American Political Process

by Grant; Alan

• ISBN13: 9780415288217
• ISBN10: 0415288215
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2003-11-06
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The new edition of this well-established textbook continues to provide a comprehensive introduction to the history, structure, institutions, and policies of the American political system. Completely revised and updated throughout, the 7th edition contains entirely new material on: * the 2000 Presidential election and George W. Bush's Presidency * the September 11th attacks and the 'war on terrorism' * the 2002 midterm elections * more coverage of such controversial issues as abortion, pressure groups and gun control The book contains excellent pedagogy throughout including a variety of useful tables and diagrams, suggestions for further reading and relevant websites and a glossary of key terms. Written with admirable clarity, this new edition is the ideal textbook for students of American politics and society.

Author Biography

Alan Grant is Principal Lecturer in Politics at Oxford Brookes University.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	viii
1 The framework of American politics	1	(25)
The people of the United States	1	(8)
A mobile society	9	(4)
The historical framework: from Independence to Philadelphia	13	(1)
Amendments to the Constitution	14	(6)
The separation of powers	20	(1)
Checks and balances	21	(5)
2 Making the laws: the American Congress	26	(50)
The role of the legislature	26	(3)
The membership of Congress	29	(4)
A bicameral legislature: the Senate and the House of Representatives	33	(6)
Congressional committees and their chairmen	39	(4)
The elected party leaders	43	(5)
Republican control of Congress	48	(9)
Factors influencing voting in Congress	57	(8)
The legislative process in Congress	65	(3)
Financial control by Congress	68	(8)
3 Law execution: the President and administration	76	(52)
The different roles of the President	76	(4)
The growth of the presidential office	80	(4)
The limits of presidential power	84	(11)
Dimensions of presidential power	95	(7)
Personal and institutional perspectives on the presidency	102	(1)
Sources of presidential support	103	(13)
Organisation of the executive branch	116	(3)
The federal civil service	119	(9)
4 Law adjudication: the Supreme Court and the judiciary	128	(36)
The structure of the American judiciary	131	(2)
The appointment of the federal judiciary	133	(9)
The Supreme Court and the role of government	142	(2)
Judicial activism and the Warren Court	144	(4)
The Burger Court 1969-86	148	(2)
The Rehnquist Court since 1986	150	(1)
Major decisions of the Burger and Rehnquist Courts	150	(10)
The political nature of the Supreme Court	160	(4)
5 Pressure group politics	164	(19)
The American system and pressure group activity	165	(2)
Different types of pressure group	167	(4)
Methods of pressure group influence	171	(6)
The role of pressure groups in the American system	177	(2)
The checks on pressure group influence	179	(4)
6 Party politics	183	(27)
The structure of American parties	183	(6)
The American two-party system	189	(12)
Minor parties and independent campaigns	201	(2)
Political parties today	203	(7)
7 Elections and voting	210	(46)
Who runs for the presidency?	210	(3)
The nomination process	213	(11)
The presidential election campaign	224	(14)
The Electoral College	238	(4)
Participation in elections	242	(4)
Congressional elections	246	(2)
The administration of elections	248	(2)
Financing elections	250	(6)
8 Federalism, the states and local government	256	(35)
The federal principle	256	(2)
The development of modern federalism	258	(3)
Dual federalism and cooperative federalism	261	(2)
New federalism, revenue-sharing and block grants	263	(2)
President Reagan and new federalism	265	(3)
Federalism in the 1990's	268	(3)
President George W. Bush and federalism	271	(1)
The Rehnquist Supreme Court and contemporary federalism	272	(2)
The organisation of state and local governments	274	(2)
The roles of state and local governments	276	(1)
The problems of modern federalism	277	(5)
Notes	282	(9)
Appendices	291	(22)
I The Constitution of the United States	291	(14)
II List of Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the United States	305	(2)
III Glossary	307	(6)
Index	313