 |
Home | Contact Us | Press Room | Site Overview | Help | Login | Register |
 |
 |
| About NCSL | State & Federal Issues | Legislatures | Legislative Staff | Meetings | Bookstore | Legislators & Staff Only |
| NCSL Home > Site Overview > | Add to MyNCSL |
Trust for Representative Democracy
A must-read for concerned Americans to understand the true value of America's legislative process uncolored by today's sense of cynicism and mistrust. The Case for Representative Democracy: What Americans Should Know About Their Legislatures takes a candid look at criticisms of the legislative process and effectively counters them by offering a more positive and accurate perspective on American democracy. In six engaging chapters: What Makes Legislators Tick?, How Legislators Are Linked to Constituents, Where People Stand, How Special Are Interests?, Why the Process Is Contentious, What Makes the System Accountable?, citizens who wish to engage in American democracy will broaden their understanding of Congress and our state legislatures. Known as experts in their field, authors Alan Rosenthal, Karl T. Kurtz, John Hibbing and Burdett Loomis say it succinctly and passionately: "As professionals and citizens, the four of us believe that the perceptions Americans have of legislators and legislatures do not reflect the reality of actual practice and performance. The overly negative environment for politics represents not only a disservice to the nation's institutions, but a disservice to the nation's citizens. People have a right to an alternative to the perspective that prevails today."
What's being said about this book!"I love this little book. What a breath of fresh air in the current climate of cynicism and distrust about American democracy!" Thomas E. Mann, W. Averell Harriman Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution "This guide helps citizens understand how American legislatures really work, puts the present cynicism toward our system in the proper context and articulately explains the importance to our freedom of our basic democratic institutions. All Americans who are concerned about public affairs-which should be everyone-should read this book." Jeff Lane, Vice President, The Procter & Gamble Company "I'm very impressed by this guide to representative democracy. It is a concise, clear articulation of six fundamental principles of representative democracy. It is a valuable tool for educating citizens, young and old, about Congress and our state legislatures." Frank H. Mackaman, Executive Director, The Dirksen Congressional Center "The authors of this book, alarmed by growing public cynicism about representative democracy, are attempting to explain why it is that legislators behave as they do.... The decline in understanding of how representative government is supposed to work can lead to what for me is the ultimate nightmare: direct electronic democracy. That will create a mess that will make today's most raucous legislature look wise and deliberate." Peter Harkness, Editor and Publisher, Governing: The Magazine of States and Localities "Our form of government is a national treasure. To work properly, government requires the trust and participation of ordinary citizens. This book goes a long way toward promoting those values." H.C. "Pete" Poynter, BellSouth Corporation, President, State Government Affairs Council
Order Today!
|
© 2008 National Conference of State Legislatures, All Rights Reserved
Denver Office: Tel: 303-364-7700 | Fax: 303-364-7800 | 7700 East First Place | Denver, CO 80230 | Map
Washington Office: Tel: 202-624-5400 | Fax: 202-737-1069 | 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 515 | Washington, D.C. 20001
