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Concern about the health of civic life in the United States has
generated academic debate, journalist commentaries, several
study commissions, and publications by the score. Is civil
society in decline, or is it reinventing itself? That is the
question addressed from a variety of perspectives by the
sociologists and political scientists who contributed to this
volume. The chapters, initially prepared for presentation at a
conference in September 1997, examine issues at the center
of the debate from several theoretical perspectives. The
editors organize the contributions under three headings: the
roots of civic engagement, civic life in a changing society, and
the ironies of contemporary activism.

The author asks why women's participation in US politics is limited, even though it has increased dramatically in recent years. She focuses on three explanations: sociological/cultural factors, the sexes' differential acquisition of skills needed for a political career, & woman's role as gatekeeper. 29 References. A. Funderburg

The social characteristics of individuals who voted in the 2000 US presidential election, explanations for the election's low voter turnout, the use of political profiling by political parties & other organizations, & the consequences of faulty election administration are investigated. Several social characteristics of voters deemed important for this election are identified including age, gender, marital status, party identification, & ideology. It is contended that poor political mobilization efforts can partially account for low voter turnout; strategies employed by major parties in previous presidential elections are then contrasted to those currently used. Specific attention is dedicated to examining the Republican National Committee's & the National Rifle Assoc's use of political profiling during the electoral campaign. After discussing voter activation efforts used in this election, various problems that emerged with the administration of election voting are highlighted. The need to make the process of accessing & casting one's ballot easier in future elections is stressed. J. W. Parker

One of the tales told about American political parties is that Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, desiring to create an institution uniting sup-porters of their beliefs about the means and ends of government, set off from their Virginia plantations on what was described to inquisitive journalists as an expedition to gather botanical specimens. Instead of collecting specimens, however, they are alleged to have created the original specimen of the modern political party.