A well-written, well-researched, and timely book that takes an interdisciplinary approach to addressing questions core to American democracy. Braman uses an impressive array of nationally representative survey experiments and paints a nuanced picture of how the public views institutional change and legitimacy. This is a one-of-a-kind book in the field of political science. - Paul M. Collins Jr., University of Massachusetts, Amherst, author of Friends of the Supreme Court: Interest Groups and Judicial Decision Making
The American political system is in crisis. Gridlock has given way to anti-democratic sentiments that delegitimize the polity. Braman offers a remarkable perspective by pinpointing what shapes Americans beliefs about institutions. Cutting edge theory and rigorous empirical analyses reveal that when people believe institutions are working against personal and societal interests, they support fundamental change to the governance structure. Bramans foundational contribution reorients conversations by making clear that democracy can be sustained with popular institutional changes. - James N. Druckman, Northwestern University, co-author, with Lawrence R. Jacobs, of Who Governs? Presidents, Public Opinion, and Manipulation
