Any Way To Run Election

Contents 1. Democratic Elections: What's the Problem? Contemporary Election Issues The Nature of Democracy Types of Democracies Elections and Democracy Tensions Within a Democratic Electoral System Summary: Democratic Election Dilemmas in a Nutshell 2. The Popular Base of American Electoral Politics: Suffrage and Turnout The Expansion of Suffrage The Decline in Turnout The Consequences of Not Voting Potential Solutions to the Nonvoting Problem Summary: Suffrage and Turnout Dilemmas in a Nutshell 3. How Representative Are American Elections? The Concept of Representation The Structure of Elections and the Underrepresentation of Minorities The Electoral College System and the Overrepresentation of Large States American Politics and the Underrepresentation of Women Consequences of Representational Bias Legal Qualifications and Democratic Outcomes Summary: Representational Dilemmas in a Nutshell 4. Are Political Parties Still Relevant? Parties and American Democracy The Evolution of U.S. Political Parties Parties and the Electorate: The Waning of Partisanship Parties and Electoral Choice: An Echo or a Schism? Parties and Government: Is Collective Accountability Possible? Parties and the Political System Summary: Partisan Dilemmas in a Nutshell 5. Has Money Corrupted Our Electoral Process? Money and Democratic Elections Money and Politics: An Overview of Congress's Attempts to Regulate Campaign Finance Costs, Contributions, and Consequences The Political Debate over Campaign Finance Reform Proposals for Reform Summary: Campaign Finance Dilemmas in a Nutshell 6. News Media: Watchdog or Pit Bull? Media-Driven Democratic Elections: "That's the Way It Is" The Evolution of Election News The Adequacy of Contemporary Campaign Coverage Public Cynicism About the Media What Can Be Done? Summary: News Media Dilemmas in a Nutshell 7.The Nomination Process: Whose Is It Anyway? The Movement from an Elite to a More Popular System The Democratization of Nominations: Representative or Unrepresentative? The Impact of Nominations on Government Improving the Nomination System National Nominating Conventions: Anachronism or Still Relevant? The Incumbency Advantage Summary: Nomination Dilemmas in a Nutshell 8. Campaign Communications: How Much Do They Matter? Why Campaigns Are Necessary: The Need to Be Informed The Information Game: Finding the Right Balance Campaign Imagery Communication Distortions The New Technology: Better Communication or More Effective Manipulation? Summary: Campaign Communications Dilemmas in a Nutshell 9. Elections and Government: A Tenuous Connection Who Governs: The Compatibility of the Winners The Relationship Between Campaigning and Governing The Election and Public Policy Policy and Performance: Responsiveness and Accountability Summary: Elections and Government Dilemmas in a NutshellStephen J. Wayne is the author of 'Any Way To Run Election', published 2000 under ISBN 9780395954348 and ISBN 0395954347.