"The title of this book asks the right question, and Wayne and his contributors provide cuttingedge public law and political science responses. If you want your students to get up to speed on the most important issues in the study of American politics, this volume would be a good place to start." - Richard M. Pious, Adolph and Effie Ochs Professor of American Studies, Barnard College; and author of The Presidency; "Wayne and his contributors offer a thoughtful collection of essays on the theory and practice of American democracy. The questions that they examine are crucial to understanding the American system of government today, especially as the nation confronts issues of civic participation, balancing civil rights with fighting the war on terrorism, creating a fair campaign finance system, restraining presidential powers, among others. This volume provides a useful framework for analyzing this variety of issues confronting our democratic system and thus would be a nice supplemental text for courses in democratic theory or contemporary American politics." - Mark J. Rozell, professor and chair, Department of Politics, The Catholic University of America; and co-editor of The Christian Right in American Politics: Marching to the Millennium"