Waves of discontent : electoral volatility, public policymaking, and the health of American democracy / Jacob F. H. Smith.

The Rise of Electoral Volatility -- Political Discontent and the Roots of Electoral Volatility -- Examining Political Discontent and Electoral Volatility Before Polling -- Congressional Capacity and the Consequences of Discontent -- Policy Doom Loop: How Electoral Volatility Perpetuates Itself -- Ending the Policy Doom Loop -- Appendix A: Methods for Coding New York Times Articles -- Notes -- Works Cited -- Index.

After a period of relative calm in congressional elections prior to 2006, America has experienced a series of highly competitive, volatile national elections. Since then, at least one of the US House, US Senate, and presidency has flipped party control with the exception of the 2012 election, often with large seat swings. This book examines the causes and consequences of this electoral volatility, analyzing its impact on public policymaking, legislative behavior, and the overall health of American democracy.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2025. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.