Title:
Debating reform : conflicting perspectives on how to fix the American political system
Author:
Ellis, Richard (Richard J.)
ISBN:
9781452240022
Edition:
2nd ed.
Publication Information:
Los Angeles : Sage/CQ Press, ©2014.
Physical Description:
xxi, 373 pages : illustrations, map ; 23 cm
Contents:
The Constitution -- 1. Resolved, Article V should be revised to make it easier to amend the Constitution and to call a constitutional convention -- Pro: Sanford Levinson -- Con: David E. Kyvig -- Federalism -- 2. Resolved, Congress should restore each state's freedom to set its drinking age -- Pro: John Mccardell -- Con: James C. Fell -- Civil Liberties -- 3. Resolved, the Constitution should be amended to overturn the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United -- Pro: Jamie Raskin -- Con: John Samples -- Civil Rights -- 4. Resolved, Congress should pass the Democracy Restoration Act restoring the right to vote in federal elections to people with criminal records -- Pro: Erika L. Wood -- Con: Roger Clegg -- Political Participation -- 5. Resolved, the United States should adopt a national initiative and referendum -- Pro: Todd Donovan -- Con: Richard J. Ellis -- 6. Resolved, the United States should adopt compulsory voting-- Pro: Martin P. Wattenberg -- Con: Jason Brennan -- The Media -- 7. Resolved, Congress should bring back the fairness doctrine -- Pro: Marjorie Randon Hershey -- Con: James Gattuso -- Political Parties -- 8. Resolved, political parties should nominate candidates for president in a national primary -- Pro: Caroline J. Tolbert -- Con: David P. Redlawsk -- 9. Resolved, states should require open primaries -- Pro: Mark A. Siegel -- Con: Seth E. Masket -- Interest Groups -- 10. Resolved, earmarks for special interests should be abolished -- Pro: Jeffrey Lazarus -- Con: Scott A. Frisch And Sean Q Kelly -- House of Representatives -- 11. Resolved, proportional representation should be adopted for U.S. House elections -- Pro: Douglas J. Amy -- Con: Brendan J. Doherty -- 12. Resolved, the redistricting process should be nonpartisan -- Pro: Elaine C. Kamarck -- Con: Justin Buchler -- Senate -- 13. Resolved, the Senate should represent people, not states -- Pro: Bruce I. Oppenheimer-- Con: John J. Pitney Jr. -- 14. Resolved, Senate Rule XXII should be amended so that filibusters can be ended by a majority vote -- Pro: Steven S. Smith -- Con: Wendy J. Schiller -- Presidency -- 15. Resolved, the electoral college should be abolished -- Pro: George C. Edwards III -- Con: Gary L. Gregg II -- 16. Resolved, the president should be granted a line-item veto -- Pro: Michael Nelson -- Con: Robert J. Spitzer -- Bureaucracy -- 17. Resolved, bring back the spoils system -- Pro: Domonic A. Bearfield -- Con: Marissa Martino Golden -- Judiciary -- 18. Resolved, the terms of Supreme Court justices should be limited to eighteen years -- Pro: David Karol -- Con: Ward Farnsworth -- Domestic and Budgetary Policy -- 19. Resolved, the United States should adopt a balanced budget amendment -- Pro: David M. Primo -- Con: John B. Gilmour -- Foreign and Defense Policy -- 20. Resolved, Congress should pass the War Powers Consultation Act -- Pro: Nancy Kassop.
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