Norman J. Ornstein's Books

It's Even Worse Than It Looks

How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

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It's Even Worse Than It Looks

How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

Acrimony and hyperpartisanship have seeped into every part of the political process. Congress is deadlocked and its approval ratings are at record lows. America's two main political parties have given up their traditions of compromise, endangering our very system of constitutional democracy. And one of these parties has taken on the role of insurgent outlier; the Republicans have become ideologically extreme, scornful of compromise, and ardently opposed to the established social and economic policy regime.In It's Even Worse Than It Looks, congressional scholars Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein identify two overriding problems that have led Congress -- and the United States -- to the brink of institutional collapse. The first is the serious mismatch between our political parties, which have become as vehemently adversarial as parliamentary parties, and a governing system that, unlike a parliamentary democracy, makes it extremely difficult for majorities to act. Second, while both parties participate in tribal warfare, both sides are not equally culpable. The political system faces what the authors call &"asymmetric polarization," with the Republican Party implacably refusing to allow anything that might help the Democrats politically, no matter the cost.With dysfunction rooted in long-term political trends, a coarsened political culture and a new partisan media, the authors conclude that there is no &"silver bullet"; reform that can solve everything. But they offer a panoply of useful ideas and reforms, endorsing some solutions, like greater public participation and institutional restructuring of the House and Senate, while debunking others, like independent or third-party candidates. Above all, they call on the media as well as the public at large to focus on the true causes of dysfunction rather than just throwing the bums out every election cycle. Until voters learn to act strategically to reward problem solving and punish obstruction, American democracy will remain in serious danger.

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273

Publisher

Basic Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

0465096735

ISBN 13

9780465096732

The Permanent Campaign and Its Future

By: Norman J. Ornstein

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The Permanent Campaign and Its Future

By: Norman J. Ornstein

Eminent political scientists weigh the benefits and the costs of this state of permanent campaign and describe the kind of political system likely to emerge within it.

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268

Publisher

American Enterprise Institute

Published Date

ISBN 10

0844741345

ISBN 13

9780844741345

It's Even Worse Than It Looks

How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

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It's Even Worse Than It Looks

How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

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273

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Basic Books

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ISBN 10

0465096735

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9780465096732

One Nation After Trump

A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet Deported

By: E. J. Dionne,Norman J. Ornstein,Thomas E. Mann

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One Nation After Trump

A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet Deported

By: E. J. Dionne,Norman J. Ornstein,Thomas E. Mann

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER A call to action from three of Washington's premier political scholar-journalists, One Nation After Trump offers the definitive work on the threat posed by the Trump presidency and how to counter it. American democracy was never supposed to give the nation a president like Donald Trump. We have never had a president who gave rise to such widespread alarm about his lack of commitment to the institutions of self-government, to the norms democracy requires, and to the need for basic knowledge about how government works. We have never had a president who raises profound questions about his basic competence and his psychological capacity to take on the most challenging political office in the world. Yet if Trump is both a threat to our democracy and a product of its weaknesses, the citizen activism he has inspired is the antidote. The reaction to the crisis created by Trump’s presidency can provide the foundation for an era of democratic renewal and vindicate our long experiment in self-rule. The award-winning authors of One Nation After Trump explain Trump’s rise and the danger his administration poses to our free institutions. They also offer encouragement to the millions of Americans now experiencing a new sense of citizenship and engagement and argue that our nation needs a unifying alternative to Trump’s dark and divisive brand of politics—an alternative rooted in a New Economy, a New Patriotism, a New Civil Society, and a New Democracy. One Nation After Trump is the essential book for our era, an unsparing assessment of the perils facing the United States and an inspiring roadmap for how we can reclaim the future.

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313

Publisher

Macmillan + ORM

Published Date

ISBN 10

1250164060

ISBN 13

9781250164063

Debt and Taxes

By: John H. Makin,Norman J. Ornstein

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Debt and Taxes

By: John H. Makin,Norman J. Ornstein

Today, two hundred years after the founding of the republic, the United States finds itself burdened by the highest taxes and largest debts in its history. The crisis presented by these Siamese twins symbolizes the country's inability to govern itself.

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360

Publisher

American Enterprise Institute

Published Date

ISBN 10

081292312X

ISBN 13

9780812923124

Renewing Congress

A First Report

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

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Renewing Congress

A First Report

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

For the past decade America has been faced with a perpetually divided government during the threat of economic slowdown, and governmental efficiency deteriorating. This ardent length of time has not only led to a standstill of government gridlock, but has also prompted the progressive thoughts of governmental reform on a grandeur scheme, while dismissing what conventional thought has traditionally proposed. Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein reject both the "business-as-usual approach to reform," which assumes that no change is necessary following the November 1992 election, as well as the "Congress-bashing" emphasis on scandals and congressional perks. Instead, they focus on substantive ways to improve Congress' performance as a legislative body. Their recommendations are designed to strengthen the ability of the House to set an agenda and act upon it; increase the quality of deliberation and debate; improve relations between the parties; reform the campaign finance system; and clean up Congress's internal support system.

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Brookings Institution Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0815720270

ISBN 13

9780815720270

Campaign Finance

An Illustrated Guide

By: Norman J. Ornstein,Jeremy Pope

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Campaign Finance

An Illustrated Guide

By: Norman J. Ornstein,Jeremy Pope

This brief volume is designed to help citizens navigate through the perplexing issues that surround our campaign finance system and its reform.

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American Enterprise Institute

Published Date

ISBN 10

0844771082

ISBN 13

9780844771083

The Broken Branch

How Congress is Failing America and how to Get it Back on Track

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

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The Broken Branch

How Congress is Failing America and how to Get it Back on Track

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

Two nationally renowned congressional scholars review the evolution of Congress from the early days of the republic to 2006, arguing that extreme partisanship and a disregard for institutional procedures are responsible for the institution's current state of dysfunction.

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289

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0195368711

ISBN 13

9780195368710

Vital Statistics on Congress 2008

By: Norman J. Ornstein,Thomas E. Mann,Michael J. Malbin

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Vital Statistics on Congress 2008

By: Norman J. Ornstein,Thomas E. Mann,Michael J. Malbin

Vital Statistics on Congress remains the quintessential source of authoritative information on America's legislature. This important series tracks the elements that define and describe Congress in the post–World War II era, and in this new edition, three of America's most esteemed political analysts extend their examination through the 109th Congress. They combine historical context with insightful analysis and copious data to produce a valuable and authoritative picture of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Norman Ornstein, Thomas Mann, and Michael Malbin track the changing makeup of Congress through history and across several dimensions, such as region, party, occupation, religion, committee assignments, staff size, and political stances. They document trends in critical areas such as voter turnout, ticket splitting, incumbency and turnover, and margin of victory. The authors, acknowledged experts in campaign finance, provide detailed information on candidate, party, and PAC spending. The material presented in l Statistics on Congress 2008 rev reveals a fascinating and important picture of America's chosen representatives, as politicians and as people. It will be an important addition to the bookshelves of media, political professionals, scholars and their students, and political junkies everywhere.

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209

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

0815701705

ISBN 13

9780815701705

Vital Statistics on Congress

2001-2002

By: Norman J. Ornstein,Thomas E. Mann,Michael J. Malbin

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Vital Statistics on Congress

2001-2002

By: Norman J. Ornstein,Thomas E. Mann,Michael J. Malbin

Vital Statistics on Congress is the definitive source of essential information for all who watch Congress.

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262

Publisher

American Enterprise Institute

Published Date

ISBN 10

084474168X

ISBN 13

9780844741680

Vital Statistics on Congress, 1997-1998

By: Norman J. Ornstein,Thomas E. Mann,Michael J. Malbin

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Vital Statistics on Congress, 1997-1998

By: Norman J. Ornstein,Thomas E. Mann,Michael J. Malbin

In the wake of the Republican takeover of both houses of Congress in 1994 and the accompanying promises of fundamental change, how does today's Congress differ from its predecessors in its membership, its political orientation, and its performance?To answer this question, this edition includes new statistical information on the 1996 elections, the 105th Congress, and the first term of the Clinton administration. Hundreds of tables and graphs help illustrate the dramatic changes taking place in Congress.The strength of this book is that three expert political analysts have pulled the most significant data into a single volume that is as useful for the lobbyist or congressional staff member as it is for a student or concerned citizen.

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314

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Vital Statistics on Congress (

Published Date

ISBN 10

1568022980

ISBN 13

9781568022987

The Embattled Constitution

By: Norman Dorsen

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The Embattled Constitution

By: Norman Dorsen

An indispensable and provocative guide through the thicket of today's most challenging constitutional controversies by some of the most eminent judges of their time. It offers an invaluable peek behind the curtain of judicial decision making." —David Cole, Professor of Law, Georgetown University The Embattled Constitution presents the fourth collection of the James Madison lectures delivered at the NYU School of Law, offering thoughtful examinations of an array of topics on civil liberties by a distinguished group of federal judges, including Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court. The result is a fascinating look into the minds of the judges who interpret, apply, and give meaning to our “embattled Constitution.” In these insightful and incisive essays, the authors bring to bear decades of experience to explore wide-ranging issues. Are today’s public schools racially segregated? To what extent can the federal courts apply the Bill of Rights without legislative guidance? And what are the criteria for the highest standards of judging and constitutional interpretation? The authors also discuss how and why the Constitution came to be embattled, shining a spotlight on the current polarization in both the Supreme Court and the American body politic and offering careful and informed analysis of how to bridge these divides. Contributors include Marsha S. Berzon, Michael Boudin, Stephen Breyer, Guido Calabresi, Robert H. Henry, Robert Katzmann, Pierre N. Leval, M. Blane Michael, Davis S. Tatel, J. Harvie Wilkinson, III, and Diane P. Wood.

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387

Publisher

NYU Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0814785832

ISBN 13

9780814785836

The Broken Branch

How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

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The Broken Branch

How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

Congress is the first branch of government in the American system, write Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, but now it is a broken branch, damaged by partisan bickering and internal rancor. The Broken Branch offers both a brilliant diagnosis of the cause of Congressional decline and a much-needed blueprint for change, from two experts who understand politics and revere our institutions, but believe that Congress has become deeply dysfunctional. Mann and Ornstein, two of the nations most renowned and judicious scholars of government and politics, bring to light the historical roots of Congress's current maladies, examining 40 years of uninterrupted Democratic control of the House and the stunning midterm election victory of 1994 that propelled Republicans into the majority in both House and Senate. The byproduct of that long and grueling but ultimately successful Republican campaign, the authors reveal, was a weakened institution bitterly divided between the parties. They highlight the dramatic shift in Congress from a highly decentralized, committee-based institution into a much more regimented one in which party increasingly trumps committee. The resultant changes in the policy process--the demise of regular order, the decline of deliberation, and the weakening of our system of checks and balances--have all compromised the role of Congress in the American Constitutional system. Indeed, Speaker Dennis Hastert has unabashedly stated that his primary responsibility is to pass the president's legislative program--identifying himself more as a lieutenant of the president than a steward of the house. From tax cuts to the war against Saddam Hussein to a Medicare prescription drug benefit, the legislative process has been bent to serve immediate presidential interests and have often resulted in poorly crafted and stealthily passed laws. Strong majority leadership in Congress, the authors conclude, led not to a vigorous exertion of congressional authority but to a general passivity in the face of executive power. A vivid portrait of an institution that has fallen far from the aspirations of our Founding Fathers, The Broken Branch highlights the costs of a malfunctioning Congress to national policymaking, and outlines what must be done to repair the damage.

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289

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Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0198038895

ISBN 13

9780198038894

After the People Vote

A Guide to the Electoral College

By: John C. Fortier

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After the People Vote

A Guide to the Electoral College

By: John C. Fortier

Now in its fourth edition, After the People Vote remains an indispensable concise guide to help students and all citizens understand this critical and controversial American political institution. The mechanisms that lead to the final selection of a president are complex. Some procedures are sketched out in the original Constitution and its amendments, and others in federal law, congressional rules and procedures, state laws, and political party rules. This new, expanded edition of After the People Vote--featuring new sections on public opinion on the Electoral College and proposals for amending the Electoral College system--explains how our system of electing a president works, especially the processes that kick in after the November general election date.

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140

Publisher

A E I Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0844750336

ISBN 13

9780844750330

Renewing Congress

A First Report

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

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Renewing Congress

A First Report

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein

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Brookings Institution Press

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0815720270

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9780815720270

Book's by Norman J. Ornstein

It's Even Worse Than It Looks

It's Even Worse Than It Looks

The Permanent Campaign and Its Future

The Permanent Campaign and Its Future

It's Even Worse Than It Looks

It's Even Worse Than It Looks

One Nation After Trump

One Nation After Trump

Debt and Taxes

Debt and Taxes

Renewing Congress

Renewing Congress

Campaign Finance

Campaign Finance

The Broken Branch

The Broken Branch

Vital Statistics on Congress 2008

Vital Statistics on Congress 2008

Vital Statistics on Congress

Vital Statistics on Congress

Vital Statistics on Congress, 1997-1998

Vital Statistics on Congress, 1997-1998

The Embattled Constitution

The Embattled Constitution

The Broken Branch

The Broken Branch

After the People Vote

After the People Vote

Renewing Congress

Renewing Congress

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