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AbstractThis research examines the effect that information and communications technology, via social media, had on peoples' confidence in American democratic processes. Using a large N dataset, this work finds that use of social networking sites (SNS) had a negligible effect on voter confidence. This finding is surprising given President Trump's ubiquitous online presence and his role in pushing conspiracies about electoral fraud in the 2020 presidential election. I go on to examine how respondents' sentiment toward President Trump affected the trust they had in American democratic institutions. This study finds that political elites can serve as a more powerful influence on their constituents than do the effects of social media usage. SNS will continue to pose a unique challenge to American democracy as for‐profit corporations continue to develop online platforms that compel engagement by offering salacious content that feeds into users' biases.Related ArticlesGarrett, Terence Michael. 2020. "The Security Apparatus, Federal Magistrate Courts, and Detention Centers as Simulacra: The Effects of Trump's Zero Tolerance Policy on Migrants and Refugees in the Rio Grande Valley." Politics & Policy 48(2): 372–95. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12348.Merry, Melissa K. 2022. "Trump's Tweets as Policy Narratives: Constructing the Immigration Issue via Social Media." Politics & Policy 50(4): 752–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12487.Rowe, Andrew D., and David E. Pitfield. 2019. "The Challenge of Social Media Incorporation: A Case Study of HACAN Clearskies." Politics & Policy 47(4): 775–806. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12319.

This study examines the relationship between forms of government in U.S. cities and budgetary cuts that were soon implemented after the 2008 financial crisis. This analysis focuses on mayor‐council and council‐manager cities to determine the effects that institutional arrangements had on municipal governments' ability to implement austerity measures in a timely fashion. Using data from the International City/County Management Association, this study finds that mayor‐council cities implemented fewer austerity measures and were less likely to implement many of the cutback strategies, when compared to municipalities with the council‐manager form government.

A case study of the introductory American government text by James MacGregor Burns & Jack Walter Peltason, Government by the People, uses the Klesch-Kincaid Grade Level Index to determine readability levels. Sample passages from the 1957, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1990, & 1995 editions were examined, including those from the introductory chapter as well as chapters dealing with civil liberties & public opinion. Readability differences between the chapters on civil liberties & public opinion were anticipated due to the more difficult content of the material on civil liberties. It was found that the text's overall reading level has increased from a high 10th-grade level in 1957 to almost a 12th-grade level in 1995, which mirrors the readability difference between The New York Times & the Harry Potter books. The greatest changes were seen in the introductory & public opinion chapters, while the civil liberties material remained consistent at grade level 12 for the entire period. Limitations of the study are discussed & suggestions for additional research are offered. 3 Figures, 22 References. J. Lindroth