Book review: accelerating democracy: transforming governance through technology

John O. McGinnis demonstrates how new technologies combine to address a problem as old as democracy itself: how to help citizens better evaluate the consequences of their political choices. Ana Polo Alonso thinks we can support or dismiss McGinnis’s proposals, but we cannot deny that the author makes a major effort to bring forth ingenious measures to really ‘accelerate democracy.’ Accelerating Democracy: Transforming Governance through Technology. John O. McGinnis. Princeton University Press. December 2012

Block Talk (January 1989)

Housing fairRenovation of McGinnis Center multipurpose roomBlock representativesFeature on Overzenia Robinson, graduate assistant at McGinnis Center and a second-year law studentGreek happenings; housing timetable; McGinnis Center Mass 9 p.m. Sundays; aerobics 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in McGinnis Centerhttps://ecommons.udayton.edu/blocktalk/1069/thumbnail.jp

Student Center to be Dedicated

News release announces a ceremony to dedicate the University of Dayton McGinnis Center to the memory of Edward C. McGinnis

Constitutions and Spontaneous Orders: A Response to Professor McGinnis

Professor John McGinnis has written a perceptive and provocative comment on our economic analysis of the role of tradition in constitutional interpretation.1 A brief summary of our areas of agreement and disagreement may help set the stage for this response. It appears that Professor McGinnis substantially agrees with the two central propositions of our article. First, he appears to agree with our definition of efficient traditions as those evolving over long periods of time from decentralized processes.2 Second, he explicitly agrees that Justices Scalia and Souter have adopted sub-optimal models of tradition because they rely on sources that lack the qualities which mark constitutionally-efficient traditions3 Given our substantial agreement on these issues, we will not discuss these points here. But McGinnis also has several penetrating critiques of our model worthy of further discussion. His critique proceeds along three general lines. First, McGinnis articulates a strict constructionist view of the Constitution, implicitly arguing that the process of legal change should be rooted in the states.4 Under this view, the primary role of the federal government is to protect federalism and state autonomy as a precondition for the operation of this system.5 Thus, McGinnis implicitly rejects any role for a federal bill of rights in limiting state discretion, except to the extent that such limitations help preserve the preconditions for robust interjurisdictional competition. Second, McGinnis argues that the need to create and enforce these preconditions limits the appropriate scope for spontaneous orders.6 According to McGinnis, a consciously designed constitutional structure is necessary to create the preconditions that enable spontaneous orders to develop. Third, McGinnis disagrees with our alternative model that looks to common law and state constitutional law as potential sources of constitutionally-efficient traditions--he lists three specific disadvantages of our model.7 We consider each of these critiques in turn

Block Talk (December 1988)

Christmas memoriesChristmas on CampusCrime prevention hotline and safety tipsFeature on Betty Lemke, owner of House of Magic on Brown Street and president of the Brown Street Business AssociationGreek happenings; events calendar; McGinnis Center Mass 9 p.m. Sundays; aerobics 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in McGinnis Centerhttps://ecommons.udayton.edu/blocktalk/1068/thumbnail.jp

Block Talk (October 1988)

Clean Sweep Nov. 1Neighborhood Watch and campus security escort serviceGETTO representativesHands Across the Ghetto hunger awareness event Nov. 11Feature on Father Chris Conlon, S.M., director of campus ministryGreek happenings; events calendar; block representatives; McGinnis Center Mass 9 p.m. Sundays; aerobics 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in McGinnis Centerhttps://ecommons.udayton.edu/blocktalk/1066/thumbnail.jp

McGinnis Landing

Bar & grill. Creative menu design. Geographical location: Unknown

GWU Alumna Praised for Directing Talents on Stage and in Film

Theater critics in Washington, D.C., are taking notice of Amber McGinnis, 2004 alumna of Gardner-Webb University. Recent articles in the Washington Post and Broadway World describe McGinnis as “rising through the directing ranks in DC Theater.” The Bessemer City, N.C., native came to GWU to major in religious studies with a missions focus, but adjusted her plans after discovering her interest in theater arts.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/gardner-webb-newscenter-archive/1470/thumbnail.jp

Block Talk (February 1989)

Housing lotteryValentine\u27s Day historyNew policies for McGinnis CenterFeature on Susan Fowler, special assistant for legal affairs, specializing in acquisition of residential properties and implementation of the environmental design planGreek happenings; events calendar; McGinnis Center Mass 9 p.m. Sundayshttps://ecommons.udayton.edu/blocktalk/1070/thumbnail.jp