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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Defining Democracy

5. 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

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

7. Formal Electoral Process

8. Informal Political Process

9. 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

10. -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

11. 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

12. -435 members -2 year terms -apportioned to each state based on its population

13. -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

14. Seats Per Million Residents in State

15. 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

16. -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

17. -100 members -6 year terms -2 senators per state regardless of population

18. Population (in 1000s)

19. 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

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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. Americans don’t vote

25. Prior Registration

26. Long/Frequent Ballots

27. Tuesdays

28. In-Person

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

30. 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

31. Help Elect a Favorable Government Influence the Existing Government

32. Help Elect a Favorable Government Influence the Existing Government

33. Help Elect a Favorable Government Influence the Existing Government

34. 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

35. is there too much money in campaigns? SPENDING BY CAMPAIGNS FOR 2008 ELECTION (2007-2008) 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

36. is there too much money in campaigns? SPENDING BY CAMPAIGNS FOR 2008 ELECTION (2007-2008) 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%)

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

38. campaign finance law Individuals give max US$2500/election

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

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

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

42. 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

43. 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

44. Super-PAC Fundraising for 2012

45. 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

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

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

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

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

51. Meta-analysis of over 350 statistical tests spanning over 30 studies Roscoe, Douglas D., and Shannon Jenkins. 2005. “A Meta- Analysis of Campaign Contributions’ Impact on Roll Call Voting.” Social Science Quarterly 86(1).

52. 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. 2005. “A Meta- Analysis of Campaign Contributions’ Impact on Roll Call Voting.” Social Science Quarterly 86(1).

53. 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. 2005. “A Meta- Analysis of Campaign Contributions’ Impact on Roll Call Voting.” Social Science Quarterly 86(1).

54. 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

55. 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

56. 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

57. 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

58. 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

59. --Charles Wilson “I thought what was good for the country was good for General Motors and vice versa” (CEO of General Motors, 1941-1953)

60. freedomvs.equality

61. positivesvs.negatives