Dangerous Democracy?: The Battle over Ballot Initiatives in America (Center for Politics Series) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0742510425 ISBN 13: 9780742510425

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2001

Synopsis

Direct democracy is alive and growing in the form of statewide ballot initiatives. Currently, twenty-four states allow individuals and groups to propose laws for direct voter consideration and tens of millions of dollars flow into the initiative industrial complex each election cycle. This book assesses the health of the initiative process through the insights of the leading initiative scholars, top journalists, and important political consultants from across the country. The book provides a critical and balanced look into a political mechanism that is having a profound influence on American politics.

About this title

About the Author

Larry J. Sabato is Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs and director of the Center for Governmental Studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He is the author of numerous books including Feeding Frenzy: How Attack Journalism Has Transformed American Politics and Peepshow: Media and Politics in an Age of Scandal.
Howard R. Ernst is assistant professor of political science department at the United States Naval Academy.
Bruce A. Larson is assistant professor of political science at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Review

The growth of the initiative process leapfrogs all those messy Madisonian checks and balances. Measures that wouldn't stand a chance in a state legislature can become law overnight. This excellent collection of essays and responses by both academics and practitioners will help us all better understand the dangers of direct democracy. (Robert F. Chase, president)

Provides an excellent survey of the issues surrounding ballot initiatives and associated calls for reform. Particularly laudable are extensive citations to the burgeoning academic literature on initiative process and its political consequences found throughout the book. The book is an excellent starting point for anyone wishing to learn more about the workings of the initiative process and the pros and cons of proposed initiative reforms. (Public Choice)

A collection of contributions from the good and great in the area... (Political Studies)

This is an important discussion of a topic increasingly prominent on the political agenda--are expensive initiative campaigns compatible with our system of representative government? (Broder, David S.)

About this edition

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0742510425
• ISBN 13: 9780742510425
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256
• Editor: Sabato Larry J., Ernst Howard R., Larson Bruce A.