The Mild Voice of Reason: Deliberative Democracy and American National Government

by Joseph M. Bessette

In recent years, many Americans and more than a few political scientists have come to believe that democratic deliberation in Congress—whereby judgments are made on the merits of policies reflecting the interests and desires of American citizens—is more myth than reality. Rather, pressure from special interest groups, legislative bargaining, and the desire of incumbents to be reelected are thought to originate in American legislative politics. While not denying such influences, Joseph M. Bessette argues that the institutional framework created by the founding fathers continues to foster a government that is both democratic and deliberative, at least to some important degree.

Drawing on original research, case studies of policymaking in Congress, and portraits of American lawmakers, Bessette demonstrates not only the limitations of nondeliberative explanations for how laws are made but also the continued vitality of genuine reasoning on the merits of public policy. Bessette discusses the contributions of the executive branch to policy deliberation, and looks at the controversial issue of the proper relationship of public opinion to policymaking.

Informed by Bessette's nine years of public service in city and federal government, The Mild Voice of Reason offers important insights into the real workings of American democracy, articulates a set of standards by which to assess the workings of our governing institutions, and clarifies the forces that promote or inhibit the collective reasoning about common goals so necessary to the success of American democracy.

"No doubt the best-publicized recent book-length work on Congress is columnist George Will's diatribe in praise of term limits in which the core of his complaint is that Congress does not deliberate in its decision-making. Readers who are inclined to share that fantasy would do well to consult the work of Joseph M. Bessette. He turns up massive amounts of material attesting to the centrality of deliberation in congressional life."—Nelson W. Polsby, Presidential Studies Quarterly

Genres: Politics

305 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 1994

Reviews

[LA Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024 Book #11
The Mild Voice of Reason: Deliberative Democracy and American National Government
by Joseph M. Bessette
⭐️⭐️⭐️3/5 (1994)

This book is as exciting as its cover. Dry, dense reading that doesn't stand the test of time but it's still being assigned to graduate level political science classes. Shenanigans in Congress have progressed beyond gridlock to outright obstructionism; the argument that Congress is still a deliberative body, full of measured reason and compromise is no longer valid to this jaded reader.

[Justin Hiltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, sometimes dense, but great at explaining that our democracy is a deliberative one. Case studies affirm his viewpoints. This book changed many of my cynical views and gave me faith in our political process, and in our system as being one that is concerned with the creation of good policies. Also, Bessette is great at explaining committees/sub-committees and the process that is, large amounts of time, debate, research, and persuasion that goes into each bill.

[Jerry]

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