Category Archives: American Politics

Effects of “In-Your-Face” Television Discourse on Perceptions of a Legitimate Opposition

April 30, 2008 – 5:23 pm

Do we truly believe that ALL red-state residents are ignorant racist fascist knuckle-dragging NASCAR-obsessed cousin-marrying road-kill-eating tobacco-juice-dribbling gun-fondling religious fanatic rednecks; or that ALL blue-state residents are godless unpatriotic pierced-nose Volvo-driving France-loving left-wing Communist latte-sucking tofu-chomping holistic-wacko neurotic vegan weenie perverts?1
With that opening quotation from Dave Barry, Mutz introduces her central question: How do Americans [...]

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Challenger Entry and Voter Learning

April 30, 2008 – 9:59 am

Democracy is supposed to provide voters with an opportunity to hold elected officials accountable for their performance in office. With so many elected officials to monitor, however, voters would have a difficult time fulfilling this task without assistance.

Previous research has indicated that experienced, high-quality candidates are more likely to challenge Congressional incumbents when there is [...]

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Candidate Quality, the Personal Vote, and the Incumbency Advantage in Congress

April 30, 2008 – 9:22 am

If democracy requires rotation in power, then the American Congress may not be all that democratic. In 1998, 2000, and 2002, over ninety-six percent of House incumbents who have sought reelection have won. These facts are clear.1
What is less clear is the source of this incumbency advantage. Previous research has suggested three answers. First, perhaps [...]

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