This essay examines the importance of politics in meeting the challenges of representative democracy in Brazil. President Cardoso sees a need to inject new life into representative democracy because of a growing lack of interest in politics, low voter turnout, and hostility toward politicians. He says the United States' task is to enhance and update democracy so that it will continue to prevail worldwide.

Carney, Eliza Newlin. "Defending the PACs" (National Journal, vol. 28, no. 28, July 13, 1996, pp. 1518-1583)

Carney looks objectively at the failure of the most recent bipartisan effort in the Senate to reform congressional campaign funding. The article examines the traditional arguments for curbing PAC influence, weighed against the idea that special-interest activities constitute a form of expression needed to maintain a varied, democratic society. Most interesting is Carney's reporting on the range of new campaign reform proposals emerging from U.S. think tanks, which are open for discussion in a cyberspace forum, as well as other state-level reforms.

Chafee, Steven and Stacey Frank. "How Americans Get Political Information: Print Versus Broadcast News" (The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol. 546, July1996, pp. 48-58)

"People who rely on television alone get less news than do newspaper and magazine readers," say authors Chafee and Frank. However, contrary to earlier research, they find that television news is informative for American voters, albeit in ways different from newspapers. Television news provides more information about candidates; newspapers, more about parties. Based on new research, the academicians and former newspaper reporters conclude: "Reading news is characteristic of politically active citizens; television is a bridging medium, familiarizing young people and immigrants with the American political system."

Griffin, Susan; and others. "Do-It-Yourself Politics" (Utne Reader, no. 76, July/August 1996, pp. 43-59)

The independent writers and editors of Utne Reader have compiled a series of articles rooted in the traditions of civic participation and democratic values. The focus ranges from a fundamental and thought-provoking look at "integrity" in politics to an essay on how "imagination" plays into civic aspirations. Billed as "alternative media," the journal's style and focus is very contemporary.

Haskell, John. "Reforming Presidential Primaries: Three Steps for Improving the Campaign Environment" (Presidential Studies Quarterly, vol. 26, no. 2, Spring 1996, pp. 379-390)

Drake University's Haskell suggests that nomination of presidential candidates has degenerated into a political bazaar characterized by too much money and meaningless discourse. He believes that this inefficiency can be alleviated by, first, moving the presidential primary to an earlier date in the election year. Second, he suggests having five small to medium- sized states hold primaries on the same first day. Third, instead of a single vote, voters should be allowed to cast votes for all candidates of whom they approve.

Kemper, Vicki and Deborah Lutterbeck. "The Country Club" (Common Cause, vol. 22, no. 1, Spring/Summer 1996, pp. 16-35)

Editor Kemper and staff writer Lutterbeck look at how an elite group of corporations, unions and super-rich individuals is reaping great rewards with huge "soft money" contributions. They point out that with these unregulated contributions to America's major political parties, these so-called "country club" members help set the political agenda, impact the outcomes and, in many ways, run the country.

Schell, Jonathan. "The Uncertain Leviathan" (Atlantic Monthly, vol. 278, no. 2, August 1996, pp. 70-78)

Schell makes the case that the American political realm is distinctly divided into two sides. One side is made up of the political professionals, i.e. politicians, their staffers, advisers, and consultants, and the news media. The other side is comprised of the political amateurs, i.e., the voters. He points out that the bulk of contemporary American political activity consists of the interaction between professional politicians and the media, with the voters standing on the sidelines as somewhat disinterested and uninformed observers of this interplay.

Thomas, Bill and Ann McBride. "Q: Was the GOP Proposal to Reform Campaign Finance a Good Idea?" (Insight on the News, vol. 12, no. 13, August 19, 1996, pp. 24-27)

Thomas and McBride are the two strongest spokesmen for and against the House of Representatives' version of proposed legislation on congressional campaign reform. In this article, they briefly present the arguments, reflecting general public debate on campaign financing. The draft bill was defeated in the House on July 25, 1996. Senate efforts were blocked in late June.

___________

The annotations above are part of a more comprehensive Article Alert offered on the home page of the U.S. Information Service.