Dysfunctional Democracy in America Dr. Doug Roscoe Department of Political Science University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Fulbright Visiting Scholar Lingnan University

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

Defining Democracy

American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

--Walt Whitman “I shall use America and democracy as convertible terms” (19 th Century American Writer)

Formal Electoral Process

Informal Political Process

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

-435 members -2 year terms -apportioned to each state based on its population -100 members -6 year terms -2 senators per state regardless of population

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

-435 members -2 year terms -apportioned to each state based on its population

-435 members -2 year terms -apportioned to each state based on its population Seats Per Million Residents in State -bigger ratio means more political power per person

Seats Per Million Residents in State

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

-435 members -2 year terms -apportioned to each state based on its population -100 members -6 year terms -2 senators per state regardless of population

-100 members -6 year terms -2 senators per state regardless of population

Population (in 1000s)

Democratic Party supports Working/lower class Social welfare programs Regulation of economy Existing/higher taxes Alternative lifestyles Republican Party supports Upper class Smaller government Deregulation Tax cuts Traditional lifestyles and morality

Population (in 1000s) % of Population in Democratic Party Bigger States Are More Democratic (r=.35)

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

Electoral College Candidates need a majority of Electors to win Presidency Each state gets number of Electors equal to number of House Representatives and Senators Almost all states award all Electors to candidate who wins the most popular votes

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

Americans don’t vote

Prior Registration

Long/Frequent Ballots

Tuesdays

In-Person

Percentage Voting By: Education Income Source: 2008 National Election Study

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

Help Elect a Favorable Government Influence the Existing Government

Help Elect a Favorable Government Influence the Existing Government

Help Elect a Favorable Government Influence the Existing Government

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

is there too much money in campaigns? SPENDING BY CAMPAIGNS FOR 2008 ELECTION ( ) Congressional Candidates$1,300,000,000 Presidential Candidates primaries$989,600,000 general election$638,800,000 Political Parties (independent/coordinated)$350,900,000 PACs (independent)$135,200,000 Nonprofit Groups (independent)$398,000,000 Total Spending$3,812,500,000

is there too much money in campaigns? SPENDING BY CAMPAIGNS FOR 2008 ELECTION ( ) Congressional Candidates$1,300,000,000 Presidential Candidates primaries$989,600,000 general election$638,800,000 Political Parties (independent/coordinated)$350,900,000 PACs (independent)$135,200,000 Nonprofit Groups (independent)$398,000,000 Total Spending$3,812,500,000 Gross Domestic Product, 2008: Bowling$4,100,000,000 Guns$4,900,000,000 Ice cream$7,600,000,000 Dog/cat food$16,100,000,000 Beer$22,600,000,000 Snack food$25,000,000,000 Spectator sports$38,800,000,000 Tobacco$46,600,000,000 Total$14,400,000,000,000 (campaign spending is.03%)

Percentage Donating By: Education Income Source: 2008 National Election Study

campaign finance law Individuals give max US$2500/election

campaign finance law Individuals give max US$2500/election Corporate contributions banned

campaign finance law Individuals give max US$2500/election Corporate contributions banned Corporations can form PACs

campaign finance law Individuals give max US$2500/election Corporate contributions banned Corporations can form PACs PACs give max US$5000/election

campaign finance law Individuals give max US$2500/election Corporate contributions banned Corporations can form PACs PACs give max US$5000/election Corporations can form Super-PACs

campaign finance law Individuals give max US$2500/election Corporate contributions banned Corporations can form PACs PACs give max US$5000/election Corporations can form Super-PACs Spend unlimited amounts independently

Super-PAC Fundraising for 2012

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

Access (Lobbying = the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government)

Access Good lobbyists (Lobbying = the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government)

Access Good lobbyists Mobilized bias (Lobbying = the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government)

Access Good lobbyists Mobilized bias Votes? (Lobbying = the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government)

Meta-analysis of over 350 statistical tests spanning over 30 studies Roscoe, Douglas D., and Shannon Jenkins “A Meta- Analysis of Campaign Contributions’ Impact on Roll Call Voting.” Social Science Quarterly 86(1).

Meta-analysis of over 350 statistical tests spanning over 30 studies One-third of tests reveal correlation between money and votes Roscoe, Douglas D., and Shannon Jenkins “A Meta- Analysis of Campaign Contributions’ Impact on Roll Call Voting.” Social Science Quarterly 86(1).

Meta-analysis of over 350 statistical tests spanning over 30 studies One-third of tests reveal correlation between money and votes Model specification does not matter significantly Roscoe, Douglas D., and Shannon Jenkins “A Meta- Analysis of Campaign Contributions’ Impact on Roll Call Voting.” Social Science Quarterly 86(1).

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

Republicans benefit from: -inequalities in House apportionment -inequalities in Senate apportionment -arrangement of the Electoral College -barriers to easy voter turnout -open avenues for campaign contributions

Republicans benefit from: -inequalities in House apportionment -inequalities in Senate apportionment -arrangement of the Electoral College -barriers to easy voter turnout -open avenues for campaign contributions Lobbyists lobby against: -lobbying reform

Defining Democracy American Role Model? Inequality in the Formal Electoral Process House Senate Electoral College Voting Law Inequality in the Informal Political Process Campaign Contributions Lobbying Reform Barriers Politics Values

--Charles Wilson “I thought what was good for the country was good for General Motors and vice versa” (CEO of General Motors, )

freedomvs.equality

positivesvs.negatives