Current Issues in American Democracy

by Antell, Gerson; Harris, Walter

• ISBN13: 9781567656152
• ISBN10: 1567656153
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Amsco School Pubns Inc

Summary

To provide students of mixed abilites with a basic-issues text that illustrates democratic processes and confronts modern-day problems.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
UNIT I: Controversy in a Democracy
Democracy in Perspective	2	(9)
Facing Controversial Issues	11	(14)
Feature on Campaign Financing	20	(5)
How We See Things	25	(12)
UNIT II: Concerns of Each Generation
Young Adults in Society	37	(11)
Feature on School Dropouts	46	(2)
Youth Culture	48	(8)
Our Aging Society	56	(11)
UNIT III: The Family in Our Society
Why Are There Families?	67	(9)
The Changing Family	76	(10)
New Roles for the Sexes	86	(17)
Feature on Abortion	100	(3)
UNIT IV: Economic Issues
Taxes	103	(13)
Poverty	116	(15)
Feature on Welfare Reform	127	(4)
Protectionism vs. Free Trade	131	(13)
UNIT V: Health Issues
The Health of the Nation	144	(15)
Feature on Universal Health Care	155	(4)
Drug Abuse	159	(19)
Feature on Legalizing Drugs	175	(3)
Consumer Health Issues	178	(15)
UNIT VI: Americans All
A Nation of Immigrants?	193	(14)
Feature on Restricting Immigration	204	(3)
African Americans	207	(19)
Feature on Affirmative Action	221	(5)
Native Americans	226	(16)
Hispanic Americans	242	(16)
Asian Americans	258	(17)
UNIT VII: Criminal Justice
Our Crime Problem	275	(16)
Feature on Gun Control	286	(5)
The Police	291	(11)
The Courts	302	(14)
Feature on the Death Penalty	312	(4)
Corrections	316	(12)
UNIT VIII: Civil Liberties
What Is Dissent?	328	(16)
Feature on Flag Burning	341	(3)
Freedom of the Press	344	(14)
Feature on Free Speech and the Internet	354	(4)
UNIT IX: Metropolitan Areas
Cities and Their Suburbs	358	(15)
City and Regional Planning	373	(13)
UNIT X: The Environment
The Balance of Nature	386	(20)
Feature on Global Warming	399	(7)
The Wilderness in Peril	406	(10)
Can the Environment Be Saved?	416	(17)
Feature on Motor Vehicle Use and Air Pollution	428	(5)
UNIT XI: World Affairs
Issues of War and Peace	433	(17)
Feature on U.S. Defense Spending	445	(5)
Arms Control in the Nuclear Age	450	(13)
Terrorism: How Should We Respond?	463	(14)
Feature on Terrorism	474	(3)
Epilogue: Our Role in Public Policy	477	(14)
Glossary	491	(16)
Index	507	(12)
Acknowledgments	519