This book addresses all of the major topics of an American government course, such as elections, Congress, public policy etc. However, unlike many introductory books, it emphasizes a more topical and provocative approach that probes the very foundations of America's governmental and political institutions looking for answers to the question: "Why are Americans at odds with each other?" Each chapter includes a discussion of a significant political issue and presents both sides of that issue, showing how Americans are truly at odds with each other politically.

PART one The Foundations of Our American System

America Enters the Twenty-First Century

1

(20)

Do Americans Care about Politics and Government?

2

(19)

The Constitution

21

(32)

Should Privacy Rights Outweigh Community Interests?

22

(31)

Federalism

53

(28)

Should the States Take Orders from the National Government?

54

(27)

PART two Our Liberties and Rights

Civil Liberties

81

(28)

Should the Death Penalty Be Banned?

82

(27)

Civil Rights

109

(30)

Affirmative Action: Has It Run Its Course?

110

(29)

PART three The Politics of Democracy

Political Culture and Ideology

139

(20)

English Only: Worthy of Legislation?

140

(19)

Interest Groups

159

(26)

Gun Control: Do We Need an Armed Citizenry?

160

(25)

Political Parties

185

(26)

The Rise of the Independent Voter: Is the Party Over?

186

(25)

Public Opinion and Voting

211

(26)

Voter Apathy: Is This the End of Our Democracy?

212

(25)

Campaigns and Elections

237

(28)

Negative Advertising: To Trash or Not to Trash?

238

(27)

Politics and the Media

265

(20)

Free TV Time for Politicians: Will Anybody Watch?

266

(19)

Politics in Cyberspace

285

(24)

News on the Web: Who Should Be Accountable?

286

(23)

PART four Institutions

Congress

309

(28)

Term Limits: Forcing Members of Congress to Go Back Home

310

(27)

The Presidency

337

(26)

Should a Sitting President Be Immune from Civil Lawsuits?

338

(25)

The Bureaucracy

363

(26)

Is Government Bureaucracy Running Amuck?

364

(25)

The Judiciary

389

(26)

Protecting the Accused: Has the Supreme Court Gone Too Far?

390

(25)

PART five Public Policy

Domestic Policy

415

(24)

Welfare Reform: Are We Abandoning Our Underclass?

416

(23)

The Politics of Regulation

439

(24)

Is the Payoff Worth the Cost of Stricter Air-Quality Rules?

440

(23)

Foreign Policy

463

(26)

Should the United States Be the World's Police Officer?

464

(25)

PART six State and Local Government

State and Local Politics

489

(24)

K through 12 Education: Should There Be Choice?

490

(23)

Appendix A The Constitution of the United States

513

(10)

Appendix B The Declaration of Independence

523

(2)

Appendix C Twentieth-Century Supreme Court Justices

525

(4)

Appendix D Twentieth-Century Party Control of Congress

529

(1)

Appendix E Information on U.S. Presidents

530

(3)

Appendix F Federalist Papers No. 10 and No. 51

533

(6)

Appendix G Spanish Equivalents for Important Political Terms

539

(6)

Glossary

545

(8)

Index

553

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