We the People: An Introduction to American Politics

Cover
Publisher’s Notice
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter One: Introduction: The Citizen and Government
Government Is How We Are Ruled
Citizenship Is Based on Participation, Knowledge, and Efficacy
Who Are Americans?
American Political Culture Is Built on Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
What Americans Think about Government
Study Guide
Chapter Two: The Founding and the Constitution
The First Founding: Interests and Conflicts
The Failure of the Articles of Confederation Made the “Second Founding” Necessary
The Constitution Created Both Bold Powers and Sharp Limits on Power
Ratification of the Constitution Was Difficult
The Citizen's Role and the Changing Constitution
Study Guide
Chapter Three: Federalism
Federalism Is Established by the Constitution
National and State Powers Have Shifted over Time
Federalism Today Is as Important as Ever
Study Guide
Chapter Four: Civil Liberties
The Bill of Rights Originated with Opponents of the Constitution
The First Amendment Guarantees Freedom of Religion
The First Amendment's Freedom of Speech and of the Press Ensure the Free Exchange of Ideas
The Second Amendment Protects the Right to Bear Arms
Rights of the Criminally Accused Are Based on Due Process of Law
The Right to Privacy Means the Right to Be Left Alone
Study Guide
Chapter Five: Civil Rights
Civil Rights Are Protections by the Government
Civil Rights Have Been Extended to Other Groups
Affirmative Action Seeks to Right Past Wrongs
Study Guide
Chapter Six: Public Opinion
Public Opinion Is Defined by Basic Values and Beliefs
How We Form Political Opinions
Political Knowledge Is Important in Shaping Public Opinion
Public Opinion Can Shape Government Policy
Measuring Public Opinion Is Crucial to Understanding What It Is
Study Guide
Chapter Seven: The Media
The Media Are Indispensable to American Democracy
Modern Media Have Been Digitally Transformed
Media Influence Shapes What We Think About
Journalists Shape Political News
Regulation of the Media Is Limited
Study Guide
Chapter Eight: Political Parties and Interest Groups
What Are Political Parties?
Party Identification Guides Voters
Electoral Realignments Define Party Systems
Interest Groups Are Composed of Many Types
What Do Interest Groups Do?
Study Guide
Chapter Nine: Participation, Campaigns, and Elections
Who Participates and How?
State Electoral Laws Regulate Most Voting
Election Campaigns Are a Political Marathon
Voters Decide Based on Party, Issues, and Candidates
The 2020 Presidential Elections: A Tale of Three Crises
Study Guide
Chapter Ten: Congress
Congress Represents the American People
Congressional Organization Determines Power
Rules of Lawmaking Explain How a Bill Becomes a Law
Who Influences Congressional Decision-Making?
Congress Does More Than Make Laws
Study Guide
Chapter Eleven: The Presidency
Presidential Power Is Rooted in the Constitution
Presidents Claim Many Institutional Powers
Presidential Power Grew in the Twentieth Century
Study Guide
Chapter Twelve: The Bureaucracy
What Is the Federal Bureaucracy?
Who Are Bureaucrats?
The Bureaucracy Needs to Be Managed
Study Guide
Chapter Thirteen: The Federal Courts
The Legal System Settles Disputes
Federal Courts Hear a Small Percentage of All Cases
The Power of the Supreme Court Is Judicial Review
Most Cases Reach the Supreme Court by Appeal
Supreme Court Decisions Are Influenced by Activism and Ideology
Study Guide
Chapter Fourteen: Domestic Policy
The Government Shapes Economic Policy with Three Tools
Economic Policy Making Is Inherently Political
The Welfare State Was Created to Address Inequality
Social Policies Open Opportunity
Who Gets What from Social Policy?
Study Guide
Chapter Fifteen: Foreign Policy
The Goals of Foreign Policy
American Foreign Policy Is Shaped by Government and Nongovernment Actors
Tools of American Foreign Policy: Diplomacy, Money, and Force
Daunting Foreign Policy Issues Face the United States
Study Guide
Appendix
The Declaration of Independence
The Articles of Confederation
The Constitution of the United States of America
Amendments to the Constitution
The Federalist Papers
The Anti-Federalist Papers
Presidents and Vice Presidents
Endnotes
Answer Key
Credits
Glossary/Index