Brian Fife

Reforming the Electoral Process in America

Toward More Democracy in the 21st Century

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Calling for increased civic engagement, this book makes a compelling case for reforms that will democratize American elections and provide more power to the people. Quick-fix plans to "restore democracy" are a dime a dozen. Happily, Reforming the Electoral Process in America: Toward More Democracy in the 21st Century offers a more nuanced approach, emphasizing the value of civic engagement in a democratic society. Author Brian L. Fife situates our current plight in the context of the growth of democracy, from the Founding Fathers through the Jackson era, the enfranchisement of blacks after the Civil War, women's suffrage, and the Voting Rights Act of the 1960s. He reflects on the work of the Framers as it pertains to voting and elections, compares voting laws and voter turnout in the various states, and offers an analysis of the impact of money in American elections. Ultimately, Fife proposes a blueprint for reform that includes national same-day voter registration, elimination of punch card and mechanical voting machines, reconsideration of felons' voting rights, regional primaries, and the abolition of the Electoral College.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Praeger
• Seitenzahl: 192
• Erscheinungstermin: 16. Juni 2010
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 240mm x 161mm x 15mm
• Gewicht: 460g
• ISBN-13: 9780313372278
• ISBN-10: 0313372276
• Artikelnr.: 29503803

Autorenporträt

Brian L. Fife is professor and chair of the Department of Public Policy at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. His publications include Old School Still Matters: Lessons from History to Reform Public Education in America.

Inhaltsangabe

Tables Acknowledgments 1. History of Electoral Reform Efforts in America
Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union Philadelphia Convention
Early Reform Measures Passage of the Fifteenth Amendment Passage of the
Nineteenth Amendment Other Progressive Era Electoral Changes, 1890-1920
The Poll Tax in the United States The Voting Rights Act of 1965 The
Twenty-Sixth Amendment National Voter Registration Act of 1993 Help America
Vote Act of 2002 Summary 2. Voting Laws in the American States Election
Laws in the States Federalism and Political Culture Summary 3. Voter
Turnout in the American States Measuring Concepts in the Social Sciences
Measuring Voter Turnout in a Reasonable and Functional Manner National
Voter Turnout in U.S. Presidential Elections National Voter Turnout in U.S.
Midterm Elections Voter Turnout in the Free World Summary 4. The Electoral
College and the Framers in Philadelphia Article II of the U.S. Constitution
The Twelfth Amendment The Debate About Presidential Selection at the
Philadelphia Convention Summary 5. Money and Elections in America Money in
Presidential Elections Money in Congressional Elections History of Campaign
Finance Reform in the United States Summary 6. The Path to Enhanced
Democracy: A Blueprint for Electoral Reform in the United States The
Importance of Theory in American Politics and Policy The Importance of
Studying History in American Politics and Policy Amending the Federal
Constitution A Word About the Original Intent Debate The Constitution as a
"Living Document"-The Notion of Active Liberty Active Liberty in Practice
The Importance of Constitutional Interpretation A Blueprint for Electoral
Reform A Final Word Notes Bibliography Index