Politics in America: Basic Version

by Dye, Thomas R.; Sparrow, Bartholomew H.

• ISBN13: 9780136027218
• ISBN10: 0136027210
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780136132264, 9780205078721
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-05-06
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

With a focus on competition for resources, this balanced, but provocative text uses Harold Laswell's classic definition of politics-"Who gets what, when, and how"-as a framework for presenting a clear, cohesive and stimulating introduction to the American political system. Thomas Dye, along with new co-author Bartholomew Sparrow, has written a lively and absorbing narrative examining the struggle for power that is American politics: the participants, the stakes, the processes, and the institutions. Numerous feature boxes explore timely issues, draw cross-cultural comparisons, promote critical thinking, and provoke thoughtful opinions. With the intense political conflict of the most expensive presidential campaign in American history and the hotly-contested primary campaigns that led to the national conventions in 2008,Politics in Americars"stheme of the constant competition for power and resources-"who gets what"-has never been more relevant.

Table of Contents

Politics

Politics: Who Gets What, When, and How

Political Culture: Ideas in Conflict

Constitution

The Constitution: Limiting Governmental Power

Federalism: Dividing Governmental Power

Participants

Opinion and Participation: Thinking and Acting in Politics

Mass Media: Setting the Political Agenda

Political Parties: Organizing Politics

Campaigns and Elections: Deciding Who Governs

Interest Groups: Getting Their Share and More

Institutions

Congress: Politics on Capitol Hill

The President: White House Politics

The Bureaucracy: Bureaucratic Politics

Courts: Judicial Politics

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