Constitutional Democracy

by Mueller, Dennis C.

• ISBN13: 9780195144079
• ISBN10: 0195144074
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-11-30
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This volume systematically examines how the basic constitutional structure of governments affects what they can accomplish. At a time when Americans are more and more disillusioned about government's fundamental ability to reach solutions for domestic problems, and when countries in the former Soviet block and around the world are rewriting their constitutions, the relationship between government and constitution is especially important. Political economist Dennis Mueller illuminates the links between the structure of democratic government and its outcomes by drawing comparisons between the American system and other systems around the world. Working from the "public choice" perspective in political science, the book analyzes electoral rules, voting rules, federalism, citizenship, and separation of powers, making it a valuable resource for anyone curious about the world's political environment.

Author Biography

Dennis C. Mueller is Professor of Economics at the University of Vienna.

Table of Contents

I The Problems
Democracy in America	3	(18)
Democracy in Other Parts of the World	21	(22)
II The Constitutional Perspective
The Constitutional Premise	43	(7)
Why Have Government?	50	(9)
The Nature of a Constitution	59	(18)
III Institutions to Reveal and Advance a Community's Interests
Federalism	77	(18)
Direct Democracy	95	(6)
Representative Democracy: Proportional Representation	101	(13)
Representative Democracy: Two-Party Government	114	(13)
The Two Systems of Representation Compared	127	(25)
The Parliamentary Voting Rule	152	(25)
IV Institutions to Constrain Government
The Referendum	177	(15)
Bicameralism	192	(17)
Rights	209	(16)
The Market and the State	225	(12)
Redistribution	237	(10)
The Executive Branch	247	(16)
Dictatorship	263	(16)
The Judiciary	279	(20)
V Getting Started
Citizenship	299	(15)
The Constitutional Convention	314	(27)
VI Coming to an End
Epilogue	341	(8)
Glossary	349	(2)
Bibliography	351	(20)
Name Index	371	(6)
Subject Index	377