Congress and the Decline of Public Trust

By Joseph S. Cooper

Book Overview

Since the late 1960s, trust in government has fallen precipitously. The nine essays composing this volume detail the present character of distrust, analyze its causes, assess the dangers it poses, and suggest remedies. The focus is on trust in the Congress. The contributors also examine patterns of trust in societal institutions and the presidency, especially in light of the Clinton impeachment controversy. Among the themes the book highlights are the impacts of present patterns of politics, the consequences of public misunderstanding of democratic politics, the significance of poll data, and the need for reform in campaign finance, media practices, and civic education.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813368383
• ISBN13: 9780813368382
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.9" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Public Trust through Representation

A must for all public policy analysts seeking to understand the importance of symbolic/proxy representation of Congress as the foundation upon which the democratic system is built. An approach to properly categorize the role of party politics in achieving political success and hoping to maintain the degree of objectivity that maintains an effective Congress means knowing how trust is achieved, sustained, and challenged - as a part of the political representation afforded to American citizens in a spirit of freedom and self governance.