American Government

by Jillson, Calvin C.

• ISBN13: 9780534643263
• ISBN10: 0534643264
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-27
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

With its brief format and new, four-color design, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: POLITICAL CHANGE AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT provides a framework of historical development and institutional change to help students understand American government and politics. Each chapter begins with a brief overview of the historical development of the institution or process presented, and then examines its role in contemporary American politics at length. Taken as a whole, the book tells the story of American government from its inception to its current role and responsibility as lone superpower in an increasingly global environment.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 THE ORIGINS OF AMERICAN POLITICAL PRINCIPLES	1	(20)
A Tradition to Draw From	2	(4)
The Ancients: Who Rules and for What Purposes?	3	(3)
Pro & Con Democracy: Ancient Fears, Modern Hopes	6	(8)
The Middle Ages: The Secular Serves the Sacred	7	(1)
Secularism, Individualism, and the Idea of Progress	8	(2)
The Liberal Roots of American Politics	10	(9)
Oppression in Europe and the Settlement of America	11	(2)
The Natural Openness of America	13	(1)
Let's Compare The Settlement of North America: Comparing the British and French Styles	14	(3)
Time Line Giants and Stages in the Western Intellectual Tradition	17	(1)
Chapter Summary	17	(1)
Key Terms	18	(1)
Participation Activity: School Prayer	19	(1)
Suggested Readings	19	(1)
Web Resources	19	(2)
Chapter 2 THE REVOLUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION	21	(27)
Background to the Revolution	22	(5)
The Political Environment	22	(3)
First Steps toward Independence	25	(1)
The Declaration of Independence	26	(1)
Governance during the Revolutionary Period	27	(3)
Independence Sparks Constitutional Change	28	(1)
Political Instability during "The Critical Period"	29	(1)
The Constitutional Convention	30	(4)
The Delegates and Their Backgrounds	31	(1)
A Foundation of Basic Principles	31	(1)
The Convention Debates	32	(2)
Let's Compare Gathering Momentum: The Growth of Democracy in the World	34	(9)
The Constitution as Finally Adopted	37	(3)
The Struggle over Ratification	40	(3)
Pro & Con Do We Need a Bill of Rights? The Federalists' Dilemma	43	(1)
Time Line From Revolution to Constitution	44	(1)
Chapter Summary	44	(2)
Key Terms	46	(1)
Participation Activity: The Constitution	46	(1)
Suggested Readings	46	(1)
Web Resources	47	(1)
Chapter 3 FEDERALISM AND AMERICAN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT	48	(26)
Federalism and American Political Development	49	(1)
The Original Meaning of Federalism	49	(2)
Federalism in the Constitution	51	(4)
Enumerated, Implied, and Inherent Powers	52	(1)
Concurrent Powers	53	(1)
Powers Denied to the National Government	53	(1)
Powers Reserved to the States	53	(1)
Powers Denied to State Governments	53	(1)
Federal Obligations to the States	54	(1)
Relations among the States	54	(1)
Dual Federalism and Its Challengers	55	(2)
From Dual Federalism to Cooperative Federalism	57	(1)
Pro & Con States' Rights: Protecting Liberty or Covering Mischief?	58	(10)
The Industrialization and Urbanization of America	59	(1)
The Great Depression	59	(3)
National Mandates and the Rise of Coercive Federalism	62	(5)
LBJ: Creative Federalism and Grants-in-Aid	62	(1)
Nixon: Revenue Sharing and the First New Federalism	63	(1)
Reagan Turns Off the Tap: The Second New Federalism	64	(1)
The Process of "Devolution" in Contemporary Federalism	65	(2)
The Future of American Federalism	67	(1)
Let's Compare The Prevalence of Federal Systems in the World	68	(1)
Time Line The Evolution of American Federalism	69	(1)
Chapter Summary	70	(1)
Key "Terms	71	(1)
Participation Activity: Federalism	71	(1)
Suggested Readings	72	(1)
Web Resources	72	(2)
Chapter 4 POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION D PUBLIC OPINION	74	(25)
Political Information in America	75	(1)
Political Culture: Defining the "American Creed"	76	(1)
Political Socialization: Where Our Ideas about Politics Come From	77	(5)
Agents of Socialization	78	(4)
The Nature of Public Opinion in the United States	82	(16)
History of Public Opinion Polling	83	(2)
Variations in Socialization by Class, Race, and Gender	85	(2)
Properties of Public Opinion	87	(1)
Let's Compare The Gender Gap in Twenty Societies	88	(2)
Pro & Con Knowledge, Ignorance, and Democratic Politics	90	(5)
Political Ideology and the Coherence of Public Opinion	92	(3)
Time Line Historical Techniques for the Expression and Assessment of Public Opinion	95	(1)
Chapter Summary	96	(1)
Key Terms	97	(1)
Participation Activity: Ideology	97	(1)
Suggested Readings	97	(1)
Web Resources	98	(1)
Chapter 5 THE MASS MEDIA AND THE POLITICAL AGENDA	99	(27)
The Mass Media	100	(1)
Historical Development of the Media	100	(3)
The Partisan Press, 1776-1880	101	(1)
Muckraker Journalism, 1880-1920	102	(1)
The Quest for Professionalism, 1900-1930	103	(6)
The Rise of the Electronic Media	104	(2)
The Modern Media Explosion	106	(3)
Ownership and Regulation of the Media	109	(1)
Media Consolidation and Diffusion	109	(1)
Let's Compare Public versus Private Control of the Media Worldwide	110	(4)
Public Regulation	111	(1)
Media Influence and the Political Agenda	112	(2)
The Media, the Politicians, and Public Opinion	112	(2)
Pro & Con Balance versus Bias in the Media	114	(8)
The Media and the Electoral Process	116	(1)
The Media and Defining Successful Governance	117	(3)
Media Responsibility in American Politics	120	(5)
Entertainment versus Information	120	(1)
Why Americans Distrust Politics	121	(1)
Time Line Media Growth and Consolidation in America	122	(1)
Chapter Summary	122	(2)
Key Terms	124	(1)
Participation Activity: Politics and the Media	124	(1)
Suggested Readings	124	(1)
Web Resources	125	(1)
Chapter 6 INTEREST GROUPS AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS	126	(31)
Interest Groups and Social Movements	127	(1)
Interest Groups in American Politics	128	(11)
The Rise of Interest Groups	128	(3)
Types of Interest Groups	131	(3)
Let's Compare U.S. Unions in Global Perspective	134	(5)
Interest Group Resources	136	(3)
Pro & Con "Interested" Money in American Politics	139	(14)
Interest Group Strategies	140	(2)
What Are Social Movements?	142	(4)
Social Movements in American Politics	146	(9)
The Women's Rights Movement	147	(6)
Time Line The Growth of the Interest Group System	153	(1)
Chapter Summary	153	(1)
Key Terms	154	(1)
Participation Activity: Interest Groups	154	(1)
Suggested Readings	155	(1)
Web Resources	155	(2)
Chapter 7 POLITICAL PARTIES	157	(29)
Political Parties in the United States	158	(8)
Party Eras in American Politics	159	(7)
The State of Political Parties in the United States	166	(6)
Party in the Electorate	167	(4)
Party Organizations	171	(1)
Pro & Con Are Blacks Overly Committed to the Democratic Party?	172	(6)
Party in Government	174	(2)
The Impact of Minor Parties on American Politics	176	(8)
The Historical Role of Minor Parties	177	(1)
The Obstacles to Minor Party Success	177	(1)
Let's Compare Electoral Rules and Party Systems in Fifteen Nations	178	(4)
The Future of Minor Parties in America	181	(1)
Time Line Development of the Party System	182	(1)
Chapter Summary	182	(1)
Key Terms	183	(1)
Participation Activity: Political Parties	183	(1)
Suggested Readings	184	(1)
Web Resources	184	(2)
Chapter 8 VOTING, CAMPAIGNS, AND ELECTIONS	186	(32)
Voting, Campaigns, and Elections	187	(1)
Voting and Nonvoting in American History	187	(7)
Expanding the Franchise, 1789-2004	187	(2)
Managing the Electorate, 1880-2004	189	(1)
Is Low Turnout Necessarily a Problem?	190	(1)
Two Decisions: Whether to Vote and for Whom to Vote	191	(3)
Let's Compare Voter Turnout and the Effects of Alternative Voter Registration Systems	194	(18)
Political Campaigns: Ambition and Organization	196	(4)
The Incumbency Advantage	197	(1)
Challengers and Their Challenges	198	(1)
Running the Race	199	(1)
Running for the Presidency	200	(16)
Early Organization and Fund-raising	201	(1)
The Nomination Campaign	202	(3)
The General Election Campaign	205	(3)
Money and the Road to the White House	208	(4)
Pro & Con The Supreme Court Seeks a Balance-Money, Free Speech, and Campaign Finance	212	(2)
Time Line Voting, Campaigns, and Elections	214	(1)
Chapter Summary	214	(1)
Key Terms	215	(1)
Participation Activity: Campaign and Elections	216	(1)
Suggested Readings	216	(1)
Web Resources	216	(2)
Chapter 9 CONGRESS: LAWMAKING AND DOMESTIC REPRESENTATION	218	(31)
The United States Congress	219	(1)
Origins and Powers of the Congress	219	(3)
The Continental Congress	220	(1)
Congress and the Constitution	220	(2)
Let's Compare Parliaments and Congresses	222	(20)
Membership and Service in the Congress	223	(3)
Member Characteristics	223	(2)
Tenure and Turnover	225	(1)
How Congress Has Organized to Do Its Work	226	(10)
The Role of Political Parties	227	(4)
The Development of the Committee System	231	(5)
The Legislative Process	236	(5)
Introduction and Assignment	236	(1)
Committee and Subcommittee Deliberation	237	(2)
Agenda Setting and the Legislative Calendar	239	(1)
Floor Debate and Amendment	239	(1)
House/Senate Conference Committees	240	(1)
Congressional Decision Making	241	(1)
Constituents	241	(1)
Staff and Colleagues	241	(1)
Pro & Con What Is a Representative Supposed to Represent?	242	(3)
Interest Groups and Lobbyists	242	(1)
The President and the Bureaucracy	243	(1)
Public Disaffection and Congressional Reform	244	(1)
Time Line Congressional Reform in American History	245	(1)
Chapter Summary	246	(1)
Key Terms	247	(1)
Participation Activity: Congress	247	(1)
Suggested Readings	247	(1)
Web Resources	248	(1)
Chapter 10 THE PRESIDENT: GOVERNING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES	249	(35)
The President of the United States	250	(2)
Historical Origins of Executive Power	251	(1)
Historical Precedents: Crown Governors	251	(1)
Historical Precedents: State Governors	252	(1)
Executive Power in the Articles	252	(1)
The Constitutional Bases of Presidential Authority	252	(2)
Alternative Conceptions of the Presidency	253	(1)
Let's Compare Qualifying for Leadership around the World	254	(19)
Executive Authority in the Constitution	255	(2)
Constitutional Limitations	257	(2)
The Growth of Presidential Power	259	(5)
The Early Pattern: Presidential-Congressional Relations	260	(2)
The Jeffersonian Legacy: Congressional Dominance, 1800-1900	262	(1)
The New Century and the Modern Presidency, 1901-Present	262	(1)
Where Was the Expanded Authority Found?	263	(1)
The Range of Presidential Responsibilities	264	(9)
The Domestic Policy Presidency	265	(4)
The Foreign Policy Presidency	269	(4)
Pro & Con Presidential War Making	273	(7)
The Presidential Establishment	274	(9)
The Executive Office of the President	274	(3)
The Cabinet	277	(2)
The Vice President	279	(1)
Time Line Presidency	280	(1)
Chapter Summary	281	(1)
Key Terms	282	(1)
Participation Activity: The Presidency	282	(1)
Suggested Readings	282	(1)
Web Resources	283	(1)
Chapter 11 BUREAUCRACY: REDESIGNING GOVERNMENT FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY	284	(33)
Bureaucracy	285	(1)
What Is a Bureaucracy?	285	(2)
The Growth of the American Bureaucracy	287	(5)
The Initial Establishment	287	(1)
Government as Promoter of Economic Activity	288	(1)
Government as Regulator of Economic Activity	288	(1)
Government as Distributor of Wealth and Opportunity	289	(2)
Who Are the Bureaucrats?	291	(1)
Let's Compare General Government Employment as a Percentage of Total Employment among Fifteen OECD (Wealthy) Nations	292	(6)
The Structure of the National Bureaucracy	292	(4)
Cabinet Departments	293	(1)
Regulatory Commissions and Agencies	294	(1)
Government Corporations, Boards, and Commissions	295	(1)
Policy Implementation and Its Pitfalls	296	(2)
The Process of Policy Implementation	297	(1)
Pro & Con Bureaucratic Rule Making Affects You	298	(14)
Policy Design and the Limits on Implementation	299	(2)
Bureaucratic Autonomy and Accountability	301	(5)
Sources of Bureaucratic Autonomy	301	(1)
Controlling the Bureaucracy	302	(4)
Bureaucratic Reorganization: Creation of the Department of Homeland Security	306	(10)
The Bush Approach to Reorganization	307	(3)
The Pitfalls of Major Bureaucratic Reform	310	(2)
Time Line Expansion of the Federal Bureaucracy	312	(1)
Chapter Summary	313	(1)
Key Terms	314	(1)
Participation Activity: Bureaucracy	314	(1)
Suggested Readings	315	(1)
Web Resources	316	(1)
Chapter 12 THE FEDERAL COURTS: ACTIVISM VERSUS RESTRAINT	317	(28)
The Federal Courts	318	(1)
The Common Law Origins of the American Legal System	318	(2)
The Criminal Law and the Civil Law	320	(1)
Cases and the Law	320	(1)
The Birth of the American Legal System	321	(1)
Let's Compare Worldwide Usage of the Common Law and Civil Code Traditions	322	(17)
The Judiciary Act of 1789 and the Early Courts	323	(1)
The Marshall Court, 1801-1835	323	(1)
Judicial Review	324	(2)
The Supreme Court and the Evolution of Individual Rights	326	(3)
The Taney Court and States' Rights	326	(1)
Laissez-Faire and Property Rights	327	(1)
Nine Old Men and the Switch in Time	327	(1)
The Warren Court and Individual Rights	328	(1)
The Burger Court	328	(1)
The Rehnquist Court	329	(1)
The Structure of the Federal Judicial System	329	(6)
The Lower Federal Courts	330	(1)
Courts of Appeals	330	(2)
The U.S. Supreme Court	332	(3)
Judicial Nomination and Appointment	335	(3)
Backgrounds of Members of the Federal Judiciary	336	(1)
The Nomination Process	336	(1)
The Confirmation Process	337	(1)
The Disputed Role of the Federal Judiciary	338	(5)
Limits on Judicial Activism	338	(1)
Pro & Con The Disputed Role of the Federal Judiciary: Judicial Activism versus Judicial Restraint	339	(1)
Time Line The Courts in American Political History	340	(1)
Chapter Summary	341	(1)
Key Terms	342	(1)
Participation Activity: The Federal Courts	343	(1)
Suggested Readings	343	(1)
Web Resources	343	(2)
Chapter 13 CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS: BALANCE OR CONFLICT?	345	(31)
Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, and Majority Rule	346	(1)
Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights	347	(11)
The Origins of the Bill of Rights	347	(1)
Freedom of Expression: Speech and the Press	348	(6)
Freedom of Religion	354	(3)
The Rights of Criminal Defendants	357	(1)
Pro & Con The USA Patriot Act (2001): Security versus Liberty	358	(8)
Civil Rights and the Civil War Amendments	361	(14)
The Civil War Amendments	362	(2)
The Modern Civil Rights Movement	364	(2)
Let's Compare Gay Marriage: Is It the Next Civil Right?	366	(6)
Affirmative Action	368	(4)
Time Line The Pursuit of Racial Equality in American History	372	(1)
Chapter Summary	372	(1)
Key Terms	373	(1)
Participation Activity: Civil Rights	374	(1)
Suggested Readings	374	(1)
Web Resources	375	(1)
Chapter 14 GOVERNMENT, THE ECONOMY, AND DOMESTIC POLICY	376	(34)
Government and the Economy	377	(1)
History of Economic Management	377	(3)
Building the Economic Infrastructure	377	(1)
The Rise of Economic Regulation	378	(1)
The Growth of the Welfare State and Macroeconomic Regulation	378	(2)
Perspectives on Modern Economic Management	380	(2)
Traditional Conservatism	380	(1)
Keynesianism	381	(1)
Supply-Side Economics	381	(1)
Monetarism	381	(1)
The New Economy	382	(1)
Institutions of Economic Policymaking	382	(3)
Treasury Department	382	(1)
Federal Reserve Board	383	(1)
Office of Management and Budget	383	(1)
Council of Economic Advisers	384	(1)
National Economic Council	385	(1)
Fiscal Decision Making: Budgets, Taxes, and Spending	385	(3)
Budget Preparation	385	(3)
Taxing	388	(2)
Spending	390	(2)
Pro & Con Who Pays Taxes?	392	(2)
Domestic Social Programs and Their Challenges	393	(1)
Let's Compare Government Sector Spending in Twenty-Four Countries	394	(12)
Social Security	395	(1)
Medicare and Medicaid	396	(2)
The Federal Role in Education	398	(1)
The Dilemma of Deficits and Debt	399	(3)
The Consequences of Economic Policymaking	402	(7)
Growth	402	(2)
Fairness	404	(2)
Time Line Economic Policymaking and American Political Development	406	(1)
Chapter Summary	406	(2)
Key Terms	408	(1)
Participation Activity: Budgetary Politics	408	(1)
Suggested Readings	408	(1)
Web Resources	409	(1)
Chapter 15 AMERICA'S PLACE IN A DANGEROUS WORLD	410	(31)
America in the World	411	(2)
The United States in the Old World Order	413	(7)
Early Experiences and Precedents	413	(3)
World War II and World Power Status	416	(4)
The United States in the New World Order	420	(10)
The Global Economy	421	(3)
The Role of U.S. Military Power: Hegemony or Empire	424	(2)
The Scope of U.S. Military Power	426	(2)
Military Hegemony and the Bush Doctrine	428	(2)
Pro & Con The Bush Doctrine and Its Critics	430	(2)
The Burden of the Old Order on the New	430	(2)
Energy	431	(1)
Let's Compare Income, Energy, and Population Growth: Development versus Underdevelopment, or Rolling Rocks Uphill	432	(5)
World Population	434	(1)
What Should America Be in the World?	435	(2)
Time Line The Emergence of a Global Superpower	437	(1)
Chapter Summary	437	(2)
Key Terms	439	(1)
Participation Activity: Foreign Policy	439	(1)
Suggested Readings	439	(1)
Web Resources	440	(1)
Appendix A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE	441	(3)
Appendix B THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION (1781)	444	(6)
Appendix C CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES	450	(12)
Appendix D FEDERALIST NUMBERS 10, 51, AND 78	462	(11)
Appendix E PARTISAN CONTROL OF THE PRESIDENCY, CONGRESS, AND THE SUPREME COURT	473	(3)
ENDNOTES	476	(11)
GLOSSARY	487	(11)
GLOSSARY OF CASES	498	(3)
INDEX	501