The American Democracy

by Patterson, Thomas

• ISBN13: 9780073103495
• ISBN10: 0073103497
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-12-14
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages

Summary

This comprehensive text is known for its exciting writing style and its positive, forward-looking presentation of the latest developments in scholarship and real-life politics. Through the use of engaging narrative, The American Democracy weaves together theory, information, and examples in ways that highlight key points, make them easy to understand, and capture readers' interest.

Table of Contents

Foundations

American Political Culture: Seeking a More Perfect Union Political Culture: The Core Principles of American Government America’s Core Values: Liberty, Equality, and Self-Government Politics: The Resolution of Conflict Political Power: The Control of Policy The Concept of a Political System and This Book’s Organization

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government Before the Constitution: The Colonial and Revolutionary Experiences Negotiating Toward a Constitution Protecting Liberty: Limited Government Providing for Self-Government Constitutional Democracy Today

Federalism: Forging a Nation Federalism: National and State Sovereignty Federalism in Historical Perspective Federalism Today The Public’s Influence: Setting the Boundaries of Federal-State Power

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights Freedom of Expression Freedom of Religion The Right of Privacy Rights of Persons Accused of Crimes Rights and the War on Terrorism The Courts and a Free Society

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness The Struggle for Equality Equality Under the Law Equality of Result Persistent Discrimination: Superficial Differences, Deep Divisions

Mass Politics

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the People’s Voice The Nature of Public Opinion Political Socialization: How Americans Learn Their Politics Frames of Reference: How Americans Think Politically The Influence of Public Opinion on Policy

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will Voter Participation Conventional Forms of Participation Other Than Voting Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics Participation and the Potential for Influence

Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voter’s Choice Party Competition and Majority Rule: The History of U.S. Parties Electoral and Party Systems Party Organizations The Candidate-Centered Campaign Parties, Candidates, and the Public’s Influence

Interest Groups: Organizing Influence The Interest-Group System Inside Lobbying: Seeking Influence Through Official Contracts Outside Lobbying: Seeking Influence Through Public Pressure The Group System: Indispensable but Biased

The News Media: Communicating Political Images The Development of the News Media: From Partisanship to Objective Journalism Freedom and Conformity in the U.S. News Media The News Media as Link: Roles the Press Can and Cannot Perform Well Organizing the Public in the Media Age

Governing Institutions

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests Congress as a Career: Election to Congress Congressional Leadership The Committee System How a Bill Becomes Law Congress’s Policymaking Role Congress: Too Much Pluralism?

The Presidency: Leading the Nation Foundations of the Modern Presidency Choosing the President Staffing the Presidency Factors in Presidential Leadership

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government Federal Administration: Form, Personnel, and Activities Development of the Federal Bureaucracy: Politics and Administration The Bureaucracy’s Power Imperative Bureaucratic Accountability Reinventing Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law The Federal Judicial System Federal Court Appointees The Nature of Judicial Decision Making Political Influences on Judicial Decisions Judicial Power and Democratic Government

Public Policy

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity Government as Regulator of th

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