60
- Recall elections 61
- Part II Rethinking the mechanics of voting 65
- 5 Ballot laws 67
- Getting on the ballot 67
- Candidate information on the ballot 71
- The order of candidates' names on the ballot 75
- Ballot design 77
- 6 Voting machines 80
- Different types of voting machines 81
- The problem with punch card ballots 82
- The pros and cons of the remaining contenders 83
- A word on Internet voting 89
- So, what's the solution? 92
- Part III Rethinking national elections 95
- 7 The redistricting process 97
- How does the process work? 98
- The goals of redistricting 99
- What should be the goals of redistricting? 108
- What process best achieves the goals of redistricting? 113
- 8 Presidential primaries 116
- King Caucus and the smoke-filled rooms 117
- Reforms to the presidential primary process 118
- 9 The Electoral College 133
- What is the Electoral College? Why do we have it? 133
- Arguments in favor of the Electoral College and why they are flawed 136
- The reasons for change 140
- Attempts to reform the Electoral College 142
- The future of the Electoral College 147
- 10 Campaign finance 151
- A brief history of campaign finance reform 152
- The concerns of campaign finance reformers 157
- The favorite solution: publicly financed elections 160
- A controversial solution 163
- 11 Conclusion: Moving toward a model electoral democracy 171
- Revisiting the criteria for a model electoral democracy 171
- Other improvements to American electoral democracy 175
- The prospects for reform 177.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages [201]-218) and index.
- ISBN:
- 9780415961387
- 0415961386
- 9780415961394
- 0415961394
- OCLC:
- 165083330
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