White-Collar Government

White-Collar Government

Author: Nicholas Carnes

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2013-11-05

Total Pages: 201

ISBN-13: 022608728X

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Eight of the last twelve presidents were millionaires when they took office. Millionaires have a majority on the Supreme Court, and they also make up majorities in Congress, where a background in business or law is the norm and the average member has spent less than two percent of his or her adult life in a working-class job. Why is it that most politicians in America are so much better off than the people who elect them— and does the social class divide between citizens and their representatives matter? With White-Collar Government, Nicholas Carnes answers this question with a resounding—and disturbing—yes. Legislators’ socioeconomic backgrounds, he shows, have a profound impact on both how they view the issues and the choices they make in office. Scant representation from among the working class almost guarantees that the policymaking process will be skewed toward outcomes that favor the upper class. It matters that the wealthiest Americans set the tax rates for the wealthy, that white-collar professionals choose the minimum wage for blue-collar workers, and that people who have always had health insurance decide whether or not to help those without. And while there is no one cause for this crisis of representation, Carnes shows that the problem does not stem from a lack of qualified candidates from among the working class. The solution, he argues, must involve a variety of changes, from the equalization of campaign funding to a shift in the types of candidates the parties support. If we want a government for the people, we have to start working toward a government that is truly by the people. White-Collar Government challenges long-held notions about the causes of political inequality in the United States and speaks to enduring questions about representation and political accountability.


Campaign Finance Law

Campaign Finance Law

Author:

Publisher:

Published:

Total Pages: 776

ISBN-13:

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A summary of state campaign finance laws with quick reference charts for the U.S. territories and possessions.


Campaign Finance Law 98

Campaign Finance Law 98

Author: Edward D. Feigenbaum

Publisher: U.S. Government Printing Office

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 778

ISBN-13:

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In order to saty abreast of State campaign finance laws, the Federal Election Commission issues this volume entitled Campaign Finance Law every two years as an updated outline summary of the State laws.


Guide to State Politics and Policy

Guide to State Politics and Policy

Author: Richard G. Niemi

Publisher: CQ Press

Published: 2013-10-18

Total Pages: 481

ISBN-13: 1483386236

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No previous book has pulled together into one place a single, comprehensive volume that provides up-to-date coverage of state government and politics, along with the states’ current and future public policies. This new book does just that, offering students, scholars, citizens, policy advocates, and state specialists accessible information on state politics and policy in 33 topical chapters written by experts in the field. The guide provides contemporary analysis of state institutions, processes, and public policies, along with both historical and theoretical perspectives that help readers develop a comprehensive understanding of the 50 U.S. states’ complex and changing political spheres. Those who use this volume—from experienced scholars to neophytes—can rely upon the guide to provide: Basic factual information on state politics and policy; Core explanatory frameworks and competing arguments; and Insightful coverage of major policy areas as they have played out in the states.