American Government Brief Version

by Wilson, James Q.

• ISBN13: 9780618427789
• ISBN10: 0618427783
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-21
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

The brief edition maintains the framework of the complete text, emphasizing the historical development of the American political system, who governs, and to what end. Revisions include updated examples, tables, and figures; complete coverage through the 2004 Presidential election; and expanded discussion of domestic and foreign and defense policy in two new chapters--Chapter 12, Making Domestic Policy and Chapter 13, Making Foreign and Military Policy. Additional updates include discussions of current topics such as the U.S.A Patriot Act, recent Supreme Court decisions, and the Department of Homeland Security. An expanded discussion on education addresses how students may be influenced by interactions with campus organizations, political movements, and social contacts and how they may in turn affect public opinion. To augment the chapter summary and help students synthesize and think critically about what they learn, Revisiting the Enduring Questions appear at the end of each chapter as mini-essays and expand on the classic questions about democracy posed at the beginning of the chapter. In-text pedagogy includes key terms, end-of-chapter summaries, World Wide Web boxes, and suggested readings.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
About the Author	xiii
What Should We Know About American Government?	1	(8)
Enduring Questions	1	(1)
The Meanings of Democracy	2	(2)
Representative Democracy	4	(1)
The Puzzles of American Government	5	(2)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	7	(1)
Suggested Readings	8	(1)
The Constitution	9	(24)
Enduring Questions	9	(1)
The Problem of Liberty	9	(1)
Human Nature	10	(1)
The Real Revolution	11	(1)
The Articles of Confederation	12	(1)
The Constitutional Convention	12	(1)
The Lessons of Experience	13	(1)
The Framers	14	(1)
The Challenge	15	(1)
Large States Versus Small States	16	(2)
The Compromise	18	(1)
The Constitution and Democracy	18	(2)
Two Key Principles: Separation of Powers and Federalism	20	(1)
Government and Human Nature	20	(2)
The Constitution and Liberty	22	(3)
The Antifederalist View	22	(2)
Need for a Bill of Rights	24	(1)
The Constitution and Slavery	25	(2)
Political Ideals or Economic Interests?	27	(1)
Liberty and Equality	28	(1)
A Recipe for Moderation	28	(2)
Summary	30	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	31	(1)
World Wide Web: The Constitution	31	(1)
Suggested Readings	32	(1)
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights	33	(35)
Enduring Questions	33	(1)
Making Constitutional Rights Apply to the States	34	(1)
Why Are Americans So Preoccupied with Rights?	35	(2)
Freedom of Expression	37	(4)
Church and State	41	(5)
The Free-Exercise Clause	41	(1)
The Establishment Clause	42	(4)
Crime and Due Process	46	(6)
The Exclusionary Rule	47	(1)
Search and Seizure	47	(2)
Confessions and Self-Incrimination	49	(2)
Relaxing the Exclusionary Rule	51	(1)
Terrorism and Civil Liberties	52	(1)
Equal Protection of the Laws	53	(13)
Race and ``Strict Scrutiny''	54	(5)
Sex and ``Reasonable Classifications''	59	(3)
Sexual Harrassment	62	(1)
Privacy and Sex	63	(3)
Summary	66	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	66	(1)
World Wide Web: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights	67	(1)
Suggested Readings	67	(1)
Federalism	68	(23)
Enduring Questions	68	(1)
Governmental Structure	69	(2)
Federalism: Good or Bad?	71	(1)
Increased Political Activity	71	(1)
The Founding	72	(1)
A Bold New Plan	72	(1)
Elastic Language	72	(1)
The History of Federalism	73	(3)
The Supreme Court Speaks	73	(1)
Nullification and War	74	(1)
Dual Federalism	75	(1)
The States Get Some Authority Back	75	(1)
The Division of Powers: Federal and State	76	(1)
Fiscal Federalism	77	(6)
Rise of Federal Activism	80	(2)
The Intergovernmental Lobby	82	(1)
Categorical Grants Versus Block Grants	82	(1)
Devolution	83	(1)
Federal Aid and Federal Control	83	(3)
Rivalry Among the States	85	(1)
Federalism and Public Policy	86	(1)
Evaluating Federalism	87	(1)
Summary	88	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	89	(1)
World Wide Web: Federalism	90	(1)
Suggested Readings	90	(1)
Public Opinion and the Media	91	(33)
Enduring Questions	91	(2)
What Is Public Opinion?	93	(1)
Why Do We Distrust the Federal Government?	94	(2)
The Origins of Political Attitudes	96	(7)
The Role of the Family	96	(4)
Effects of Religion	100	(1)
Education	100	(2)
The Gender Gap	102	(1)
Cleavages in Public Opinion	103	(3)
Occupation	104	(1)
Race	104	(1)
Region	105	(1)
Political Ideology	106	(3)
Consistent Attitudes	106	(1)
Activists	107	(1)
Various Categories of Opinion	108	(1)
Analyzing Consistency	108	(1)
The Impact of the Media	109	(1)
The Structure of the Media	110	(2)
Degree of Competition	110	(1)
The National Media	111	(1)
Rules Governing the Media	112	(2)
Freedom of the Press	112	(1)
Regulation and Deregulation	112	(2)
Government and the News	114	(1)
Prominence of the President	114	(1)
Coverage of Congress	114	(1)
Interpreting Political News	115	(1)
Are News Stories Slanted?	116	(5)
News Leaks	118	(1)
The Influence of Media Opinions on Opinion and Politics	118	(2)
The Influence of Politicians on the Media	120	(1)
Summary	121	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	122	(1)
World Wide Web: Public Opinion and the Media	122	(1)
Suggested Readings	123	(1)
Political Parties and Interest Groups	124	(37)
Enduring Questions	124	(1)
Parties---Here and Abroad	125	(3)
Decentralization	125	(1)
Political Culture	126	(1)
The Rise and Decline of American Political Parties	126	(2)
The National Party Structure Today	128	(4)
National Conventions	130	(2)
State and Local Parties	132	(4)
The Machine	132	(1)
Ideological Parties	133	(1)
Solidary Groups	134	(1)
Sponsored Parties	135	(1)
Personal Followings	135	(1)
The Two-Party System	136	(3)
The Two-Party System and Electoral Laws	136	(2)
The Two-Party System and Public Opinion	138	(1)
Nominating a President	139	(3)
Are the Delegates Representative of the Voters?	139	(2)
Who Votes in Primaries and Caucuses?	141	(1)
Who Are the New Delegates?	141	(1)
Do the Parties Differ?	142	(1)
Interest Groups	143	(2)
The Proliferation of Interest Groups	143	(1)
The Birth of Interest Groups	144	(1)
Kinds of Organizations	145	(3)
Institutional Interests	145	(1)
Membership Interests	146	(2)
The Influence of the Staff	148	(1)
Funds for Interest Groups	148	(1)
Foundation Grants	148	(1)
Federal Grants and Contracts	148	(1)
Direct Mail	149	(1)
The Problem of Bias	149	(1)
The Activities of Interest Groups	150	(6)
Information	150	(1)
Public Support: The Rise of the New Politics	151	(1)
Money and PACs	151	(3)
The ``Revolving Door''	154	(1)
Demonstrations	155	(1)
Regulating Interest Groups	156	(1)
Summary	157	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	158	(1)
World Wide Web: Political Parties and Interest Groups	159	(1)
Suggested Readings	159	(2)
Campaigns and Elections	161	(38)
Enduring Questions	161	(1)
Political Participation	162	(1)
Forms of Participation	162	(1)
Why People Participate	162	(1)
Who Participates?	163	(1)
Historical Voting Patterns	163	(3)
The Rise of the American Electorate	164	(1)
Voting Turnout	165	(1)
Explaining---and Improving---Turnout	166	(2)
Political Campaigns	168	(6)
Assembling a Staff	169	(2)
Strategy	171	(2)
Using Television	173	(1)
The Effects of Campaigns	174	(4)
Single-Issue Groups	177	(1)
How to Win the Election	178	(4)
Election Outcomes	182	(5)
Party Realignments	182	(2)
Party Decline	184	(1)
A Winning Coalition	184	(3)
Modern Technology and Political Campaigns	187	(2)
Television, Radio, and Newspapers	187	(1)
Computers and Direct Mail	188	(1)
Are Today's Voters ``Manipulated''?	188	(1)
Elections and Money	189	(6)
Impact of Money	189	(1)
Where Does the Money Come From?	190	(5)
The Effects of Elections on Policy	195	(2)
Summary	197	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	197	(1)
World Wide Web: Campaigns and Elections	198	(1)
Suggested Readings	198	(1)
Congress	199	(38)
Enduring Questions	199	(2)
The Evolution of Congress	201	(1)
Who Is in Congress?	202	(3)
Years of Service	204	(1)
Party	205	(1)
Getting Elected to Congress	205	(1)
The Organization of Congress: Parties and Interests	206	(6)
Party Organizations	206	(3)
Party Voting	209	(2)
Caucuses	211	(1)
The Organization of Congress: Committees	212	(3)
The Organization of Congress: Staffs and Specialized Offices	215	(2)
Tasks of Staff Members	216	(1)
Staff Agencies	217	(1)
How a Bill Becomes a Law	217	(6)
Introducing a Bill	218	(1)
Study by Committees	219	(2)
Floor Debate	221	(1)
Methods of Voting	222	(1)
How Members of Congress Vote	223	(3)
Representational View	224	(1)
Organizational View	225	(1)
Attitudinal View	225	(1)
A Polarized Congress in an Unpolarized Nation	226	(1)
What It All Means	227	(2)
Ethics and Congress	229	(2)
The Power of Congress	231	(3)
Summary	234	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	234	(1)
World Wide Web: Congress	235	(1)
Suggested Readings	235	(2)
The Presidency	237	(35)
Enduring Questions	237	(2)
The Powers of the President	239	(5)
Powers of the President Alone	239	(1)
Powers of the President Shared with the Senate	239	(1)
Powers of the President Shared with Congress as a Whole	239	(1)
The Evolution of the Presidency	240	(3)
Establishing the Legitimacy of the Presidency	243	(1)
The Jacksonians and the Reemergence of Congress	243	(1)
The Modern Presidency	244	(3)
The White House Office	244	(1)
Executive Office of the President	245	(1)
The Cabinet	246	(1)
Independent Agencies, Commissions, and Judgeships	247	(1)
Who Gets Appointed	247	(6)
Popularity and Influence	249	(1)
The Decline in Popularity	250	(3)
Presidential Character	253	(2)
The Power to Say No	255	(2)
Veto	255	(1)
Executive Privilege	256	(1)
Impoundment of Funds	256	(1)
The President's Program	257	(1)
Putting Together a Program	257	(1)
Measuring Success	258	(1)
Presidential Transitions	258	(3)
The Vice President	259	(1)
Problems of Succession	259	(1)
Impeachment	260	(1)
The President and Public Policy	261	(8)
The President and Foreign Affairs	261	(4)
The President and Economic Policy	265	(4)
Summary	269	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	269	(1)
World Wide Web: The Presidency	270	(1)
Suggested Readings	270	(2)
The Bureaucracy	272	(25)
Enduring Questions	272	(2)
Distinctiveness of the American Bureaucracy	274	(1)
The Growth of the Bureaucracy	274	(4)
Bureaucracy Before the New Deal Era	275	(1)
A Change in Role	276	(2)
The Federal Bureaucracy Today	278	(10)
Recruitment and Retention	280	(3)
Personal Attributes	283	(2)
Roles and Mission	285	(1)
Outside Forces	286	(2)
Congressional Oversight	288	(3)
The Appropriations Committee and Legislative Committees	290	(1)
The Legislative Veto	290	(1)
Congressional Investigations	290	(1)
Bureaucratic ``Pathologies''	291	(2)
Reinventing Government	293	(1)
Summary	294	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	295	(1)
World Wide Web: The Bureaucracy	295	(1)
Suggested Readings	296	(1)
The Judiciary	297	(29)
Enduring Questions	297	(2)
The Development of the Federal Courts	299	(4)
National Supremacy and Slavery	299	(3)
Government and the Economy	302	(1)
The Protection of Political Liberty and Economic Regulation	303	(1)
The Structure of the Federal Courts	303	(3)
The Jurisdiction of the Federal Courts	306	(4)
Getting to Court	310	(4)
Fee Shifting	310	(1)
Standing	311	(1)
Class-Action Suits	312	(2)
The Supreme Court in Action	314	(2)
The Power of the Courts	316	(5)
The Power to Make Policy	317	(1)
Views of Judicial Activism	318	(1)
The Causes of Activism	319	(2)
Checks on Judicial Power	321	(3)
Congress and the Courts	321	(2)
Public Opinion and the Courts	323	(1)
Summary	324	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	324	(1)
World Wide Web: The Judiciary	325	(1)
Suggested Readings	325	(1)
Making Domestic Policy	326	(21)
Enduring Questions	326	(1)
The Economy	327	(4)
The Tools of Economic Policy	328	(1)
What Economic Numbers Hurt the President?	328	(1)
The Federal Reserve Board	329	(2)
Fiscal Policy	331	(1)
Taxes	331	(2)
Spending	333	(2)
Subsidies	335	(1)
Regulations	335	(3)
Making Policy Decisions	338	(6)
Majoritarian Politics	339	(1)
Client Politics	340	(1)
Interest Group Politics	341	(1)
Entrepreneurial Politics	342	(2)
What These Political Differences Mean	344	(1)
Summary	344	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	345	(1)
World Wide Web: Making Domestic Policy	345	(1)
Suggested Readings	345	(2)
Making Foreign and Military Policy	347	(13)
Enduring Questions	347	(1)
Kinds of Foreign Policy	348	(1)
The Constitutional Framework	348	(1)
The New International World	349	(1)
Three Major Problems	349	(5)
Rebuilding Nations	350	(1)
Foreign Policy and Terrorism	351	(2)
Changing the Military	353	(1)
The Politics of Foreign and Military Policy	354	(4)
Summary	358	(1)
Reconsidering the Enduring Questions	358	(1)
World Wide Web: Making Foreign and Military Policy	359	(1)
Suggested Readings	359	(1)
American Government: Continuity and Change	360
Restraints on Growth	362	(1)
Relaxing the Restraints	363	(6)
The Old System	365	(2)
The New System	367	(2)
How the American System Affects Policymaking	369
Appendix	1	(1)
The Declaration of Independence	1	(3)
The Constitution of the United States	4	(18)
The Federalist No. 10	22	(6)
The Federalist No. 51	28	(4)
Presidents and Congresses	32
References	1	(1)
Glossary	1	(1)
Credits	1	(1)
Index	1