American Democracy in Crisis: The Case for Rethinking Madisonian Government Post January 6 - Softcover

Sheehan, Jeanne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3031667131 ISBN 13: 9783031667138

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2026

Synopsis

This book analyzes the roots of widespread disenchantment with American government. While blame often falls on the individuals in office, they are not operating in isolation. Rather they are working within a system designed by the Framers with one goal in mind, protectionism. Although the Framers got much right, their commitment to protection of liberty led them to design a system replete with divisions of power. Whatever its merits at the founding, the government today is frequently described as dysfunctional and far too often unresponsive to the majority, unaccountable, and unable to deliver for its people. For those disillusioned with the current state of government and committed to effectuating meaningful change, this book advocates in favor of a fundamental reassessment of the system's primary objectives, followed by deliberation as to how it should be restructured accordingly. It not only presents specific reform proposals, but it ends with a stark warning: until and unless we embrace reasoned structural reform, we cannot be surprised if at some point the people become so frustrated that they either disengage, fight back, or seek solace in autocratic alternatives.

This new edition includes audiobook files created by a state of the art text-to-speech tool at the chapter level.

About this title

About the Author

Jeanne Sheehan Zaino is Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Iona University, political contributor with Bloomberg News, and Senior Democracy Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.  

From the Back Cover

This book analyzes the roots of widespread disenchantment with American government. While blame often falls on the individuals in office, they are not operating in isolation. Rather they are working within a system designed by the Framers with one goal in mind, protectionism. Although the Framers got much right, their commitment to protection of liberty led them to design a system replete with divisions of power. Whatever its merits at the founding, the government today is frequently described as dysfunctional and far too often unresponsive to the majority, unaccountable, and unable to deliver for its people. For those disillusioned with the current state of government and committed to effectuating meaningful change, this book advocates in favor of a fundamental reassessment of the system's primary objectives, followed by deliberation as to how it should be restructured accordingly. It not only presents specific reform proposals, but it ends with a stark warning: until and unless we embrace reasoned structural reform, we cannot be surprised if at some point the people become so frustrated that they either disengage, fight back, or seek solace in autocratic alternatives.

This new edition includes audiobook files at the chapter level.

Jeanne Sheehan Zaino is Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Iona University, political contributor with Bloomberg News, and Senior Democracy Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.  

Edition details

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3031667131
• ISBN 13: 9783031667138
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 327