Deliberative Democracy in America : A Proposal for a Popular Branch of Government
Leib, Ethan J.
ISBN 10: 0271023635 ISBN 13: 9780271023632
Published by Pennsylvania State University Press, 2004
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Hardcover
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About this Item
Description:
Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good. Seller Inventory # 15843336-20
Synopsis:
We are taught in civics class that the Constitution provides for three basic branches of government: executive, judicial, and legislative. While the President and Congress as elected by popular vote are representative, can they really reflect accurately the will and sentiment of the populace? Or do money and power dominate everyday politics to the detriment of true self-governance? Is there a way to put "We the people" back into government? Ethan Leib thinks there is and offers this blueprint for a fourth branch of government as a way of giving the people a voice of their own.
While drawing on the rich theoretical literature about deliberative democracy, Leib concentrates on designing an institutional scheme for embedding deliberation in the practice of American democratic government. At the heart of his scheme is a process for the adjudication of issues of public policy by assemblies of randomly selected citizens convened to debate and vote on the issues, resulting in the enactment of laws subject both to judicial review and to possible veto by the executive and legislative branches. The "popular" branch would fulfill a purpose similar to the ballot initiative and referendum but avoid the shortcomings associated with those forms of direct democracy. Leib takes special pains to show how this new branch would be integrated with the already existing governmental and political institutions of our society, including administrative agencies and political parties, and would thus complement rather than supplant them.
About the Author: Ethan J. Leib is Assistant Professor of Law at University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
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Bibliographic Details
Title: Deliberative Democracy in America : A ...
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press
Publication Date: 2004
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good