The Responsible Electorate

Author : Michael J. Ross
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 438 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (112 download)

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Download or read book Party Government written by Michael J. Ross and published by . This book was released on 1974 with total page 438 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Party Government: Responsible Parties or Responsible Electorate? Is concerned with the proposed reform to change American political parties into programmatic, responsible parties. The reformers’ standard is their understanding of the nature of British political parties. The first part of Party Government consists of a discussion of whether or not party government is desirable. The discussion centers on the present American party system, its defects and the suggested replacement; the discussion then turns to the defense of the present party system and the merits of the reformers’ proposition. The second part of Party Government asks the question: Is party government practicable and feasible? Various specific reforms are examined: changes in party machinery (platforms, conventions, a party council), alteration of party organization in Congress and of executive-legislative relations, a revised federal basis for the part system (including nominations and primaries), and new relations with interest groups. The characteristics of the American voter are investigated to see if he can adequately shoulder the burdens required by the reformers’ model of democracy. The finding of survey research are consulted to shed light on this crucial dimension of the debate. The arguments of each side of the dispute are evaluated, especially with an eye to the assumptions made about how contemporary American democracy empirically operates and how the disputants think it normatively ought to operate. Proponents of part government feel that the present part system thwarts an effective (national) majority from working its will. Weak parties are said to lead to enfeebled policy. Critics of the part government school defend present parties as well suited for bargaining, adjustment, and compromise. They warn of the polarization and social strife that might result from more disciplined and programmatic parties. By consulting relevant empirical research, it can be shown that American parties present differing and distinctive platforms for the electorate’s consideration and that these platform promises are fulfilled reasonable well by congressional parties approaching a rather strict model of party responsibility. Grafting of responsible part proposals onto the American constitutional and political system might well lead to excessive congressional subordination by the President, elimination of the separation-of-powers, drastic political centralization, and an end to our federal system. Those scholars who have written on the party government controversy have often been entirely for or against the proposal. Few, if any, have argued a middle position, namely, that the present party system is a viable and adequate form of part responsibility and popular control.