222 pages

English

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

The Public Side of Representation , livre ebook

State University of New York Press - Christopher J. Grill

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

222 pages

English

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

Representation lies at the very heart of our political system, yet few attempts have been made to examine citizens' views about the representative process. The Public Side of Representation fills that void. Through a series of in-depth interviews, Christopher J. Grill explores people's abstract beliefs about representation, expectations for members of Congress, views on the representative-constituent relationship, and conceptions of Congress as an institution. The resulting analysis describes what the participants view as the essential building blocks of the representative process, depicts how they think representatives should make voting decisions, explains what they believe are the most important roles for members of Congress, and appraises their understanding of the actual representative process. Highly readable and accessible, The Public Side of Representation provides greater insight into American politics, citizens' expectations about government, and the roots of public discontent with the contemporary political process.
Acknowledgments

1. Introduction and Overview

A Crisis of Representation?
The Missing Public
A Different Approach

2. Research Methodology

Introduction
Approaching the Subject
The Research Process:Instrument and Interviews
The Research Process:Coding and Analysis
Profile of Respondents
The Idea of Political Sophistication
Conclusion

3. The Idea of Representation

Introduction
The Nature of Responsiveness:Preface
Attentiveness
Openness and Accessibility
Involvement:Visibility and Direct Contact
Communication:The Heart of Representation
Concluding Remarks

4. Representation in Practice

Introduction
Communication:Opportunities and Pitfalls
Making Voting Decisions:The Hypotheticals
Resolving Decision-Making Dilemmas
Vital Representational Functions:Explanation and Education
Assessment:Fenno, With Some Twists

5. The Representative Relationship

Introduction
Representatives Defined
Members’ Job Obligations
Role Expectations:The Rank Scales
Assessment
Representatives as Political Models?
“A Tough Job”:Being a Representative
Members’ Burdens:The Inherent Conflicts of Representation
The Balancing Act of Representation
Concluding Remarks

6. Institutional Representation
Introduction
Conceptions of Congress
Institutional Roles:The Rank Scales
Assessment
View of the Congressional Democratic Process
The State of the Representative Process
Improving the Representative Process
Conclusion:Conceptualizing Congress

7. The Public Side of Representation

Revisiting the Idea of Representation:Insights and Implications
Institutional Representation
Surprising Sensitivity—and Blind Spots
Public Beliefs and the Representative Process
Some Final Thoughts

APPENDIX A Research Instruments
APPENDIX B Interview Excerpts
APPENDIX C Coding Tables

Notes
Bibliography
Index

Sujets

USA

United States of America

Central government

Central

États-Unis

National

Informations

Publié par	State University of New York Press
Date de parution	01 février 2012
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9780791479735
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,1648€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

THE PUBLIC SIDE OF EPRESENTATION R A Study of Citizens’ Views about Representatives and the Representative Process

Christopher J. Grill

The Public Side of Representation

This page intentionally left blank.

The Public Side of Representation

A Study of Citizens’ Views about Representatives and the Representative Process

Christopher J. Grill

State University of New York Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210-2384

Production by Kelli Williams Marketing by Michael Campochiaro

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Grill, Christopher J., 1965– The public side of representation : a study of citizens’ views about representatives and the representative process / Christopher J. Grill. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-7914-7169-2 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Representative government and representation—United States—Public opinion. 2. United States. Congress—Public opinion. 3. Public opinion—United States. 4. United States—Politics and government—1989—Public opinion. I. Title

JK1726.G75 2007 328.73'0734—dc22 2006032685

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Dedicated in Memory of my Grandfathers,

Joseph Grill and John Jedrzejewski

This page intentionally left blank.

Acknowledgments

Contents

CHAPTERONEIntroduction and Overview A Crisis of Representation? The Missing Public A Different Approach

CHAPTERTWOResearch Methodology Introduction Approaching the Subject The Research Process: Instrument and Interviews The Research Process: Coding and Analysis Profile of Respondents The Idea of Political Sophistication Conclusion

CHAPTERTHREEThe Idea of Representation Introduction The Nature of Responsiveness: Preface Attentiveness Openness and Accessibility Involvement: Visibility and Direct Contact Communication: The Heart of Representation Concluding Remarks

CHAPTERFOURRepresentation in Practice Introduction Communication: Opportunities and Pitfalls Making Voting Decisions: The Hypotheticals Resolving Decision-Making Dilemmas Vital Representational Functions: Explanation and Education Assessment: Fenno, With Some Twists vii

ix 1 1 3 5 9 9 10 13 15 16 17 19 21 21 22 26 27 28 34 42 43 43 44 47 48

54 64

viii

Contents

CHAPTERFIVEThe Representative Relationship Introduction Representatives Defined Members’ Job Obligations Role Expectations: The Rank Scales Assessment Representatives as Political Models? “A Tough Job”: Being a Representative Members’ Burdens: The Inherent Conflicts of Representation The Balancing Act of Representation Concluding Remarks

CHAPTERSIXInstitutional Representation Introduction Conceptions of Congress Institutional Roles: The Rank Scales Assessment View of the Congressional Democratic Process The State of the Representative Process Improving the Representative Process Conclusion: Conceptualizing Congress

CHAPTERSEVENThe Public Side of Representation Revisiting the Idea of Representation: Insights and Implications Institutional Representation Surprising Sensitivity—and Blind Spots Public Beliefs and the Representative Process Some Final Thoughts APPENDIXInstrumentsA Research APPENDIXExcerptsB Interview APPENDIXC Coding Tables Notes Bibliography Index

67 67 68 72 77 82 83 86

90 93 94 97 97 98 100 103 104 109 113 120 123

123 130 131 135 140 143 149 156 165 197 203

Acknowledgments

Although a book may have only one author on its title page, it inevitably bears the imprint of many hands. I must first extend my thanks to the in-terview participants whose willing donation of time and energy helped make this project a reality. Their openness, honesty, interest, and per-ceptiveness were a constant source of inspiration to me, and helped renew my faith in the civic capacity of “ordinary” citizens. A number of people made distinct contributions to the writing of this book. Anne Hildreth and Michael Malbin closely read the earliest versions of the manuscript and provided valuable insights and construc-tive criticism; the book is much better for them. Tim Gordinier’s review of my work, especially the concluding chapter, resulted in numerous sug-gestions that greatly improved the final product. Jane Mansbridge and Paul Quirk offered instructive and encouraging reviews of the penulti-mate draft. A special note of thanks is extended to Sally Friedman, the earliest and most enthusiastic supporter of this study, whose knowledge of the representational literature and research methodologies helped turn a sketchy idea into a viable topic, and whose continued advice and encouragement helped bring the book to its present form. The staff at State University of New York Press, particularly Mike Rinella and Kelli Williams, deserve kudos for their skill in shepherding the manuscript from initial proposal to polished tome. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to a select group of teachers I have known: Jack Gariepy, Den-nis Shea, Paul Conway, Paul Scheele, and Bruce Miroff. Each of them de-serves credit for sparking my interest in American politics, political thought, and culture, cultivating and honing my writing skills, and incul-cating a belief in the importance of exploring the political beliefs of or-dinary citizens. Each of them also exemplifies the enduring impact that good teaching, and teachers, can have. Of course, none of them, or the aforementioned contributors, should be held directly responsible for any of the assertions (or literary choices) that appear in the following pages!