By Popular Demand: Revitalizing Representative Democracy Through Deliberative Elections / Edition 1

By Popular Demand: Revitalizing Representative Democracy Through Deliberative Elections / Edition 1

by John Gastil
ISBN-10:
0520223659
ISBN-13:
9780520223653
Pub. Date:
08/01/2000
Publisher:
University of California Press
ISBN-10:
0520223659
ISBN-13:
9780520223653
Pub. Date:
08/01/2000
Publisher:
University of California Press
By Popular Demand: Revitalizing Representative Democracy Through Deliberative Elections / Edition 1

By Popular Demand: Revitalizing Representative Democracy Through Deliberative Elections / Edition 1

by John Gastil

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Overview

John Gastil challenges conventional assumptions about public opinion, elections, and political expression in this persuasive treatise on how to revitalize the system of representative democracy in the United States.

Gastil argues that American citizens have difficulty developing clear policy interests, seldom reject unrepresentative public officials, and lack a strong public voice. Our growing awareness of a flawed electoral system is causing increased public cynicism and apathy. The most popular reforms, however, will neither restore public trust nor improve representation. Term limits and campaign finance reforms will increase turnover, but they provide no mechanism for improved deliberation and accountability.

Building on the success of citizen juries and deliberative polling, Gastil proposes improving our current process by convening randomly selected panels of citizens to deliberate for several days on ballot measures and candidates. Voters would learn about the judgments of these citizen panels through voting guides and possibly information printed on official ballots. The result would be a more representative government and a less cynical public. America has a long history of experimentation with electoral systems, and the proposals in By Popular Demand merit serious consideration and debate.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780520223653
Publisher: University of California Press
Publication date: 08/01/2000
Edition description: First Edition
Pages: 275
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile: 1560L (what's this?)

About the Author

John Gastil is a Professor in the Department of Speech Communication at the University of Washington. He is the author of Democracy in Small Groups: Participation, Decision Making, and Communication (1993).
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