This book is among the first serious looks at the first 18 months of the Biden administration and its many challenges. From a tortured transition to a raging pandemic, a fragile economy, and the threat of international insecurity, Joe Biden entered office at a time even more fraught than that he faced as a new vice president. Confronting a nation divided sharply along political, cultural, and sociodemographic lines, Biden and Kamala Harris promised to unify the country, change the tone in Washington, mend fences with allies, and "build back better" a world assailed from stem to stern. This book assesses the successes and shortfalls of the Biden administration's first 18 months in office, putting all in perspective of the current state of democracy in America. Intended to introduce students of American government to the person (Biden) and the institution (presidency) within a particular system (separation of powers), this book will appeal broadly to citizens, media, and general interest readers in the United States and abroad.

This book is among the first serious looks at the first 18 months of the Biden administration and its many challenges. From a tortured transition to a raging pandemic, a fragile economy, and the threat of international insecurity, Joe Biden entered office at a time even more fraught than that he faced as a new vice president. Confronting a nation divided sharply along political, cultural, and sociodemographic lines, Biden and Kamala Harris promised to unify the country, change the tone in Washington, mend fences with allies, and "build back better" a world assailed from stem to stern. This book assesses the successes and shortfalls of the Biden administration's first 18 months in office, putting all in perspective of the current state of democracy in America. Intended to introduce students of American government to the person (Biden) and the institution (presidency) within a particular system (separation of powers), this book will appeal broadly to citizens, media, and general interest readers in the United States and abroad.

Has our system of checks and balances between the three branches of our federal government undergone changes for good or ill over the years since the Constitution was set as the cornerstone of our nation? How stand our political traditions, our personal freedoms, our purported equality, our sense of governance "of, by, and for the people"? Are we the democratic nation we set out to be, or do we have a distance to go to achieve this ideal? Alternatively, is approaching a democratic ideal desirable today in the light of the smaller, more integrated, and dangerous world in which we live? Is This Any Way to Run a Democratic Government? examines the theory and practice of American democracy and the dichotomy that currently exists between them. The contributors assess both the reasons - and the consequences - of this division between the theory of democracy and how it is played out in actuality. Focusing on the here and now, this book is about the institutions, process, and politics of government: how well they work; whether they meet the criteria for a viable democratic system; and the extent to which they contribute to good public policy. As we begin the 21st century, with rancorous political partisanship and threats to domestic security and tranquility at an all-time high, Is This Any Way to Run a Democratic Government? asks us to think seriously about the state of our much-heralded democracy, and whether or not our political system can respond to the pressing needs of a new era without jeopardizing the basic values and beliefs that underlie its very foundation.

The book places the 2000 presidential and congressional elections into the larger and future context of American politics. Following the introduction by editors Stephen J. Wayne and Clyde Wilcox, the contributors examine a range of topics including "wedge" issues in 2000 -- the economy, foreign policy, and race -- the dimensions of gender, age, and religion; as well as Democratic and Republican party strategies in 2000; the "Clinton effect; " the role of the Internet in campaigns; the future of women in national politics; and political platforms and agendas.

The book places the 2000 presidential and congressional elections into the larger and future context of American politics. Following the introduction by editors Stephen J. Wayne and Clyde Wilcox, the contributors examine a range of topics including "wedge" issues in 2000 -- the economy, foreign policy, and race -- the dimensions of gender, age, and religion; as well as Democratic and Republican party strategies in 2000; the "Clinton effect; " the role of the Internet in campaigns; the future of women in national politics; and political platforms and agendas.

The author of this book is an unabashed liberal democrat. He argues that there are a number of myths and half-truths about American politics that need to be properly understood if progressives and the Democratic party are to win the presidency and govern effectively. The book has three parts: myths and realities of public opinion; current party coalitions - their strengths and weaknesses; a programme for progressive Democrats.

The author of this book is an unabashed liberal democrat. He argues that there are a number of myths and half-truths about American politics that need to be properly understood if progressives and the Democratic party are to win the presidency and govern effectively. The book has three parts: myths and realities of public opinion; current party coalitions - their strengths and weaknesses; a programme for progressive Democrats.

Voters need information about the qualities of candidates, the policies they propose and the partisan labels they wear. Does our Electoral College encourage the most qualified candidates to run? Does it force them to talk candidly with the American people? Will election results accurately reflect the needs of the population as a whole? Wayne's The Road to the White House 2024 answers these questions in a straightforward, jargon-free manner. Equipping you with a background on presidential elections and a guide to the 2024 election, it illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of our electoral democracy. It also offers insights on changes that have revolutionized contemporary electoral politics: the flood of money, the ideological polarization of American parties, the digital revolution, foreign interference, voter eligibility, the integrity of the voting process itself and much more.

Voters need information about the qualities of candidates, the policies they propose and the partisan labels they wear. Does our Electoral College encourage the most qualified candidates to run? Does it force them to talk candidly with the American people? Will election results accurately reflect the needs of the population as a whole? Wayne's The Road to the White House 2024 answers these questions in a straightforward, jargon-free manner. Equipping you with a background on presidential elections and a guide to the 2024 election, it illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of our electoral democracy. It also offers insights on changes that have revolutionized contemporary electoral politics: the flood of money, the ideological polarization of American parties, the digital revolution, foreign interference, voter eligibility, the integrity of the voting process itself and much more.

The 2012 election is over, but the debate over the fairness and accuracy of our electoral system continues. The courts are dealing with the alleged discriminatory impact of voter ID requirements on minority voters; privacy and vote manipulation are concerns as political campaigns utilize new technology to target voters; the news media are contending with harsh public criticism of their elections coverage; the campaign finance floodgates were opened with vast resources spent on negative advertising; and the Electoral College continues to undermine a national, democratic electoral system-Is this any way to run a democratic election? This fully updated fifth edition answers that important question by looking at both recent events and recent scholarship focused on the democratic electoral process, including new data and timely illustrations from the 2012 elections.

Renowned presidential scholar Stephen Wayne takes a close look at the interplay of personal character, partisan politics, and public opinion on presidential decision-making. In this systematic character study, Wayne considers how President Obama's policy beliefs and operating style fueled his meteoric success as a candidate, but have had a decidedly mixed impact on his governance as president. Arguing that character matters, Wayne shows that Obama's personal dimensions both contribute and detract from his policy achievements and political goals. Taking into account the environment in which he took office up through the "shellacking" of the Democrats in November 2010, the book looks at how Obama has dealt with the troubled economy and a polarized political climate. Wayne sets his study within the larger literature on presidential character and explores the broader questions surrounding presidential leadership in a democratic society: Do presidents lead or follow public opinion? To what extent do leadership skills make a difference? What kind of policy and political impact can presidents have in the twenty-first century?