America at Odds An Introduction to American Government

by Sidlow, Edward I.; Henschen, Beth

• ISBN13: 9780534569884
• ISBN10: 0534569889
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-11-23
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

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