Schier (political science, Carleton College) examines the American electoral system, focusing on four aspects of a working democracy: the promotion of political, governmental, and regime stability; accountability of elected officials; voter turnout; and the deliberation of government policy. He evaluates the American system's problems, compares our system to other democracies, and provides a series of practical suggestions for correcting existing problems. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Schier (Carleton College) presents an excellent account of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the "peculiar" electoral system of the US. Often referred to as the "world's oldest democracy," the US has an electoral system that Schier convincingly argues is lacking in many respects. US elections promote stability, but to a considerable degree fail to encourage high voter turnout, accountability of elected officials, and thoughtful deliberation of public policy. Schier's argument that the US has "one of the most baroque electoral systems in the world" is forged by comparing elections in the US to those in other democratic countries. He argues compellingly that American elections would be improved by adopting a single transferable vote system. Schier also is a strong proponent of the universal registration system that exists in most other democratic countries. As Schier acknowledges, Americans revere their national institutions; as a result, many of his proposals are certainly politically unrealistic in the short term. Schier's proposals, however, promise to provoke meaningful debate as to what Americans should endeavor through the electoral process. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers, undergraduates, graduate students, and practitioners. General Readers; Lower-division Undergraduates; Upper-division Undergraduates; Graduate Students; Professionals/Practitioners. Reviewed by P. Fisher. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Steven E. Schier is the Dorothy H. and Edward C. Congdon Professor of Political Science at Carleton College. He is the author of eight books and numerous scholarly articles. He recently completed a Fulbright senior lectureship at York University in Toronto and serves on the board of The Dirksen Center for Congressional Studies. Schier has contributed articles to The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. He has commented on politics for national network and cable television and is a political analyst for KSTP television in Minneapolis Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Preface	ix
Introduction: Peculiar, Indeed	1
Chapter 1 What an Electoral System Can Do	11
Chapter 2 Compared to What?	33
Chapter 3 Why Turnout Fell	55
Chapter 4 Direct Democracy or Legislative Government?	77
Chapter 5 Four Controversies	97
Chapter 6 What Sort of Democracy?	127
Conclusion: Less Peculiar	145
Notes	149
References	151
Index	161

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