Congress and the people
Subtitle: deliberative democracy on trial
By: Donald R. Wolfensberger.
Publisher: Woodrow Wilson Center Press; Johns Hoskins University Press
Published: 2000
Place of publication: Washington, D.C; Baltimore
Language: eng
Number of pages: 308
Subjects: United States. -- Congress -- History; United States. -- Congress -- Reform. -- History; Democracy -- United States
Other titles: Congress & the people
Description: "Tracing the ways in which Congress has changed and adapted over two centuries to remain close and responsive to the people, the author addresses the question of whether some form of direct democracy will supplant representative, deliberative government in the United States.

He sets the stage by covering key moments in our democratic history, from the constitutional convention and debate over the Bill of Rights, through debates over slavery petitions and war referendums in the First and Second World Wars - serious questions of democratic process that arose at critical moments in U.S. history."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 293-296) and index.
Table of contents: title: Making a constitution; title: The Bill of Rights : Madison gets religion; title: The right to petition : The long drive; title: Congress and the progressive era; title: The Initiative and Referendum Movement; title: National referendum proposals and the Isolationist impulse; title: The dawning of the sunshine seventies; title: A window on Congress : televising floor debates; title: The revival of direct democracy proposals; title: The road to the Republican Revolution; title: The road to governance : revolution, reform, and reality; title: Coming full circle : the complete revolution; title: Term limits and the scarlet letter; title: The electronic Congress; title: The curtain falls twice on the House; title: The future of deliberative democracy.