America's New Democracy (Penguin Academic Series)

by Fiorina, Morris P.; Peterson, Paul E.; Voss, D. Stephen; Johnson, Bertram

• ISBN13: 9780321355232
• ISBN10: 0321355237
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

The new edition of this highly affordable Penguin Academic Series book provides a lively, engaging introduction to American government that is more streamlined than ever before. Written in a strong narrative voice and brimming with student-relevant examples, Americas New Democracy provides a focused and stimulating treatment of politics in the United States. Illustrating popular influence across the political system in defense of a central theme -that elections matter more in Americas political system today than they have in the past or do in other democracies- the book challenges the pessimistic view that government seldom listens to ordinary people. Americas New Democracy encourages readers to see that in a system where votes are the main currency, both power and responsibility rest on the shoulders of all citizens.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
PART ONE FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAS NEW DEMOCRACY	1	(62)
CHAPTER 1 DEMOCRACY IN THE UNITED STATES	2	(18)
A Unique Conception of Democracy	6	(3)
Elections Are Plentiful	9	(2)
The Permanent Campaign	11	(6)
Evaluating America's New Democracy	17	(1)
Key Terms	18	(1)
Suggested Readings	19	(1)
On the Web	19	(1)
CHAPTER 2 THE U.S. CONSTITUTION	20	(20)
Influences on the U.S. Constitution	23	(6)
The Constitutional Convention	29	(5)
The First National Election	34	(2)
Evaluating the Constitution	36	(2)
Chapter Summary	38	(1)
Key Terms	39	(1)
Suggested Readings	39	(1)
On the Web	39	(1)
CHAPTER 3 FEDERALISM	40	(23)
The Trend Toward Centralized Government	44	(8)
State and Local Government	52	(8)
Chapter Summary	60	(2)
Key Terms	62	(1)
Suggested Readings	62	(1)
On the Web	62	(1)
PART TWO CHANNELS OF INFLUENCE IN AMERICAS NEW DEMOCRACY	63	(162)
CHAPTER 4 AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE	64	(27)
Social Diversity	67	(8)
Philosophical Unity	75	(10)
Why a Liberal Political Culture?	85	(4)
Chapter Summary	89	(1)
Key Terms	89	(1)
Suggested Readings	89	(1)
On the Web	90	(1)
CHAPTER 5 PUBLIC OPINION AND THE MEDIA	91	(43)
Sources of Public Opinion	93	(2)
Measuring Public Opinion	95	(8)
Governing by Public Opinion?	103	(10)
Media Influence on Public Opinion	113	(13)
Mass Media and the Election Connection	126	(5)
Chapter Summary	131	(1)
Key Terms	132	(1)
Suggested Readings	132	(1)
On the Web	133	(1)
CHAPTER 6 INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION	134	(23)
A Brief History of the Franchise in the United States	136	(3)
International Comparisons of Voter Turnout	139	(3)
Why Americans Vote Less Often Than in the Past	142	(6)
Is Low Turnout a Problem?	148	(4)
Outside the Voting Booth	152	(3)
Chapter Summary	155	(1)
Key Terms	155	(1)
Suggested Readings	155	(1)
On the Web	156	(1)
CHAPTER 7 NATIONAL ELECTIONS	157	(37)
Voting Behavior: The Importance of Elections	160	(14)
Can Reforms Improve the System?	174	(17)
Chapter Summary	191	(1)
Key Terms	191	(1)
Suggested Readings	192	(1)
On the Web	193	(1)
CHAPTER 8 POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS	194	(31)
Political Parties: A Necessary Evil?	197	(13)
Parties Versus Interest Groups	210	(1)
Interest Groups: A Biased Chorus?	211	(12)
Chapter Summary	223	(1)
Key Terms	223	(1)
Suggested Readings	224	(1)
On the Web	224	(1)
PART THREE THE INSTITUTIONS OF AMERICA'S NEW DEMOCRACY	225	(122)
CHAPTER 9 THE CONGRESS	226	(27)
The Organization of Congress	229	(7)
How a Bill Becomes a Law	236	(5)
The Congressional Career	241	(5)
Evaluating Congress	246	(4)
Chapter Summary	250	(1)
Key Terms	251	(1)
Suggested Readings	251	(1)
On the Web	252	(1)
CHAPTER 10 THE PRESIDENCY	253	(31)
The President's Growing Responsibilities	256	(2)
The President's Limited Powers	258	(16)
The Presidential Advisers	274	(3)
The Two Presidencies	277	(2)
Evaluating Presidents	279	(2)
Chapter Summary	281	(1)
Key Terms	282	(1)
Suggested Readings	282	(1)
On the Web	283	(1)
CHAPTER 11 THE BUREAUCRACY	284	(34)
Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy	289	(1)
Why the Bureaucracy Is Unresponsive	290	(7)
Outside Influences on the Executive Branch	297	(6)
Policy Implementation	303	(12)
Chapter Summary	315	(1)
Key Terms	316	(1)
Suggested Readings	316	(1)
On the Web	317	(1)
CHAPTER 12 THE JUDICIARY	318	(29)
The Federal Court System	320	(13)
The Power of Judicial Review	333	(9)
State Courts	342	(2)
Chapter Summary	344	(1)
Key Terms	345	(1)
Suggested Readings	345	(1)
On the Web	346	(1)
PART FOUR OUTPUTS FROM AMERICA'S NEW DEMOCRACY	347
CHAPTER 13 CIVIL LIBERTIES	348	(29)
Origins of Civil Liberties in the United States	352	(1)
Selective Incorporation	353	(1)
Freedom of Expression	354	(5)
Freedom of Religion	359	(5)
The Right to Privacy	364	(3)
Criminal Justice	367	(7)
Chapter Summary	374	(1)
Key Terms	375	(1)
Suggested Readings	375	(1)
On the Web	376	(1)
CHAPTER 14 CIVIL RIGHTS	377	(30)
Civil Rights: More Than Just a Race Thing	381	(2)
African Americans and the Importance of Voting Rights	383	(11)
The Civil Rights of Ethnic Minorities	394	(2)
Gender, Sexuality, and Civil Rights	396	(5)
Rights of Americans with Disabilities	401	(2)
Chapter Summary	403	(1)
Key Terms	403	(2)
Suggested Readings	405	(1)
On the Web	406	(1)
CHAPTER 15 PUBLIC POLICY	407
Setting Public Policy	410	(1)
Domestic Policy	411	(10)
Economic Policy	421	(10)
Foreign and Defense Policy	431	(4)
Chapter Summary	435	(1)
Key Terms	435	(1)
Suggested Readings	436	(1)
On the Web	437
APPENDIX	A-1
The Declaration of Independence	A-3
The Constitution of the United States of America	A-7
The Federalist No. 10	A-25
The Federalist No. 51	A-31
Presidents of the United States	A-35
Glossary	G-1
Endnotes	E-1
Photo Credits	C-1
Name Index	NI-1
Subject Index	SI-1