Problems in American Democracy Part 66

5. What is the nature and purpose of the Direct Primary?

6. To what extent is the Direct Primary used in this country?

7. What are the chief advantages of this device?

8. What defects are urged against the Direct Primary?

9. What does Professor Munro conclude as to the value of the Direct Primary?

10. What is nomination by pet.i.tion?

11. What is the problem of majority representation?

12. Discuss the nature and purpose of the preferential voting device.

13. What is the purpose of gerrymandering?

14. What is the nature and purpose of proportional representation?

15. What is the relation of civic education to the proper use of the ballot?

REQUIRED READINGS

1. Williamson, _Readings in American Democracy,_ chapter x.x.xv.

Or all of the following:

2. Bryce, _The American Commonwealth_ vol. ii, chapter lxvi.

3. Guitteau, _Government and Politics in the United States,_ chapter x.x.xvii.

4. Ray, _Introduction to Political Parties and Practical Politics,_ chapter iv.

5. Reed, _Form and Functions of American Government,_ chapter vii.

QUESTIONS ON THE REQUIRED READINGS

1. Is the number of elective officers in the United States greater or less than in Europe? (Bryce, page 146.)

2. How is the caucus used at the present time? (Ray, page 75.)

3. What is a "self-announced" candidate? (Ray, page 75.)

4. Describe the workings of the "nomination by pet.i.tion" device. (Ray, page 76.)

5. What evils attend the unregulated caucus or primary? (Ray, pages 80-83.)

6. Describe the work of the state nominating convention. (Guitteau, pages 467-468.)

7. Outline the procedure in the national convention. (Guitteau, pages 471-472.)

8. What are the two chief types of Australian ballot? (Reed, pages 82- 84.)

9. What is the chief weakness of the Direct Primary? (Reed, page 87.)

10. Name some states in which the presidential preference primary is used. (Reed, page 87.)

11. How is a typical presidential preference primary conducted? (Reed, page 87.)

TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPORT

I

1. Use of the caucus or primary in your community.

2. The nominating convention in your state.

3. The Direct Primary in your state or community.

4. Legal control of the Direct Primary in your state.

5. The extent to which nomination by pet.i.tion is employed in your state.

6. The representation of minorities in your state legislature.

7. Recent ballot reform in your state.

II

8. The framework of the convention. (Ford, _Rise and Growth of American Politics_, chapter xvi; Ray, _Introduction to Political Parties and Practical Politics_, chapter v; Woodburn, _Political Parties and Party Problems in the United States_, chapters xi-xiii.)

9. The nominating convention at work. (Bryce, _The American Commonwealth_, vol. ii, chapter lxx; Ray, _Introduction to Political Parties and Practical Politics_, chapter viii.)

10. Structure of the Direct Primary. (Ray, _Introduction to Political Parties and Practical Politics_, chapter vi.)

11. How the Direct Primary works. (Cleveland, _Organised Democracy,_ chapter xvii; Woodburn, _Political Parties and Party Problems in the United States,_ chapter xxi.)

12. Effect of the Direct Primary upon party organization. (Holcombe, _State Government in the United States,_ pages 193-204.)

13. Direct nominations. (Reinsch, _Readings on American State Governments,_ pages 383-394)

14. Tyranny of the majority. (Bryce, _The American Commonwealth,_ vol.

ii, chapter lx.x.xiv.)

15. Safeguarding the rights of the minority. (Gettell, _Readings in Political Science,_ pages 322-325.)