"Since the time of Watergate and Vietnam, trust in government has fallen precipitously. This decline in trust can easily be sensed in the apathy and divisiveness that now characterize American politics, but it is perhaps most clearly revealed in poll data. The great majority of Americans do not trust the government "to do what's right all or most of the time." They also do not believe that government is run for "the benefit of all" rather than for "a few big interests." The nine essays in this volume detail the present character of distrust, analyze its causes, assess the dangers it poses for the future of representative government in the United States, and suggest remedies.". "The focus of the analysis is on Congress because of its pivotal role in representative government in the United States. The contributors also examine patterns of trust in societal institutions and the presidency, especially in light of the Clinton impeachment controversy."--BOOK JACKET.