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For the many or the few : the initiative, public policy, and American democracy / John G. Matsusaka.
Author
Matsusaka, John G.
[Browse]
Format
Book
Language
English
Published/Created
Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2004.
Description
xii, 201 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm.
Availability
Available Online
Ebook Central Perpetual, DDA and Subscription Titles
Copies in the Library
Location
Call Number
Status
Location Service
Notes
Firestone Library - Stacks
JF494 .M38 2004
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Subject(s)
Referendum
—
United States
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Democracy
—
United States
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Fiscal policy
—
United States
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United States
—
Politics and government
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Series
American politics and political economy
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Summary note
Direct democracy is alive and well in the United States. Citizens are increasingly using initiatives and referendums to take the law into their own hands, overriding their elected officials to set tax, expenditure, and social policies. John G. Matsusaka's For the Many or the Few provides the first even-handed and historically based treatment of the subject. Drawing upon a century of evidence, Matsusaka argues against the popular belief that initiative measures are influenced by wealthy special interest groups that neglect the majority view. Examining demographic, political, and opinion data, he demonstrates how the initiative process brings about systematic changes in tax and expenditure policies of state and local governments that are generally supported by the citizens. He concludes that, by and large, direct democracy in the form of the initiative process works for the benefit of the many rather than the few. An unprecedented, comprehensive look at the historical, empirical, and theoretical components of how initiatives function within our representative democracy to increase political competition while avoiding the tyranny of the majority, For the Many or the Few is a most timely and definitive work.-- Provided by Publisher.
Bibliographic references
Includes bibliographical references (p. 187-194) and index.
Contents
An American institution
A blizzard of data
The evidence
Spending and taxes, 1970-2000
For the many or the few
Conservative or liberal
Explaining the facts
When legislators get out of step
Key episodes in the twentieth century
Open questions
Majority tyranny and the constitution
Delegation, information, and competition.
Show 9 more Contents items
ISBN
0226510816 ((cloth ; : alk. paper))
9780226510811 ((cloth ; : alk. paper))
LCCN
2004001839
OCLC
54365369
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Princeton University Library aims to describe library materials in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections we manage.
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For the many or the few [electronic resource] : the initiative, public policy, and American democracy / John G. Matsusaka.
id
99125354568406421