Implementing term limits : the case of the Michigan Legislature / Marjorie Sarbaugh-Thompson and Lyke Thompson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sarbaugh-Thompson, Marjorie, 1949- author.

Thompson, Lyke, author.

Series:

Legislative politics & policy making

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Michigan. Legislature--Term of office.

Michigan.

Michigan. Legislature.

Term limits (Public office)--Michigan.

Term limits (Public office).

Legislators--Term of office--Michigan.

Legislators.

Representative government and representation--Michigan.

Representative government and representation.

Government accountability--Michigan.

Government accountability.

Legislators--Term of office.

Michigan--Politics and government.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

346 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, [2017]

Summary:

"Today, 70 percent of the American public supports reforms that would limit the number of terms a state legislator may serve, and the advocacy group U.S. Term Limits promotes this reform at all levels of government. But are advocates correct that term limits ensure citizens dedicated to the common good--rather than self-serving career politicians--run government? Or does the enforced high rate of turnover undermine the legislature's ability to function? In Implementing Term Limits, Marjorie Sarbaugh-Thompson and Lyke Thompson bring thirteen years of intensive research and 460 interviews to assess changes since Michigan's implementation of term limits in 1993 and explore their implications. Paying special attention to term limits' institutional effects, they also consider legislative representation, political accountability, and the role of the bureaucracy and interest groups in state legislatures. Their thorough study suggests that legislators are less accessible to officials and that there is a larger gap between legislators and their voters. Moreover, legislators become much more politically ambitious after term limits and spend more time on political activities. The selection of top chamber leaders is complicated by newcomers' lack of knowledge about and experience working with the leaders they elect before being sworn in. As a result, term limits in Michigan fail to deliver on many of the "good government" promises that appeal to citizens. Implementing Term Limits makes a unique and valuable contribution to the debate over the best means by which to obtain truly democratic institutions"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1 Introduction 1

2 Is There a New Breed of Term-Limited Legislator? 23

3 Legislative Representation 48

4 Legislative Behaviors 74

5 Elections When Open Seats Are Not a Surprise 100

6 Information Gathering 124

7 Floor Vote Consulting 152

8 Friendship 177

9 Influence among Legislators 204

10 Chamber Leaders and Committee Chairs 232

11 Executive-Legislative Relationships in Michigan 258

12 Conclusions 286.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780472073429

0472073427

9780472053421

0472053426

OCLC:

965761522