The Democracy Test: 'Consent of the Governed'

In 2016, the political party that received fewer votes for president and Congress won the White House, the Senate and the House. The persistence of such gaps has eroded faith in modern American democracy and lead to dwindling voter participation.

How did an electorate limited at first to only white landowners expand to include freed slaves and women?

How do gerrymandering, "packing" and voter suppression change the electoral map? Can belief in democracy survive a loss of trust in its most fundamental tool?

Guests:

Carol Anderson, author of "One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy."

Kimberly Reed, producer and director of the documentary, "Hard Money." From the PBS series POV.

Co-hosts:

Neal Conan was a longtime host at NPR.

Heather Cox Richardson is a professor of history at Boston College and the author, most recently, of "To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party."

To listen to the program, click the audio player above.