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American Government: Readings and Cases, 19th Edition
This comprehensive textbook is a go-to resource for students and educators alike, offering a detailed exploration of American government principles. It's primarily used by students and instructors in introductory American government courses at the college and university levels. The book is also a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the basics of American government, including professionals looking to refresh their knowledge or expand their understanding of political principles.
Who Uses It?
Primarily, this book is used by students and instructors in introductory American government courses. It's also a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the basics of American government, including professionals looking to refresh their knowledge or expand their understanding of political principles.
History and Editions
The 19th edition of American Government: Readings and Cases has been a staple in educational institutions for many years. First published by Pearson in 2011, this edition has been updated to address user feedback, incorporating the latest research and discussions on political theory and practice. This edition includes detailed updates on case studies and readings, ensuring that it remains current and relevant to contemporary political issues.
Author and Other Works
The authors of American Government: Readings and Cases are Peter Woll and other contributors. Peter Woll is known for his engaging writing style and his ability to explain complex political concepts clearly and simply. His work in this book provides a comprehensive overview of American government, making it an essential resource for students and educators.
ISBNs and Formats
Publication Details
This detailed information section provides a quick reference for all the available formats and sources for American Government: Readings and Cases, making it easier to find and access the book in the preferred format.
* Indicates new reading
PART ONE: The Setting of the American System
Chapter 1. Constitutional Government
Topic: Constitutional Democracy: The Rule of Law
Reading 1. John Locke, Second Treatise, Of Civil Government
Topic: Framing the Constitution: Elitist or Democratic Process?
Reading 2. John P. Roche, The Founding Fathers: A Reform Caucus in Action.
Reading 3. Charles A. Beard, Framing the Constitution.
Topic: Limitation of Governmental Power and of Majority Rule
Reading 4. James Madison, Federalist 47, 48, 51.
Topic: Interpreting the Constitution
Reading 5. Laurence H. Tribe and Michael C. Dorf, How Not to Read the Constitution.
Chapter 2. Federalism
Topic: Constitutional Background: National Versus State Power
Reading 6. Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 16, 17
Reading 7. The Anti-Federalist Papers No. 17
Reading 8. James Madison, Federalist 44
Reading 9. James Madison, Federalist 45
Reading 10. James Madison, Federalist 39
Reading 11. James Bryce, The Merits of the Federal System
Topic: Implied Powers and the Supremacy of National Law
Reading 12. McCulloch v. Maryland, 4 Wheaton 316 (1819)
Reading 13. Gibbons v. Ogden, 9 Wheaton 1 (1824)
Topic: National Power over the States: A Recurring Constitutional Debate
Reading 14. United States v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 59 (2000)
Topic: What State Actions Are Beyond Federal Regulation? California’s Medical Marijuana Law
Reading 15. Gonzales v. Raich, U.S. Supreme Court (2005)
Topic: Gibbons v. Ogden Revisited: Federalism and the Commerce Clause
Reading 16. Wickard v. Filburn, 317 U.S. 111 (1942)*
Chapter 3. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Topic: Constitutional Background
Reading 17. Antifederalist Paper No. 84, On the Lack of a Bill of Rights
Topic: The Nationalization of the Bill of Rights: The Fourteenth Amendment
Reading 18. Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963)
Topic: Freedom of Speech and Press
Reading 19. Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Need to Maintain a Free Marketplace of Ideas, Abrams v. United States 250 U.S. 616 (1919)
Topic: Expanding the Boundaries of Permissible Criticism of Government and Public Officials
Reading 20. New York Times Co. v. Sullivan 376 U.S 254 (1964)
Topic: Equal Protection of the Laws: School Desegregation
Reading 21. Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896)
Reading 22. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka 347 U.S. 483 (1954)
Reading 23. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka 349 U.S. 294 (1955)
Topic: The Constitutional Right to Vote
Reading 24. Gomillion v. Lightfoot, 364 U.S. 339 (1960)
Topic: The Judicial Sources of Political Controversies over Civil Liberties and Rights: The Establishment Clause and the Issue of School Prayer
Reading 25. Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)
Topic: The Right to Privacy
Reading 26. Samuel D. Warren and Louis D. Brandeis, The Right to Privacy
Reading 27. Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965)
Reading 28. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)
Topic: Affirmative Action
Reading 29. University of California Board of Regents v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265 (1978)
Topic: Gun Control: The First Major Gun Control Case
Reading 30. District of Columbia v. Heller, United States Supreme Court, 2008 *
PART TWO: POLITICAL PARTIES, ELECTORAL BEHAVIOR, AND INTEREST GROUPS
Chapter 4. Political Parties and the Electorate
Topic: Constitutional Background
Reading 31. James Madison, Federalist 10
Reading 32. E. E. Schattschneider, Party Government
Topic: The Party Model of Government
Reading 33. Sir Ernest Barker, Government by Discussion
Topic: The American Party System
Reading 34. Report of the Committee of Political Parties, American Political Science Association, Toward More Responsible Two Party System
Topic: Political Parties in Divided Government
Reading 35. David R. Mayhew, Divided We Govern
Topic: Functions and Types of Elections
Reading 36. V.O. Key, Jr., A Theory of Critical Elections
Topic: Voting Behavior: Rational or Irrational?
Reading 37. Bernard R. Berelson, Paul F. Lazarsfeld, and William N. McPhee, Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory
Topic: Political Campaigns and the Electorate
Reading 38. V.O. Key, Jr., The Responsible Electorate
Chapter 5. Interest Groups
Topic: Constitutional Background
Reading 39. Jeffrey M. Berry, Madison 's Dilemma
Topic: First Amendment Barriers to the Regulation of Interest Groups and Political Parties
Reading 40. Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1 (1976)
Reading 41. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, United States Supreme Court, 2010
Reading 42. Daniel R. Ortiz, The Democratic Paradox of Campaign Finance Reform
Topic: Group Theory: The Nature and Functions of Interest Groups
Reading 43. David B. Truman, The Governmental Process
Reading 44. Pendleton Herring, The Role of Interest Groups in Government
Topic: Money, PACs, and Elections
Reading 45. Larry J. Sabato, The Misplaced Obsession with PACs
PART THREE: National Government Institutions
Chapter 6. The Presidency
Reading 46. Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 70
Reading 47. Mark J. Rozell, George Washington and the Origins of the American Presidency*
Topic: The Nature of the Presidency: Power, Persuasion, and Paradoxes
Reading 48. Clinton Rossiter, The Presidency -- Focus of Leadership
Reading 49. Richard E. Neustadt, Presidential Power
Topic: Presidential Politics: Presidential Character and Style
Reading 50. James David Barber, The Presidential Character
Topic: The Constitutional Presidency and Emergency Powers
Reading 51. Ex Parte Milligan 71 U.S. 2 (1866)
Topic: Presidential Power, Due Process, and the Separation of Powers in the Time of the War on Terror
Reading 52. Boumediene v. Bush, President of the United States, United States Supreme Court, 2008
Chapter 7. The Bureaucracy
Reading 53. Peter Woll, Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power.
Topic: The Political Roots and Consequences of Bureaucracy
Reading 54. James Q. Wilson, The Rise of the Bureaucratic State
Chapter 8. Congress
Topic: Constitutional Background: Representation of Popular, Group, and National Interests
Reading 55. James Madison, Federalist 53, 56, 57, 58, 62, 63
Topic: Congress and the Washington Political Establishment
Reading 56. Woodrow Wilson, Congressional Government
Reading 57. Morris P. Fiorina, The Rise of the Washington Establishment
Topic: Committee Chairmen as Political Entrepreneurs
Reading 58. Lawrence C. Dodd, Congress and the Quest for Power
Topic: Congress and the Electoral Connection
Reading 59. Edmund Burke, Speech to the Electors of Bristol
Reading 60. David R. Mayhew, Congress: The Electoral Connection
Reading 61. Richard F. Fenno, Jr., Home Style and Washington Career
Reading 62. Senator Evan Bayh, Why I’m Leaving the Senate*
Chapter 9. The Judiciary
Topic: English Common Law Precedents
Reading 63. William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 1765
Topic: Constitutional Background: Judicial Independence and Judicial Review
Reading 64. Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 78
Reading 65. Marbury v. Madison, 1 Cranch 137 (1803)
Reading 66. John P. Roche, Judicial Self-Restraint
Topic: The Political Question Doctrine
Reading 67. Daniel Webster - Counsel for Defendant Borden in Luther v. Borden (1849), Why Courts Cannot Fairly Decide Political Questions
Reading 68. Luther v. Borden, 48 U.S. 1 (1849)
Topic: Judicial Decision-Making
Reading 69. William J. Brennan, Jr., How the Supreme Court Arrives at Decisions
Topic: The Importance of Precedent-Stare Decisis
Reading 70.Sandra Day O’Connor, The Obligation to Follow Precedent*
Topic: A Case Study in the Use of Precedent: Should the Slaughter-House Precedent be Overruled?
Reading 71. In Re Slaughter-House Cases, 83 U.S. 36 (1873)*
Reading 72. Oral Argument Before the Supreme Court: McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
Topic: The Decision
Reading 73. McDonald v. Chicago, United States Supreme Court (2010)
Appendix 1: The Declaration of Independence.
Appendix 2: The Constitution of the United States
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