Elections and Dilemmas of American Democratic Governance: Reflections

Abstract

I take as a central dilemma of American democratic governance that while all the adult citizenry have gained the opportunity to vote freely in elections on who the president and members of Congress are to be, they seem to be losing influence on what those officials do on questions of policy once in office. The 1988 election campaigns produced more criticism both of the process of choosing these officials and of the lack of policy mandates than any others in recent memory. This article attempts to organize that criticism under three headings, reflect upon it, and offer some prescriptions for change. The bill of particulars being leveled against the American democracy is, as I would summarize it: First, presidential and congressional election campaigns have become much more like popularity or beauty contests, con games, and television spectacles than a means of choosing the best persons to rule or producing a policy mandate to our highest officials from the voters. Second, voters cannot fix responsibility for successful or unsuccessful governmental policies because of the constitutional separation of powers between the presidency and Congress and because, of the high frequency in the past thirty-four years of different parties controlling the two branches. Third, appointive federal justices with life tenure on the Supreme Court have the power to nullify the policy preferences of voting majorities working through the president and Congress.