Analyzing American democracy : politics and political science

Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 The Basics of Democracy
	Key Concepts: Politics, Government, and Popular Sovereignty
		Politics and Government
		Popular Sovereignty
		Process and Substance
		Core Democratic Principles
	Two Basic Forms of Democracy
		Direct Democracy
		Representative Democracy
	Representative Systems and Core Democratic Principles
		Elections
		Political Parties
		Interest Groups
	Representative Democracy in the United States
		Central Beliefs of Democracy in America
		Fallacies Associated With Democracy in America
	The Challenge of American Democracy
		Diversity and Difference
		Dynamics
		Ideology and Partisanship
		False Consensus
	Meeting the Challenge?
		The Case for American Democracy
		Major Criticisms of American Democracy
	Making Sense of Politics: Political Science
		The Roots of Political Science
		The Scientific Method
		Thinking Analytically
		Theoretical Frameworks in Political Science
	General Approach and Organization of the Book
	Top 10 Takeaway Points
	Key Terms and Cases
PART I: THE CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
	Chapter 2 The American Constitution
		The Concept of a Constitution
		Circumstances That Led to the Creation of the Constitution
			Historical Antecedents of the Constitution
			Economic Conditions
			Group Rivalries and the Movement for a Convention
		The Constitutional Convention
			The Founders
			Agreement, Disagreement, and Compromise at the Convention
			The Limited Role of Religion
			The Ratification Campaign
		Constitutional Principles
			Written Constitution
			Representative Government
			Fragmentation of Power
			Mixed Government
		Changing the American Constitution
			Formal Amendments
			Constitutional Change Through Custom and Usage
			Executive Interpretation
			Legislative Interpretation
			Judicial Interpretation
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 3 Federalism
		The Concept of Federalism in Context: Confederal, Unitary, and Federal Systems
			Confederation
			Unitary Government
			Federalism
		Why Federalism?
			Advantages of Federalism
			Disadvantages of Federalism
		Division of Powers in the American Federal System
			The Powers of the National Government
			The Powers, Rights, and Obligations of State Governments
			Refereeing Power Conflicts
		The Evolution of Federalism
			Dual Federalism
			Cooperative Federalism
			New Federalism
			Federalism and the Future of State-Federal Relations
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 4 Civil Liberties
		The Concept of Civil Liberties
			Liberty and Authority
		Restrictions on the Government
			The Bill of Rights
			Restrictions on State Violations of Civil Liberties
		Freedom of Religion
			Prohibition Against the Establishment of Religion
			Free Exercise of Religion
		Freedom of Expression
			General Approaches
			Specific Tests
			Unprotected Speech
		The Right to Privacy
		Criminal Procedure
			Exclusionary Rule
			Right to Counsel
			Right Against Self-incrimination
			Capital Punishment
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 5 Civil Rights
		The Concept of Civil Rights
		African Americans
			Racial Segregation
			The Judicial Strategy to End Segregation
			The Revolution in Race Relations
			Government's Response to the Race Revolution
			Affirmative Action
		Latinos
		Native Americans
		Women
			Historical Background
			The Reemergence of Women's Rights
		People With Disabilities
		LGBTQ Citizens
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
PART II: CONNECTING CITIZENS TO GOVERNMENT
	Chapter 6 Interest Groups
		The Concept of Interest Groups
			Interest Group Goals
			Interest Group Membership
		Why People Join Interest Groups
			The Benefits and Costs of Group Membership
			Collective Action, Public Goods, and Free Riders
			Overcoming the Free Rider Problem
		The Origins and Growth of Interest Groups
			Theoretical Perspectives on the Formation of Interest Groups
			The Growth of Interest Groups
		Interest Group Resources and Activities
			Political Resources
			Political Tactics
		The Power and Regulation of Interest Groups
			Interest Group Power and Influence
			Regulation of Interest Group Activity
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 7 Political Parties
		The Concept of Political Parties
			The Challenge of Defining American Political Parties
			Comparison of Political Parties and Other Political Groupings
			Membership in American Political Parties
			Incentives for Associating With Political Parties
		Two-Party Competition in American Politics
			The General Types of Party Systems
			American Party Competition at the National Level
			Minor Political Parties
		What Political Parties Do
			Facilitate Participation
			Promote Government Responsiveness
			Promote Government Accountability
			Promote Stability and Peaceful Resolution of Conflict
			The Responsible Party Model
		The Strength of Political Parties
			The Strength of Party in the Electorate
			The Strength of Party in Government
			The Strength of Party Organizations
			Cycles of Party Strength
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 8 The Mass Media and Politics
		The Concept of a Free Press
			Information and Education
			Agenda Setting
			Watchdog and Public Advocate
		Threats to a Free Press
			Government Control
			Private Control
		Media Bias
			Political Bias
			Racial and Gender Bias
			Negativity Bias
		Changes in the Public Sphere
			The Decline of the Gatekeepers
			Information and Civic Engagement
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 9 Public Opinion and Political Socialization
		The Concept of Public Opinion
			Direction
			Stability
			Intensity
			Salience
		The Competence of Public Opinion
		Elite Opinion and Issue Publics
		Interpreting Public Opinion Polls
			Did the Poll Ask the Right People?
			What Is the Poll's Margin of Error?
			What Was the Question?
			Which Question Came First?
		The Bases of Public Opinion
			Political Culture
			Ideology
			Political Socialization
			Biological Models of Public Opinion
		Public Opinion and Participation
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 10 Elections
		The Concept of Elections
		Methods of Nominating Candidates
			Legislative Caucus
			Convention
			Direct Primary
		Nominating Presidential Candidates
			The Allocation of National Convention Delegates
			The Method and Timing of Delegate Selection
			The Nomination Campaign
		Electing the President
			The Electoral College
			The Campaign
			Financing the Presidential Election
		Nominating Candidates for Congress
			Primary Laws
			The Politics of Choosing Congressional Candidates
		Electing Members of Congress
			Apportionment
			Congressional Districts
			Overlapping Terms and Staggered Elections
			Incumbency Advantage in Congressional Elections
			Financing Congressional Elections
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 11 Political Participation and Voting Behavior
		The Concept of Political Participation
			Forms of Political Participation
			The Theoretical Basis of Political Participation
			Is Political Participation in America High or Low?
		The Right to Vote
			Voter Turnout
			The Political System and Turnout
			Individual Desire and Ability to Participate
			Voting and Democracy
		Models of Voting Behavior
			The Sociological Model
			The Social-Psychological Model
			The Rational Choice Model
		Explaining Voter Choice
			Party Identification
			Candidate Image
			Issues
		Voting Behavior and the Operation of the American Political System
			Contemporary Realignment?
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
PART III: OFFICIAL DECISION MAKING
	Chapter 12 Congress
		The Concept of the U.S. Congress
		Responsibilities of Congress
			Primary Responsibilities
			Secondary Responsibilities
		Members of Congress and Their World
			Backgrounds of National Legislators
			Tenure and Career Patterns
			Daily Life of a Member of Congress
			Congressional Pay and Perquisites
		Bicameralism in the American Congress
			Leadership in the U.S. Senate
			Leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives
			The Committee System
		Running the Legislative Obstacle Course
			Bill Introduction and Committee Referral
			Committee Consideration and Action
			From Committee to the Floor
			Resolving House-Senate Differences
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 13 The Presidency
		The Concept of the U.S. Presidency
		The Development of the Presidency
			A Single Executive
			Broad Constitutional Provisions
			Public Acceptance of Positive Government
			Congressional Delegation of Power
			Contemporary Expectations of the President
		The President and the Presidency
			The President as an Individual
			The Presidency as an Organization
			Organization of the Presidency and Presidential Effectiveness
		The President's Primary Constitutional Responsibilities
			Chief Executive
			Commander in Chief
			Chief Diplomat
		The President as Party Leader
			Limitations on the President as Party Leader
			The President and Party Organization
			The President and Electoral Activities
		The President as Public Opinion Leader
			Going Public
			Presidential Approval Ratings
		The President and Congress
			Messages and Recommendations
			The Veto
			Presidential Success in Congress
			Unilateral Powers
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 14 The Bureaucracy
		The Concept of Bureaucracy
		The Characteristics of Bureaucracy
			The Weberian Model of Bureaucracy
			The Merit System
			Neutral Competence
			The Bureaucrats
		The Structure of American Bureaucracies
			The Executive Office of the President
			Cabinet Departments
			Independent Agencies
			Regulatory Agencies and Commissions
			Government Corporations
			Other Bureaus
			The Politics of Organization
		The Power of Bureaucracy
			Rulemaking
			Adjudication
			Bureaucratic Lobbying
		Controlling the Bureaucracy
			Theories of Bureaucratic Behavior
			Monitoring Bureaucracy
			Influencing Bureaucracy
		Reforming Bureaucracy
			Running Government Like a Business
			Businesses Running Government
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
	Chapter 15 The Federal Judiciary
		The Concept of the Federal Judiciary
		The Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
			Jurisdiction Defined in the Constitution
			Original and Appellate Jurisdiction
			The Power of Congress to Define Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
			Jurisdiction Determined by Judicial Interpretation
		The Structure and Organization of Federal Courts
			The District Courts
			The Courts of Appeals
			The U.S. Supreme Court
		The Selection and Background of Federal Judges
			Party Affiliation and Philosophy
			Balancing the Representativeness of the Court
			Judicial Experience and Merit
			Confirmation Politics in the Senate
		Judicial Decision Making
			Models of Judicial Decision Making
			Evidence of Political Influence on Judicial Decision Making
		Judicial Review in a Democratic Society
			The Origins of Judicial Review
			Concepts of Judicial Review
			Patterns in the Exercise of Judicial Review
			Constraints on the Exercise of Judicial Review
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
PART IV: CONCLUSION
	Chapter 16 Core Democratic Principles and Public Policy
		The Concept of Public Policy
		The Stages of Policymaking
			Agenda Setting
			Policy Formulation and Adoption
			Policy Implementation
			Policy Evaluation
		Public Policy and Core Democratic Values
			Majority Rule
			Political Freedom
			Political Equality
		Conclusion
		Top 10 Takeaway Points
		Key Terms and Cases
Appendix A The Declaration of Independence
Appendix B The Articles of the Confederation (1781)
Appendix C Constitution of the United States
Appendix D Federalist Number 10
	Federalist Number 51
Appendix E Partisan Control of the Presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court
References
Glossary
Cases Index
Name Index
Subject Index