Checked and Balanced

Politically speaking, we have at present an interesting phenomenon in Washington. Not since the 1920s has the two-party system been so evenly balanced with the Presidency in the hands of the democrats and Congress in the hands of the Republicans.

This phenomenon is the result of a critical mass of American voters who, beginning in the 1960s, believed that straight-ticket voting, the prevailing pattern in our previous national history, was foolish, self-limiting, and almost anti-American. Authors V. Lance Tarrance and Walter De Vries in their first book, The Ticket-Splitter (1972), identified this new model of political behavior.

Now the authors have taken this analysis further in their new book, Checked & Balanced, where they describe how ticket-splitting has evolved into government-splitting and how this pattern of power sharing has forced both Republicans and Democrats into what they call "competitive cooperation."

Drawing on the research of political scientists, historians, Gallup opinion polls, and comments from those who actually decided the 1996 election, this book explores and critiques the new vision of coalitional government in lay terms. The authors’ discussion includes the conclusion that shared control has actually resulted in a more effective working government, as evidenced by such recent legislation as the Welfare Reform Act and the 1997 balanced budget agreement.