Early democratic theorists argued that one purpose of a democratic government is to increase the happiness of its citizens. However, all democracies are not equal. Some democracies through their institutional arrangements create broader representation to their citizens, while others reduce...

Most discussion of vetogates emphasizes how these institutional features limit and constrain the possibilities for reform. Less discussed, however, is how these same vetogates, aided by a staggered electoral calendar for each House of Congress and the Presidency, allow reform coalitions - once...

We intend in this project to show that the severity of felony sentences imposed by elected trial court judges in the state of Washington is highest in court districts where constituents are disposed toward a punitive approach to combating crime and lowest in districts favoring more leniency in...

Recent trends in judicial elections, including expensive rough-and-tumble campaigns characterized by televised attack advertising and politicized discourse, are causing advocacy groups and legal scholars to condemn the practice of electing judges. This paper addresses an important aspect of this...