Wrong Winner (Hardcover)

~ (Author), James P. Levine (Author)
Key Phrases: college biases, wrong winner, direct vote alternative, New York, House of Representatives, Democratic Party (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This volume predicts a soon-to-occur disaster resulting from the current setup of the Electoral College. In several instances, the arguments are interesting as they point to some serious shortcomings in the present constitutional electoral machinery. But, like the end-of-the-world predictors, they see "The End" around every corner. As a result, their concern over the possibility (probability) of an Electoral College misfiring seems shrill and less than credible. Abbott and Levine review the historical evidence and interpret that evidence convincingly. The authors are at their best when they review the history of changes suggested in the Electoral College. They also provide an interesting, but not in-depth, analysis of recent congressional votes on constitutional amendments on the Electoral College. It is remarkable, however, that in the closing chapters there is absolutely no analysis offered on whether a constitutional amendment that might pass Congress would receive much support in the state legislatures (or state ratification conventions). Appropriate for libraries only if the shelves already contain F. Best's The Case Against Direct Election of the President (1975); A. Bickel's Reform and Continuity; M. Diamond's The Electoral College and the American Idea of Democracy (1977); L. Longley and A. Braun's The Politics of Electoral College Reform (1975); and N. Peirce's The People's President. Upper-division undergraduates and general readers." -- From the Publisher --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

“Abbott and Levine have figured out how the outdated Electoral College, built into the Constitution by our founding fathers, is set to go haywire. They argue convincingly that within the next few elections, the Electoral College will produce the wrong president or no president at all. This is the best of political science--it combines solid analysis with a rare insight into real politics. A fascinating read.”–Ken Bode Director of the Contemporary Media Center, Depauw University and Correspondent for Cable News Network

“The historical evidence and the interpretations set forth by the authors are written in a most compelling and fascinating manner, providing an absolutely superb opportunity to explore the meaning and consequences of an important political institution. I really believe that students will be absorbed by this account of historical and current events and their significance for Americans.”– William Mitchell Professor of Political Science University of Oregon

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275937801
• ISBN-13: 978-0275937805
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,976,521 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)