MARC Record from Library of Congress

LEADER: 03540cam a2200397 a 4500
001 2010007837
003 DLC
005 20100622101615.0
008 100223s2010 cauab b 000 0 eng
010 $a 2010007837
020 $a9780833049605 (pbk. : alk. paper)
020 $a0833049607 (pbk. : alk. paper)
035 $a(OCoLC)ocn537652538
040 $aDLC$cDLC$dYDX$dYDXCP$dCZL$dIXA$dAD#$dDLC
043 $an-us---
050 00 $aJK1967$b.T55 2010
082 00 $a324.973/092$222
100 1 $aThomson, James A.,$d1945-
245 12 $aA house divided :$bpolarization and its effect on RAND /$cJames A. Thomson.
260 $aSanta Monica, CA :$bRAND,$c2010.
300 $aix, 23 p. :$bill. (some col.), maps ;$c28 cm.
490 1 $aOccasional paper ;$vOP-291-RC
504 $aIncludes bibliographical references.
505 0 $aFederalists' belief in deliberation -- Party preference of American voters -- Ideological classification of voters in 2004 -- The DW-Nominate measure -- Nominate versus district characteristics, 1973 -- Nominate versus district characteristics, 2003 -- Polarization in 90th, 100th, and 110th Congresses -- Party polarization, 1879-2007 -- Polarization's effect on public policy -- Growth of constituency characteristics -- 1976 U.S. election by county -- 2008 U.S. election by county -- U.S. election victory margins in landslide counties, 1948-2004 -- Standard deviation of Republican presidential vote, 1948-2004 -- Dealing with controversy.
520 $aThe American political climate has become increasingly polarized since the 1970s. Analysis by Keith Poole and Howard Rosenthal shows that voting patterns within Congress have become increasingly divided along party lines, with fewer and fewer moderates. A major cause of polarization appears to be the geographic sorting of voters: Communities and regions of the country have become more politically and ideologically homogeneous, resulting in constituencies in congressional districts and in states that are more strongly conservative or liberal. Whatever its causes, the effects of increased polarization on political discourse and policymaking are clear: There is less room for deliberation between the two parties, and public policy decisionmaking is increasingly driven more by ideology than by objective analysis of which policies, programs, practices, and processes will produce the desired outcomes at the lowest cost. The mission of the RAND Corporation is to provide just this sort of objective analysis, and today's heated political environment presents a serious challenge to this mission. To help make sure that RAND's objective, nonpartisan research influences the policy debate, RAND must work to identify potentially controversial findings and take steps to ensure that they are not misinterpreted or distorted.
650 0 $aVoting$zUnited States$xHistory$y20th century.
650 0 $aVoting$zUnited States$xHistory$y21st century.
650 0 $aElections$zUnited States$xHistory$y20th century.
650 0 $aElections$zUnited States$xHistory$y21st century.
650 0 $aParty affiliation$zUnited States$xHistory$y20th century.
650 0 $aParty affiliation$zUnited States$xHistory$y21st century.
650 0 $aPolarization (Social sciences)$zUnited States$xHistory$y20th century.
650 0 $aPolarization (Social sciences)$zUnited States$xHistory$y21st century.
610 20 $aRand Corporation.
651 0 $aUnited States$xPolitics and government$y1989-
830 0 $aOccasional paper (Rand Corporation) ;$vOP-291-RC.