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Sunday, November 8, 2009
 
 
RESEARCH   AREAS
 
Politics and Elections
 

AEI is home to several prominent political analysts, whose work focuses on U.S. elections, proposals for reforming political institutions and campaign finance, and trends in politics and public opinion. This section of the website gathers together AEI research, books, and events focused on politics and elections.

 
Feature: Continuity of Congress

In 2003, the AEI-Brookings Continuity of Government Commission released a report, which made recommendations to enable Congress to reconstitute itself in the event of a catastrophic attack. But in the eight years since 9/11 and the six years since the issuance of the report, only cosmetic changes have been made, and the continuity of Congress after a terrorist attack is still in doubt. On September 9, the Continuity of Government Commission's cochairmen, former senators Alan Simpson and David Pryor, discussed the continuity of Congress, the lack of progress we have made in addressing it, and where we might go from here.

Also of interest:

  • The Commission released a report in July examining the vulnerabilities in the U.S. presidential succession.

 
 
 
 
A Dose of Defeat Is Just the Medicine for Obama
 
To the outside world, the president still represents transformation, but at home his record is disappointingly thin.
 
Tuesday's Biggest Loser: The Union Agenda
 
The GOP victories on Election Day reveal fissures in the coalition that elected Barack Obama.
 
Va., N.J. Races Show Voters Changing Course
 
As the final votes were being counted, it was possible to draw some lessons from Republican Bob McDonnell's victory in Virginia and the close, three-way governor's race in New Jersey.
 
Results Won't Change Congress, but Election Has Many Implications
 
Nothing important has changed directly in Congress from Tuesday to Wednesday. But the indirect implications of these elections could be considerable.
 
 
Better Parties, Better Government A Realistic Program for Campaign Finance Reform
 
This volume explains how to reform our current campaign finance system with a single change: ending the restrictions on spending by political parties in support of their candidates.  
 
Vital Statistics on Congress 2008
 
The authors combine historical context with insightful analysis and copious data to produce a valuable and authoritative picture of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.  
 
Fighting Words A Tale of How Liberals Created Neo-Conservatism
 
Replete with stories never told before, Fighting Words is Wattenberg's firsthand account of the remarkable transformation of American politics over the last four decades.  
 
 
PAST EVENTS
 
 
At this event, a group of trade policy experts will assess the challenges facing the administration on trade policy and the Obama administration's options in this area going forward.
 
 
Panelists will discuss a new report by the AEI-Brookings Continuity of Government Commission that examines vulnerabilities in the U.S. presidential succession.
 
 
This second conference about "Red, Blue, and Purple America" brings back the panelists who convened in February 2008 to discuss America's changing demographic trends and electoral landscape.