ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the fundamental structure of the American system of policy making, a system based on the Constitution of 1787, as the key variable in understanding why it so hard to achieve comprehensive environmental policy in the United States. It focuses on the structural design of the American system and its particular impacts on policy making because, simply put, institutions matter. Although some theorists argue strongly that environmentalism is not contradictory to progressive democratic values, one has to admit reluctantly that democracy in and of itself is not a necessary and sufficient condition for effective and "efficient". The result is adversarial democracy, a system of representation and governance that institutionalizes conflict and fractures policy making into narrow segments to prevent any one group from holding all political power. Environmentalists must take advantage of the opportunity to help shape those values. Their venues for such change, as the founders intended, are placed firmly among the people.
