Gateways to Democracy

GATEWAYS TO DEMOCRACY introduces you to the American political system, pointing out in each chapter the "gateways" that facilitate, or at times block, participation. In emphasizing how the political system works, and how individuals and groups have opened gates to influence public policy, the text helps you see the relevance of government in your life.

John G. Geer is the Ginny and Conner Searcy Dean of the College of Arts and Science at Vanderbilt University, a professor of political science and co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll. He teaches Introduction to American Politics, as well as specialty courses on elections and campaigns, and has been honored with numerous teaching awards at both Arizona State University and Vanderbilt University. In addition, he has been a visiting scholar at Harvard University and Princeton University. Dr. Geer has published widely, including IN DEFENSE OF NEGATIVITY, which won the Goldsmith Prize from the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University. A frequent commentator in the press, he has made appearances on all the major networks (Fox News, CBS Evening News, CNN) and has been quoted in THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST and the LOS ANGELES TIMES. He also has done interviews for major international outlets, such as BBC and Al Jazeera. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University.

Richard Herrera is Professor Emeritus of Political Science in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University, where he taught for 30 years, including courses in American politics, American political parties and American politics and film. He also directed the ASU Capital Scholars Washington, D.C., Summer Internship program and received the Faculty Teaching Achievement Award at ASU in 2020. Dr. Herrera has contributed articles to the AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE REVIEW, JOURNAL OF POLITICS, LEGISLATIVE STUDIES QUARTERLY and STATE POLITICS AND POLICY QUARTERLY. Currently, his research interests are focused on U.S. governors, their ideology, policy agendas and representative functions. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Wendy Schiller is the Royce Family Professor of Teaching Excellence in Political Science and professor of public and international affairs at Brown University, where she teaches courses on a wide range of American politics topics, including Introduction to the American Political Process, The American Presidency, Congress and Public Policy, Parties and Interest Groups, and The Philosophy of the American Founding. She also is a political analyst for local and national media outlets. Dr. Schiller's published works include ELECTING THE SENATE: INDIRECT DEMOCRACY BEFORE THE SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT with Charles Stewart III, THE CONTEMPORARY CONGRESS with Burdett Loomis and PARTNERS AND RIVALS: REPRESENTATION IN U.S. SENATE DELEGATIONS. In her prior roles, she was legislative assistant for Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan, a federal lobbyist for Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, a guest scholar and Ph.D. fellow at the Brookings Institution and a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Rochester. She can be found on Twitter at profwschiller.

Jeffrey A. Segal is SUNY Distinguished Professor and chair of the political science department at Stony Brook University. He has served as Senior Visiting Research Scholar at Princeton University and held a Guggenheim Fellowship. Dr. Segal is best known, with Harold Spaeth, as the leading proponent of the attitudinal model of Supreme Court decision-making. Dr. Segal twice won the Wadsworth Award for a book (with Spaeth) or article 10 years or older with lasting influence on law and courts. He also won the C. Herman Pritchett Award (again with Spaeth) for best book on law and courts. His work on the influence of strategic factors on Supreme Court decision-making won the Franklin Burdette Award from APSA. With Lee Epstein, Kevin Quinn and Andrew Martin, he won Green Bag's award for exemplary legal writing. In addition, he won a national award sponsored by the American Bar Association for innovative teaching and instructional methods and materials in law and courts. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University.