Wasserman's Basics of American Politics

by Wasserman, Gary

• ISBN13: 9780321101235
• ISBN10: 0321101235
• Edition: 10th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-07-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Wasserman, Gary, Wasserman's Basics of American Politics Tenth Edition *

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
What Is Politics?	1	(14)
The First Day of Class	2	(1)
Politics and Power	3	(3)
The Need for Government	6	(3)
The Study of Politics	9	(3)
What Is this Book About?	12	(2)
Thought Questions	14	(1)
Suggested Readings	14	(1)
The Constitution: The Rules of the Game	15	(28)
The Second Day of Class	16	(1)
Background to the Constitution	17	(7)
Four Major Constitutional Principles	24	(9)
How Is the Constitution Changed?	33	(4)
Why Has the Constitution Survived?	37	(1)
Case Study: Federalism at 55 MPH	38	(2)
Wrap-up	40	(2)
Thought Questions	42	(1)
Suggested Readings	42	(1)
The Executive Branch: The Presidency and Bureaucracy	43	(38)
The President and the Constitution	46	(2)
History of the Presidency	48	(4)
Types of Presidents	52	(11)
The President and the Public	63	(2)
The Federal Bureaucracy	65	(7)
Problems of Bureaucracy	72	(4)
Case Study: An African Visit, A Presidents Message	76	(3)
Wrap-up	79	(1)
Thought Questions	80	(1)
Suggested Readings	80	(1)
The Legislative Branch: Congress	81	(36)
Makeup of the Senate and House	83	(10)
How Congress Works	93	(15)
Other Powers of Congress	108	(2)
Case Study: The Balanced Budget Amendment	110	(3)
Wrap-up	113	(2)
Thought Questions	115	(1)
Suggested Readings	115	(2)
The Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court and the Federal Court System	117	(30)
Federal Court System	118	(4)
United States Supreme Court	122	(11)
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Supreme Court	133	(4)
The Court as a Political Player	137	(2)
Case Study: Separate but Equal?	139	(4)
Wrap-up	143	(1)
Thought Questions	144	(1)
Suggested Readings	144	(3)
Civil Rights and Liberties: Protecting the Players	147	(28)
What Are Civil Liberties and Rights?	148	(1)
Expanding the Bill of Rights	149	(3)
Civil Liberties: Protecting People from Government	152	(7)
Civil Rights: Protecting People from People	159	(5)
Actors in Civil Liberties and Rights	164	(6)
Case Study: Flag Burning and Flag-Waving	170	(2)
Wrap-up	172	(1)
Thought Questions	173	(1)
Suggested Readings	173	(2)
Voters and Political Parties	175	(34)
Voters	176	(4)
Who Doesn't Vote?	180	(5)
Political Parties	185	(7)
View from the Inside: Party Organizations	192	(9)
View from the Outside: The Two-Party System	201	(3)
Case Study: E-Capaigning in the 2000 Election	204	(2)
Wrap-up	206	(1)
Thought Questions	207	(1)
Suggested Readings	207	(2)
Interest Groups and the Media	209	(34)
Interest Groups	210	(11)
Media	221	(1)
What Are the Media	222	(5)
Media, and the Marketplace of Ideas	227	(9)
Case Study: The Candidate: A Day in the Life	236	(4)
Wrap-up	240	(1)
Thought Questions	240	(1)
Suggested Readings	241	(2)
Who Wins, Who Loses: Pluralism versus Elitism	243	(12)
Elitism	244	(1)
Pluralism	244	(4)
Elite	248	(2)
The Debate	250	(2)
Wrap-up	252	(1)
Thought Questions	253	(1)
Suggested Readings	253	(2)
Appendix	255	(21)
The Declaration of Independence	255	(2)
The Constitution of the United States	257	(19)
Glossary	276	(6)
Index	282