1. American Government and Organization
PS1301
Monday, 8 September

2. Review: Does the republic need reforming?
Low turnout
Citizen dissatisfaction (in comparative perspective)
Failure to achieve electoral majorities - Loss of mandate
Lack of competitive elections – mostly congressional level
Crisis events – 2000 election and 1998 Clinton impeachment

3. Loss of Electoral Majorities – U.S. Presidential Elections
Popular Vote
Electoral Votes (%)
Electoral Votes
Year
Dem
Rep
Total
1984
40.6
58.8
99.4
2.4
97.6 13
525
1988
45.6
53.4
99.0
20.7
79.3
111
426
1992
43.2
37.7
80.9
68.8
31.2
370
168
1996
49.2
40.7
89.9
70.4
29.6
379
159
2000
48.4
47.9
96.3
49.5
50.5
266
271

4. Constitutional Crisis
1998 Impeachment of Bill Clinton
Republican House majority elected with 48.9% nearly toppled a popular president over a matter most Americans found trivial.
2000 Presidential Election
Presidency placed in the hands of party that received fewer votes.

5. Political Attitudes Rising Distrust in Federal Government
Lack of Influence
Attitudes about Representation

6. Trends

7. Trends

8. Reasons for Distrust Major reason Minor
Government leaders tell us what they think will get them elected, not what they really believe 80 14
The federal government is inefficient and wastes time 73 18
There is too much bickering between political parties 68 20
Special interests have too much influence on the federal government 65 24
Elected officials lack honesty and integrity 64 25
Federal taxes are too high 57 26
The federal government doesn’t do enough to help people who really need it 56 27
People in government don’t have high moral values 49 33
Federal government policies don’t reflect your own beliefs and values 42 40
The federal government interferes too much in people’s lives 37
The problems it focuses on cannot be solved by the federal government 39

9. Lack of Influence (Efficacy)

10. Political Responsiveness

11. Attitudes about Congress

12. Lack of Influence?

13. Lack of Influence?

14. Solutions Reforms that provide citizens with greater influence
Examples?