We the People : An Introduction to American Politics

by Ginsberg, Benjamin; Lowi, Theodore J.; Weir, Margaret

• ISBN13: 9780393979299
• ISBN10: 0393979296
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-03-01
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc

Summary

Emphasizing the relevance of politics and government in everyday life, We the People provides tools to help students think critically about American government and politics. The Sixth Edition has been carefully updated to reflect most recent developments, including the ongoing conflict in Iraq and the 2006 midterm elections. Complemented by a rich package of multimedia tools for instructors and students, including a new video-clip DVD, We the People is now more pedagogically effective than ever.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments	xxxiii
Part I FOUNDATIONS
American Political Culture	2	(34)
What Americans Think about Government	6	(6)
Trust in Government	7	(5)
Political Efficacy	12	(1)
What Americans Know about Government	12	(4)
Citizenship: Knowledge and Participation	14	(1)
The Necessity of Political Knowledge	15	(1)
Government	16	(4)
Is Government Needed?	16	(1)
Forms of Government	17	(1)
Limiting Government	18	(1)
Access to Government: The Expansion of Participation	18	(1)
Influencing the Government Through Participation: Politics	19	(1)
American Political Culture: Shared Values, but Disagreements over the Role of Government	20	(11)
Liberty	21	(1)
Equality	21	(3)
Democracy	24	(1)
Does the System Uphold American Political Values?	24	(6)
Values and the Ends of Government	30	(1)
Who Benefits from Government?	30	(1)
What You Can Do: Test the Political Waters	31	(1)
Summary	32	(1)
For Further Reading	33	(1)
Study Outline	33	(1)
Practice Quiz	34	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	34	(1)
Key Terms	35	(1)
The Founding and the Constitution	36	(44)
The First Founding: Interests and Conflicts	39	(4)
British Taxes and Colonial Interests	39	(2)
Political Strife and the Radicalizing of the Colonists	41	(1)
The Declaration of Independence	42	(1)
The Articles of Confederation	42	(1)
The Second Founding: From Compromise to Constitution	43	(6)
International Standing and Balance of Power	43	(1)
The Annapolis Convention	44	(1)
Shays's Rebellion	44	(1)
The Constitutional Convention	45	(4)
The Constitution	49	(8)
The Legislative Branch	50	(1)
The Executive Branch	51	(2)
The Judicial Branch	53	(1)
National Unity and Power	53	(2)
Amending the Constitution	55	(1)
Ratifying the Constitution	55	(1)
Constitutional Limits on the National Government's Power	55	(2)
The Fight for Ratification	57	(9)
Federalists vs. Antifederalists	58	(7)
Reflections on the Founding	65	(1)
The Citizen's Role and the Changing Constitution	66	(8)
Amendments: Many Are Called, Few Are Chosen	66	(1)
The Case of the Equal Rights Amendment	67	(1)
Which Were Chosen? An Analysis of the Twenty-Seven	68	(6)
Reflections on Liberty, Equality, and Democracy	74	(1)
What You Can Do: Become a Framer	75	(1)
Summary	76	(1)
For Further Reading	77	(1)
Study Outline	77	(1)
Practice Quiz	78	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	79	(1)
Key Terms	79	(1)
Federalism	80	(38)
The Federal Framework	83	(13)
Federalism in the Constitution	84	(4)
Restraining National Power with Dual Federalism, 1789--1937	88	(3)
Federalism and the Slow Growth of the National Government's Power	91	(3)
The Changing Role of the States	94	(2)
Who Does What? The Changing Federal Framework	96	(14)
Expansion of the National Government	97	(1)
Federal Grants	97	(2)
Cooperative Federalism	99	(1)
Regulated Federalism and National Standards	100	(2)
New Federalism and State Control	102	(2)
Devolution: For Whose Benefit?	104	(6)
Federalism and American Political Values	110	(2)
What You Can Do: Participate at Different Levels of the Federal System	112	(1)
Summary	113	(1)
For Further Reading	114	(1)
Study Outline	114	(1)
Practice Quiz	115	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	116	(1)
Key Terms	116	(2)
Civil Liberties	118	(42)
A Brief History of the Bill of Rights	121	(4)
Nationalizing the Bill of Rights	122	(3)
The First Amendment and Freedom of Religion	125	(5)
Separation Between Church and State	126	(1)
Free Exercise of Religion	127	(3)
The First Amendment and Freedom of Speech and the Press	130	(8)
Absolutely Protected Speech	130	(3)
Freedom of the Press	133	(1)
Conditionally Protected Speech	133	(5)
The Second Amendment and the Right to Bear Arms	138	(1)
Rights of the Criminally Accused	139	(11)
The Fourth Amendment and Searches and Seizures	140	(2)
The Fifth Amendment	142	(4)
The Sixth Amendment and the Right to Counsel	146	(1)
The Eighth Amendment and Cruel and Unusual Punishment	146	(4)
The Right to Privacy	150	(2)
The Future of Civil Liberties	152	(1)
What You Can Do: Defend Liberty	153	(3)
Summary	156	(1)
For Further Reading	157	(1)
Study Outline	157	(1)
Practice Quiz	158	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	159	(1)
Key Terms	159	(1)
Civil Rights	160	(48)
The Struggle for Civil Rights	163	(18)
Slavery and the Abolitionist Movement	163	(1)
The Link to the Women's Rights Movement	164	(1)
The Civil War Amendments to the Constitution	164	(1)
Civil Rights and the Supreme Court: ``Separate but Equal''	165	(1)
Organizing for Equality	166	(1)
Litigating for Equality After World War II	167	(2)
Civil Rights After Brown v. Board of Education	169	(4)
The Civil Rights Acts	173	(8)
The Universalization of Civil Rights	181	(10)
Women and Gender Discrimination	181	(5)
Latinos and Asian Americans	186	(3)
Native Americans	189	(1)
Disabled Americans	190	(1)
The Aged	190	(1)
Gays and Lesbians	190	(1)
Affirmative Action	191	(10)
The Supreme Court and the Burden of Proof	193	(3)
Referendums on Affirmative Action	196	(1)
Affirmative Action and American Political Values	196	(5)
What You Can Do: Mobilize for Civil Rights	201	(2)
Summary	203	(1)
For Further Reading	203	(1)
Study Outline	204	(1)
Practice Quiz	204	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	205	(1)
Key Terms	205	(3)
Part II POLITICS
Public Opinion	208	(42)
Political Values	212	(17)
Fundamental Values	212	(2)
Forms of Disagreement	214	(5)
How Political Values Are Formed	219	(1)
Influences on Our Political Values	220	(5)
From Political Values to Ideology	225	(4)
How We Form Political Opinions	229	(8)
Political Knowledge	230	(1)
The Influence of Political Leaders, Private Groups, and the Media	231	(6)
Measuring Public Opinion	237	(6)
Constructing Public Opinion from Surveys	237	(1)
Problems with Polling	238	(5)
Public Opinion and Democracy	243	(3)
What You Can Do: Become Politically Knowledgeable	246	(1)
Summary	247	(1)
For Further Reading	247	(1)
Study Outline	248	(1)
Practice Quiz	248	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	249	(1)
Key Terms	249	(1)
The Media	250	(32)
The Media Industry and Government	252	(10)
Types of Media	252	(3)
Regulation of the Broadcast Media	255	(1)
Organization and Ownership of the Media	256	(5)
Nationalization of the News	261	(1)
News Coverage	262	(5)
Journalists	263	(1)
Subjects of the News	264	(1)
The Power of Consumers	265	(2)
Media Power in American Politics	267	(9)
Shaping Events	267	(1)
The Sources of Media Power	267	(7)
The Rise of Adversarial Journalism	274	(2)
Media Power and Democracy	276	(2)
What You Can Do: Analyze News Sources	278	(1)
Summary	279	(1)
For Further Reading	279	(1)
Study Outline	280	(1)
Practice Quiz	280	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	281	(1)
Key Terms	281	(1)
Political Participation and Voting	282	(38)
Political Participation	284	(10)
Forms of Participation	284	(4)
Voting	288	(6)
Who Participates, and How?	294	(7)
African Americans	294	(1)
Latinos	295	(1)
Asian Americans	296	(1)
Women vs. Men	296	(2)
Religious Identity and Politics	298	(2)
Age and Participation	300	(1)
Explaining Political Participation	301	(12)
Socioeconomic Status	302	(1)
Civic Engagement	302	(4)
Formal Obstacles	306	(4)
Political Mobilization	310	(3)
Participation and American Political Values	313	(1)
What You Can Do: Become a Voter	314	(2)
Summary	316	(1)
For Further Reading	316	(1)
Study Outline	317	(1)
Practice Quiz	317	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	318	(1)
Key Terms	318	(2)
Political Parties	320	(44)
What Are Political Parties?	322	(2)
Outgrowths of the Electoral Process	323	(1)
Outgrowths of the Policy-Making Process	323	(1)
The Two-Party System in America	324	(13)
Historical Origins	324	(7)
Electoral Alignments and Realignments	331	(2)
American Third Parties	333	(4)
Party Organization	337	(8)
National Convention	337	(4)
National Committee	341	(3)
Congressional Campaign Committees	344	(1)
State and Local Party Organizations	344	(1)
Parties and the Electorate	345	(3)
Group Affiliations	345	(3)
Parties and Elections	348	(3)
Recruiting Candidates	348	(2)
Nominations	350	(1)
Getting Out the Vote	350	(1)
Facilitating Voter Choice	351	(1)
Parties and Government	351	(3)
Parties and Policy	351	(1)
Parties in Congress	352	(1)
President and Party	353	(1)
The Role of Parties in a Democracy	354	(4)
What You Can Do: Become a Party Activist	358	(1)
Summary	359	(1)
For Further Reading	360	(1)
Study Outline	360	(1)
Practice Quiz	361	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	362	(1)
Key Terms	362	(2)
Campaigns and Elections	364	(50)
Elections in America	367	(10)
Types of Elections	367	(1)
The Criteria for Winning	368	(2)
Electoral Districts	370	(2)
The Ballot	372	(4)
The Electoral College	376	(1)
Election Campaigns	377	(4)
Advisers	378	(1)
Polling	379	(1)
The Primaries	380	(1)
Presidential Elections	381	(10)
The Convention	383	(3)
The General Election Campaign and High-Tech Politics	386	(4)
From Labor-Intensive to Capital-Intensive Politics	390	(1)
The 2000 Elections	391	(7)
The 2002 Elections: A Referendum on Presidential Leadership	396	(2)
Money and Politics	398	(7)
Sources of Campaign Funds	399	(4)
Campaign Finance Reform	403	(1)
Implications for Democracy	404	(1)
The Electoral Process and American Political Values	405	(1)
How Voters Decide	405	(4)
Partisan Loyalty	405	(1)
Issues	406	(2)
Candidate Characteristics	408	(1)
What You Can Do: Campaign on Campus	409	(1)
Summary	410	(1)
For Further Reading	411	(1)
Study Outline	411	(1)
Practice Quiz	412	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	413	(1)
Key Terms	413	(1)
Groups and Interests	414	(40)
The Character of Interest Groups	417	(8)
What Interests Are Represented?	419	(1)
What Interests Are Not Represented?	420	(1)
Organizational Components	420	(4)
The Characteristics of Members	424	(1)
The Proliferation of Groups	425	(3)
The Expansion of Government	426	(1)
The New Politics Movement and Public Interest Groups	427	(1)
Strategies: The Quest for Political Power	428	(14)
Lobbying	428	(3)
Gaining Access	431	(4)
Using the Courts (Litigation)	435	(1)
Going Public	436	(2)
Using Electoral Politics	438	(4)
Groups and Interests: Who Benefits?	442	(2)
What You Can Do: Join an Interest Group	444	(5)
Summary	449	(1)
For Further Reading	450	(1)
Study Outline	450	(1)
Practice Quiz	451	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	451	(1)
Key Terms	452	(2)
Part III INSTITUTIONS
Congress	454	(52)
Congress: Representing the American People	458	(11)
House and Senate: Differences in Representation	458	(1)
Sociological vs. Agency Representation	459	(4)
The Electoral Connection	463	(4)
Direct Patronage	467	(2)
The Organization of Congress	469	(7)
Party Leadership in the House and Senate	469	(3)
The Committee System: The Core of Congress	472	(2)
The Staff System: Staffers and Agencies	474	(2)
Informal Organization: The Caucuses	476	(1)
Rules of Lawmaking: How a Bill Becomes a Law	476	(4)
Committee Deliberation	476	(2)
Debate	478	(1)
Conference Committee: Reconciling House and Senate Versions of Legislation	479	(1)
Presidential Action	480	(1)
How Congress Decides	480	(11)
Constituency	480	(3)
Interest Groups	483	(1)
Party Discipline	484	(7)
Weighing Diverse Influences	491	(1)
Beyond Legislation: Other Congressional Powers	491	(3)
Oversight	491	(1)
Advice and Consent: Special Senate Powers	492	(2)
Impeachment	494	(1)
Congress and Democracy	494	(5)
What You Can Do: Make Contact with Congress	499	(1)
Summary	500	(1)
For Further Reading	501	(1)
Study Outline	502	(1)
Practice Quiz	503	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	504	(1)
Key Terms	504	(2)
The Presidency	506	(40)
The Constitutional Basis of the Presidency	509	(3)
The Framers' View	509	(1)
Congressional Delegation of Power	510	(1)
Presidential Selection	511	(1)
The Constitutional Powers of the Presidency	512	(11)
The President as Head of State: Some Imperial Qualities	512	(5)
The Domestic Presidency: The President as Head of Government	517	(6)
Institutional Resources of Presidential Power	523	(7)
Patronage as a Tool of Management	523	(2)
The Cabinet	525	(1)
The White House Staff	526	(1)
The Executive Office of the President	527	(1)
The Vice Presidency	528	(1)
The First Lady	529	(1)
Political Resources of Presidential Power	530	(8)
Elections as a Resource	531	(1)
Party as a Presidential Resource	531	(2)
Groups as a Presidential Resource	533	(1)
Presidential Use of the Media	533	(2)
Public Opinion	535	(1)
Mass Popularity as a Resource (and a Liability)	535	(3)
The Presidency and Democracy	538	(2)
A Presidential Constituency: Citizens and the President	538	(2)
What You Can Do: Work in the White House	540	(1)
Summary	541	(1)
For Further Reading	542	(1)
Study Outline	542	(1)
Practice Quiz	543	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	543	(1)
Key Terms	544	(2)
Bureaucracy in a Democracy	546	(46)
Bureaucracy and Bureaucrats	549	(6)
The Size of the Federal Service	550	(3)
Bureaucrats	553	(2)
The Organization of the Executive Branch	555	(20)
Promoting the Public Welfare	557	(5)
Providing National Security	562	(11)
Maintaining a Strong Economy	573	(2)
Can Bureaucracy Be Reinvented?	575	(2)
Can the Bureaucracy Be Reduced?	577	(4)
Termination	577	(2)
Devolution	579	(1)
Privatization	580	(1)
Can Bureaucracy Be Controlled?	581	(6)
The President as Chief Executive	581	(4)
Congress and Responsible Bureaucracy	585	(2)
What You Can Do: Get Inside the Bureaucracy	587	(1)
Summary	588	(1)
For Further Reading	588	(1)
Study Outline	589	(1)
Practice Quiz	589	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	590	(1)
Key Terms	590	(2)
The Federal Courts	592
The Legal System	594	(4)
Cases and the Law	595	(1)
Types of Courts	596	(2)
Federal Jurisdiction	598	(6)
The Lower Federal Courts	598	(1)
The Appellate Courts	599	(1)
The Supreme Court	599	(1)
How Judges Are Appointed	600	(4)
The Power of the Supreme Court: Judicial Review	604	(21)
Judicial Review of Acts of Congress	604	(1)
Judicial Review of State Actions	605	(2)
Judicial Review and Lawmaking	607	(3)
How Cases Reach the Supreme Court	610	(2)
Controlling the Flow of Cases	612	(2)
Lobbying for Access: Interests and the Court	614	(1)
The Supreme Court's Procedures	615	(4)
Explaining Supreme Court Decisions	619	(6)
Judicial Power and Politics	625	(4)
Traditional Limitations on the Federal Courts	625	(1)
Two Judicial Revolutions	626	(2)
The Judiciary: Liberty and Democracy	628	(1)
What You Can Do: File Amicus Curiae Briefs	629	(1)
Summary	630	(1)
For Further Reading	631	(1)
Study Outline	632	(1)
Practice Quiz	633	(1)
Critical Thinking Questions	633	(1)
Key Terms	634
Appendix	1	(28)
The Declaration of Independence	3	(3)
The Articles of Confederation	6	(4)
The Constitution of the United States of America	10	(6)
Amendments to the Constitution	16	(5)
The Federalist Papers	21	(5)
Presidents and Vice Presidents	26	(3)
Glossary	29	(12)
Endnotes	41	(16)
Illustration Credits	57	(2)
Answer Key	59	(2)
Index	61