We the People: A Concise Introduction to American Politics

by Patterson, Thomas E.

• ISBN13: 9780072817331
• ISBN10: 007281733X
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-06-01
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill College

Table of Contents

Preface

1 American Political Culture: Seeking a More Perfect Union

Political Culture: The Core Principles of American Government

America’s Core Values: Liberty, Equality, and Self-Government

Politics: The Process of Deciding Upon Society's Goals

The Concept of a Political System and This Book's Organization

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 1: Securing Freedom’s Triumph, George W. Bush

2 Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Before the Constitution: The Colonial and Revolutionary Experiences

Negotiating Toward a Constitution

Protecting Liberty: Limited Government

Providing for Self-Government

Constitutional Democracy Today

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 2: There’s a Small Matter of Checks and Balances, David E. Sanger

3 Federalism: Forging a Nation

Federalism: National and State Sovereignty

Federalism in Historical Perspective

Federalism Today

The Public's Influence: Setting the Boundaries of Federal-State Power

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 3: The Nation: 5-to-4, Now and Forever; At the Court, Dissent over States’ Rights is Now War, Linda Greenhouse

4 Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Freedom of Expression

Freedom of Religion

The Right of Privacy

Rights of Persons Accused of Crimes

The Courts and a Free Society

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 4: Judges Ban Pledge of Allegiance from Schools, Citing “Under God”, Evelyn Nieves

5 Equal Rights: Struggling Towards Fairness

The Struggle for Equality

Equality Under the Law

Equality of Result

Persistent Discrimination: Superficial Differences, Deep Divisions

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 5: The World: What’s in a Name?; Redefining Minority, Susan Sachs

6 Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the People's Voice

The Nature of Public Opinion

Political Socialization: How Americans Learn Their Politics

Frames of Reference: How Americans Think Politically

The Influence of Public Opinion on Policy

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 6: Wrong Number: The Unbearable Lightness of Public Opinion Polls, Adam Clymer

7 Political Participation and Voting: Expressing the Popular Will

Voter Participation

Conventional Forms of Participation Other Than Voting

Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics

Participation and the Potential for Influence

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 7: Election Day Curtain Call, Maura J. Casey

8 Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voter's Choice

Party Competition and Majority Rule: The History of U.S. Parties

Electoral and Party Systems

Party Organizations

The Candidate-Centered Campaign

Parties, Candidates, and the Public's Influence

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 9: The 2002 Campaign: The Commercials; A Softer Spin on the Mean Season, Lizette Alvarez

9 Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The Interest-Group System

Inside Lobbying: Seeking Influence Through Official Contacts

Outside Lobbying: Seeking Influence Through Public Pressure

The Group System: Indispensable But Biased

Summary

Key Terms

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 10: Lobbyists Waitin’ on the Levy for Their Ship to Come In, Jill Abramson

10 The News Media: Communicating Political Images

The Development of the News Media: From Partisanship to Objective Journalism

Freedom and Conformity in the U.S. News Media

The News Media As Link: Roles the Press Can and Cannot Perform

Organizing the Public in the Media Age

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 10: Mideast Turmoil: The News Outlets; Some U.S. Backers of Israel Boycott Dailies Over Mideast Coverage That They Deplore, Felicity Barringer

11 Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

Congress as a Career: Election to Congress

Congressional Leadership

The Committee System

How a Bill Becomes Law

Congress's Policymaking Role

Congress: Too Much Pluralism?

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 11: Unlikely Allies Press to Add Conservation to Farm Bill, Elizabeth Becker

12 The Presidency: Leading the Nation

Foundations of the Modern Presidency

Choosing the President

Staffing the Presidency

Factors in Presidential Leadership

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 12: After the Attacks: Assessment; President Seems to Gain Legitimacy, R.W. Apple Jr.

13 The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Administration: Form, Personnel, and Activities

Development of the Federal Bureaucracy: Politics and Administration

The Bureaucracy's Power Imperative

Bureaucratic Accountability

Reinventing Government

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 13: Signing Homeland Security Bill, Bush Appoints Ridge as Secretary, Richard W. Stevenson

14 The Judiciary: Applying the Law

The Federal Judicial System

Federal Court Appointees

Political Influences on Judicial Decisions

Judicial Power and Democratic Government

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 14: Divining the Consequences of a Court Divided, Linda Greenhouse

15 Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Government as Regulator of the Economy

Government as Protector of the Environment

Government as Promoter of Economic Interests

Fiscal Policy: Government as Manager of the Economy, I

Monetary Policy: Government as Manager of the Economy, II

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 15: Will Reforms With Few Teeth Be Able to Bite?, Stephen Labaton

16 Welfare and Education Policy: Provideing for Personal Security and Need

Poverty in America: The Nature of the Problem

The Politics and Policies of Social Welfare

Individual-Benefit Programs

Culture, Politics, and Social Welfare

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 16: Vouchers: A Shift, Bug Just How Big?, Kate Zernike

17 Foreign and Defense Policy: Protecting the American Way

The Roots of U.S. Foreign and Defense Policy

The Process of Foreign and Military Policymaking

The Military Dimension of National Security Policy

The Economic Dimension of National Security Policy

Summary

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

New York Times Reading 17: All Roads Lead to D.C., Emily Eakin

Summary

Key Terms

List of Websites

Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice

Questions: What’s Your Opinion?

Index