Mariano-Florentino Cuellar (Stanford): American Executive Power in Historical Perspective. Stephane Wolton (Chicago): Beyond Money: How Special Interest Groups Influence Policy Choices. James A. Gardner (SUNY-Buffalo): The Myth of State Autonomy: Federalism, Political Parties, and the National Colonization of State Politics. The federal-state crack-up: For decades, both Democrats and Republicans have been invested in governance schemes that have eroded the Constitution’s separation of powers. Gerrymandering isn’t the (only) problem: Redrawing district lines will never eliminate the unfair bias toward Republicans in House elections — here’s what will. The US Constitution is flawed but many Americans don't see it, says Alan Ryan. Can America be fixed? Fareed Zakaria on the new crisis of democracy. What if America’s best ideas were behind it? An interview with Tyler Cowen on the economic history underlying the current dysfunction. Welcome to the new Civil War: Lincoln's unfinished war rages on, as the neo-Confederacy tries to turn back the clock on women, gays, God and guns. Fewer Americans believe that our culture is superior to others — under President Obama, we’re becoming less American and more like those relativist, collectivist, socialist Europeans across the pond.
