Fair and Effective Representation?: Debating Electoral Reform and Minority RightsTwo experts on political representation, voting rights, and the election process debate the most pertinent issues of electoral reform and assess them in the context of the Founders' vision of representation and minority rights. Mark E. Rush and Richard L. Engstrom discuss the promises and pitfalls of electoral reform--specifically, the merits of converting from the traditional single-member district to some form of proportional representation. The authors examine the shortcomings of the existing methods of elections (such as gerrymandering, low turnout, voter apathy, and underrepresentation of minorities and women), debate the merits of converting to proportional representation, ask whether it would address the imperfections of the current system, and investigate the extent to which proportional representation adheres to the Founders' (particularly Madison's) plan for representation. With an introduction by esteemed political scientist Bruce E. Cain, this is an essential text for courses in voting rights and behavior, elections, and American political thought. |
Contents
The Political Thicket Electoral Reform and Minority Voting Rights | xvii |
The Hidden Costs of Electoral Reform | 65 |
References | 117 |
READINGS | 135 |
Gomillion et al v Lightfoot Mayor of Tuskegee et al 364 US 339 1960 | 137 |
Reynolds Judge et al v Sims et al 377 US 533 1964 | 140 |
Wright et al v Rockefeller Governor of New York et al 376 US52 1964 | 144 |
United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburgh Inc et al v Carey Governor of New York et al 423 US 945 1975 | 148 |
City of Mobile Alabama et al v Bolden et al 446 US 55 1980 | 152 |
Thornburg Attorney General of North Carolina et al v Gingles et al 478 US 30 1986 | 158 |
Ruth O Shaw et al Appellants v Janet Reno Attorney General et al 509 US 630 1993 | 164 |
Jackie Holder etc et al Petitioners v E K Hall Sr et al 512 US 874 1994 | 170 |
Bush Governor of Texas et al v Vera et al 517 US952 1996 | 179 |
Index | 181 |
185 | |
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Common terms and phrases
adopted African American alleged alternative electoral American politics Bernard Grofman candidates cast choice citizens City Cleveland County communities of interest congressional districts constitutional contiguity County cumulative voting decisions democracy Democratic District Court district lines Droop quota effect elec electoral arrangement electoral opportunities Electoral Reform electoral system Engstrom ensure Equal Protection Clause federal Fifteenth Amendment Gingles Guinier impact Justice Latino Law Review legislative legislature Lijphart limited voting majority majority-minority majority-minority districts Miller minority group minority representation minority voters multimember districts multiseat North Carolina number of seats number of votes partisan percent Pildes and Donoghue plaintiffs plurality political process political subdivision population PR advocates PR systems preference voting proportional representation quota race racial gerrymander reapportionment redistricting Reno representational opportunities Republican result Richard right to vote Shaw single-member districts Supreme Court threshold of exclusion tion tricts turnout U.S. House United violation Voting Rights Act voting rules
References to this book
Supreme Court Cases on Political Representation, 1787-2001 Christopher A. Anzalone Limited preview - 2002 |