BIBLIOGRAPHY   

Further information on U.S. elections.

Barnes, James A.
"Rules of the Game," National Journal, vol. 31, no. 45, November 6, 1999,
pp. 3202-3207.

The early selection of delegates favors the presidential nomination of well-known candidates who have the backing of the two parties' establishments, says National Journal staff correspondent Barnes. This "front-loading" has been rapidly increasing in U.S. election cycles since the early 1980s.

Briand, Michael K.
Practical Politics: Five Principles for a Community that Works. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1999.

This guide to practicing democracy will be valuable to community grass-roots organizations, by showing how people can make a difference and make democracy work in their communities.

Cannon, Carl M.
"Madam President," National Journal, vol. 31, no. 30, July 24, 1999, pp. 2142-2147.

Recent polls indicate that some 92 percent of Americans would vote for a woman candidate. The number is triple what the surveys showed 60 years ago. But the question, Cannon asks, is how long will we have to wait?

Conway, M. Margaret
Political Participation in the United States. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2000.

Conway analyzes patterns of political participation by citizens and offers different explanations for those patterns based on recent research findings. She also considers the reasons for, and the consequences of, non-participation. She concludes with a discussion of the impact of participation on individuals and on the policies and processes of government in the United States.

Cook, Rhodes
Race for the Presidency: Winning the 2000 Nomination. Washington, D.C.:
CQ Press, 2000.

Rhodes provides detailed information on the 2000 presidential nominating process by including state-by-state delegate selection rules for both parties. The historical roots, background and evolution of the nominating system also are explained.

Denning, S. Lance
Finding Virtue's Place: Examining America's Civic Life. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1999.

Denning dissects today's debate over civic virtue as a remedy to America's social and political ills. He argues that the conservative focus on moral behavior excludes other essential factors contributing to social changes and affecting America's civic behavior. He also asserts that civic life appears vibrant and active, in contrast to common perceptions.

Elkin, Stephen L. and Karol Edward Soltan, eds.
Citizen Competence and Democratic Institutions. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1999.

An examination of what "citizen competence" is, how much it exists in the United States today, and what can be done to increase it. The book explores new and revitalized forms of democratic participation as well as the kind of participation that is likely to foster a wide variety of citizen competencies.

Frankovic, Kathleen A.
"Election Polls: The Perils of Interpretation," Media Studies Journal, vol.14, no. 1, Winter 2000, pp. 104-109.

CBS News' Frankovic points out that polls highlight the role of public opinion in the political process, but when employed inappropriately, they can be used to create an exaggerated sense of precision that misleads more than it informs.

Gastil, John
By Popular Demand: Revitalizing Representative Democracy Through Deliberative Elections. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000.

Gastil challenges conventional assumptions about public opinion, elections and political expression in this treatise on how to revitalize the system of representative democracy in the United States. He argues that American citizens have difficulty developing clear policy interests, seldom reject unrepresentative public officials and lack a strong public voice. The growing awareness of a flawed electoral system is causing increased public cynicism and apathy. The most popular reforms, however, will neither restore public trust nor improve representation.

Goldstein, Michael L.
Guide to the 2000 Presidential Election. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2000.

Goldstein walks the reader through the context of the election, the preliminaries leading up to the nomination, the actual process of getting the nomination, the full campaign and the essential issues the winner will confront in office. In the course of this book, the author informs and educates about campaign financing, access to the ballot, the media's role, the use of advertising and other topics in the news.

Golway, Terry
"The Conventional Wisdom: Why It's Wrong," American Heritage, vol. 51, no. 4, July/August 2000, pp. 50-59.

Journalist Golway provides a historical look at the political parties' quadrennial events, observing that while many believe the conventions today have lost their relevance in the political process, they still provide an important function for party activists and mark the beginning stage for voters to focus on the election.

Heineman, Robert
"The Constitution and Campaign Reform," The World and I, vol. 15, no. 3, March 2000, pp. 46-51.

Recent high court decisions have expressed a willingness to allow flexibility in political campaign strategy and expenditures, especially in the use of unlimited "soft money" given to political parties rather than individual campaigners.

LeMay, Michael C.
The Perennial Struggle: Race, Ethnicity and Minority Group Politics in the United States. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000.

LeMay contrasts different minority groups at varying stages of political participation to review each group's reaction and strategic and tactical approach to coping with its minority status. He discusses the complex processes of race and ethnic relations within society while emphasizing public policy and its effect on groups in minority status.

Mathews, Forrest David
Politics for People: Finding a Responsible Public Voice. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1999.

Mathews explores how individuals and communities can create a political system relevant to their everyday lives, and discusses social problem-solving at the grass-roots level.

O'Connell, Brian
Civil Society: The Underpinnings of American Democracy. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1999.

O'Connell explores the idea and reality of citizen participation, including government's essential responsibility to preserve the freedoms that allow and encourage it.

Pascoe, Bill
"The Hidden War for Control of the States," The World & I, vol. 15, no. 7, July 2000,
pp. 56-61.

Pascoe talks about the "hidden war" going on under the media's radar scope for control of U.S. governors' mansions and state legislative bodies. Their importance lies in the determination of who controls the redistricting process, thereby influencing the outcome of the next five Congresses.

Rakove, Jack N.
"Origins of the Presidency," National Forum: The Phi Kappa Phi Journal, vol. 80, no. 1, Winter 2000, pp. 9-12.

Given their strong suspicion of the potential abuse of executive power, the framers of the Constitution encountered difficulties designating the responsibilities of a national republican executive. Another obstacle was choosing a mode of election, whether by the people, the new Congress or Electoral College. The author discusses how these dynamics gave rise to the organization of political parties in the U.S.

Rochelle, Warren G.
"The Literary Presidency," Presidential Studies Quarterly, vol. 29, no. 2, June 1999,
pp. 407-420.

Rochelle outlines the constitutional qualifications and responsibilities of the president of the United States, and describes the grander presidential image that American citizens draw upon when evaluating the candidates' fitness for the office and the sources that have contributed to that image.

Rozell, Mark J.
Interest Groups in American Campaigns: The New Face of Electioneering.
Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 1999.

Rozell focuses exclusively on the role of interest groups in federal elections. He describes the complex system of campaign finance, grass-roots and activist politics in American nominations and elections, and also assesses the advantages and disadvantages of interest group activity in the American electoral process and democracy.

Rubin, Barry R.
A Citizen's Guide to Politics in America: How the System Works & How to Work the System. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000.

From realizing a plan of action to the process of lobbying decision-makers and using information to the best advantage, Rubin provides basic information on influencing the political process, from media involvement to mobilizing coalitions.

Thomas, Robert J.
How to Run for Local Office: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide That Will Take You Through the Entire Process of Running and Winning a Local Election. Westland, MI: R&T Enterprise, 1999.

Written by the mayor of Westland, Michigan, this 128-page manual describes the campaign process step-by-step, by advising potential candidates on such topics as campaign signs, fundraising, door-to-door canvassing, literature, mailings, targeting the voters, election day and other aspects of a campaign.

"What Candidates Have to Say About Campaigning: Special Survey Report," Campaigns & Elections, vol. 20, no. 7, August 1999, pp. 20-28, 32-36.

The article reviews and analyzes responses from interviews, surveys and focus groups with a nationwide sampling of candidates from congressional, statewide, judicial and municipal campaigns. Candidates discuss the prospects of issue-focused campaigns, changes needed in current campaign-funding practice, professional campaign assistance and third party and independent candidates' views.