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  1. Home
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  3. Congress as Public Enemy
  • Cited by 387
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
August 2012
Print publication year:
1995
Online ISBN:
9781139174466
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139174466
Subjects:
Area Studies, American Studies, American Government, Politics and Policy, Film, Media, Mass Communication, Politics and International Relations, Psychology: General Interest, Media, Mass Communication
Series:
Cambridge Studies in Public Opinion and Political Psychology
Information

Book description

This timely book describes and explains the American people's alleged hatred of their own branch of government, the US Congress. Intensive focus group sessions held across the country and a specially designed national survey indicate that much of the negativity is generated by popular perceptions of the processes of governing visible in Congress. John Hibbing and Elizabeth Theiss-Morse argue that, although the public is deeply disturbed by debate, compromise, delicate pace, the presence of interest groups, and the professionalization of politics, many of these traits are actually endemic to modern democratic government. Congress is an enemy of the public partially because it is so public. Calls for reform, such as term limitations, reflect the public's desire to attack these disliked features. But the authors conclude, the public's unwitting desire to reform democracy out of a democratic legislature is a cure more dangerous than the disease.

Reviews

"...Congress as Public Enemy is an important and timely report that should be of interest to anyone who studies public opinion, attitude measurement (especially in terms of the complementary use of survey research and focus groups), or American politics generally." Stephen C. Craig, American Political Science Review

"This excellent piece of research and analysis gives much to think about as we focus on maintaining public support of our political institutions." W.K. Hall, Choice

"This excellent piece of research and analysis gives much to think about as we focus on maintaining public support of our political institutions." W.K. Hall, Choice

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