Deliberative Democracy in America: A Proposal for Popular Branch of Government

by Ethan J. Leib

Book Overview

We are taught in civics class that the Constitution provides for three basic branches of government: executive, judicial, and legislative. While the President and Congress as elected by popular vote are representative, can they really reflect accurately the will and sentiment of the populace? Or do money and power dominate everyday politics to the detriment of true self-governance? Is there a way to put "We the people" back into government? Ethan...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0271026979
• ISBN13: 9780271026978
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Penn State University Press
• Length: 156 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.6" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A must read!

Not only is this book an important contribution to the deliberative democracry debate, it is essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of American democracy. Coming at a time when political discourse has been reduced to television soundbites, the inane commentary of media "pundits," cynical, poll-driven stump speeches, and barely coherent, question-dodging press conferences, Leib's ideas about a fourth, "popular," branch of government couldn't be more timely. This book will appeal to specialists and amateurs alike. I highly recommend it.

A must read

Not only is this book an important contribution to the deliberative democracry debate, it is essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of American democracy. Coming at a time when political discourse has been reduced to television soundbites, the inane commentary of media "pundits," cynical, poll-driven stump speeches, and barely coherent, question-dodging press conferences, Leib's call for a fourth, "popular," branch of government couldn't be more timely. This book will appeal to specialists and amateurs alike. I highly recommend it.