American Government by
This exciting new book explores the role of government, politics, and policy in American lives. Full of real life applications and scenarios, this text encourages and enables political thinking. The second edition has been updated to include recent developments in U.S. politics and government. This includes the description and analysis of the 2016 elections as well as the early Trump administration. Chapters have expanded coverage of immigration policy, environmental policy, economic policy, and global affairs (including counterterrorism policy). The text also includes analysis of racial issues in contemporary American politics and law. It also addresses questions about the state of the economy, jobs, and wages.Hyperlinks and URLs provide ?deeper dives? into various topics and examples of comparative politics.
American Politics: a Very Short Introduction by
This book introduces the vital elements of American politics, emphasizing how these elements have evolved into the form they take today. By using a historical-institutional approach to the various parts of American politics, Valelly communicates that the American political system is, andalways has been, a work in progress - one unfolding within, and also constantly updating, an eighteenth-century constitutional framework.Valelly begins by asking what Americans want from their politics and answers with a four-part analysis: (1) the politics of "peace and prosperity," (2) the sometimes illiberal politics of conformity and Americanization, (3) the politics of large-scale problem-solving (e.g., the abolition of slavery)and "perfection of the Union," and (4) the deep public desire for constitutional continuity. The last item provides the organizational framework/theme for the rest of the book.Additional chapters treat parties and polarization (stressing that contemporary polarization reinforces constitutional persistence because it provides for a mix of policy immobility and power-sharing between parties that bitterly disagree); a survey of the basic institutions: the Presidency,Congress, the judicial branch, the unelected bureaucracy of the independent agencies, and state and local governments. A third group of chapters deals with political communication, public opinion, voting and the boundaries of the electorate, and the politics of government steering of the economy.Finally, Valelly considers the puzzle of the persistence for more than two centuries of the basic constitutional forms established in 1787. The author employs a mix of quantitative data and historical examples to illustrate the main themes.
Dictionary of American Government and Politics by
This Dictionary offers a fresh, up-to-date look at US government and politics, explaining and where necessary demystifying the key terms used in discussion of the political system.Major figures, events, ideas, movements and Supreme Court cases relevant to a study of the American political system are included with the aim of allowing readers to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the area. The Dictionary also raises key issues and areas of contention and academic debate.Coverage is comprehensive, with c.400 entries, each providing analysis of the subject. Terms are presented in an A-Z format with cross-referencing where appropriate.
The Handy American Government Answer Book by
Yet few outside Washington actually understand how our government and political system should work, much less how it actually operates. This informative book traces the historic development of the government, the functions of each branch, and how they work together. Written in an entertaining, reader-friendly, question-and-answer format, The Handy American Government Answer Book deciphers the news behind the headlines through well-researched answers to nearly 800 common questions.
The American Democracy by
Part One: Foundations Chapter 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 Resolution of Conflict Political Power: The Control of Policy The Concept of a Political System and This Book’s Organization Chapter 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 Chapter 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 Chapter 4: Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights Freedom of Expression Freedom of Religion The Right of Privacy Rights of Persons Accused of Crimes Rights and the War on Terrorism The Courts and a Free Society Chapter 5: Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness The Struggle for Equality Equality Under the Law Equality of Result Persistent Discrimination: Superficial Differences, Deep Divisions Part Two: Mass Politics Chapter 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 Chapter 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 Chapter 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 Chapter 9: Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence The Interest-Group System Inside Lobbying: Seeking Influence Through Official Contracts Outside Lobbying: Seeking Influence Through Public Pressure The Group System: Indispensable but Biased Chapter 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 Part Three: Governing Institutions Chapter 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? Chapter 12: The Presidency: Leading the Nation Foundations of the Modern Presidency Choosing the President Staffing the Presidency Factors in Presidential Leadership Chapter 13: The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government Federal Administration: Form, Personnel, and Activities Development of the Federal Bureaucracy: Politics and Administration The Bureaucracy’s Power Imperative Bureaucratic Accountability Reinventing Government Chapter 14: The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law The Federal Judicial System Federal Court Appointees The Nature of Judicial Decision Making Political Influences on Judicial Decisions Judicial Power and Democratic Government The Debate over the Proper Role of the Judiciary Part Four: Public Policy Chapter 15: State and Local Politics: Maintaining Our Differences The Structure of State Government The Structure of Local Government State and Local Finance State and Local Policy The Great Balancing Act: Localism in a Large Nation Appendixes Glossary Notes Credits Index
We the People by
The best book for engaging students in American politics is also the most effective for helping students study and learn. We the People emphasizes the ways that government and politics matter and the ways that people can get involved in politics and influence government. In the Eighth Edition, We the People offers a more contemporary approach to engage students in American politics with new features based on how today's students study and learn. New pedagogical features, such as highly visual "Who Are Americans?" units and Focus Questions that recur throughout the chapter, help students engage with the material and succeed in the course.
American Government by
The text that professors trust to get students thinking analytically about American government now includes new content on how race, gender, and group identity intersect with political behavior and institutions. And, leading scholars have contributed new "Analyzing the Evidence" features that engage students with the questions and methods that political students use themselves.
American Politics: a Very Short Introduction by
This book introduces the vital elements of American politics, emphasizing how these elements have evolved into the form they take today. By using a historical-institutional approach to the various parts of American politics, Valelly communicates that the American political system is, andalways has been, a work in progress - one unfolding within, and also constantly updating, an eighteenth-century constitutional framework.Valelly begins by asking what Americans want from their politics and answers with a four-part analysis: (1) the politics of "peace and prosperity," (2) the sometimes illiberal politics of conformity and Americanization, (3) the politics of large-scale problem-solving (e.g., the abolition of slavery)and "perfection of the Union," and (4) the deep public desire for constitutional continuity. The last item provides the organizational framework/theme for the rest of the book.Additional chapters treat parties and polarization (stressing that contemporary polarization reinforces constitutional persistence because it provides for a mix of policy immobility and power-sharing between parties that bitterly disagree); a survey of the basic institutions: the Presidency,Congress, the judicial branch, the unelected bureaucracy of the independent agencies, and state and local governments. A third group of chapters deals with political communication, public opinion, voting and the boundaries of the electorate, and the politics of government steering of the economy.Finally, Valelly considers the puzzle of the persistence for more than two centuries of the basic constitutional forms established in 1787. The author employs a mix of quantitative data and historical examples to illustrate the main themes.
Landmark Legislation by
A manual offering information on the most important laws and treaties approved by Congress in more than 200 years since the first session in 1789. Each Congress is covered in a separate chapter introduced by a historical essay setting the actions of the legislators in the context of their times.
Landmark Legislation 1774-2012 by
The Second Edition of this renowned treasure trove of information about the most important laws and treaties enacted by the U.S. Congress now deepens its historical coverage and examines an entire decade of new legislation. Landmark Legislation 1774-2012 includes additional acts and treaties chosen for their historical significance or their precedential importance for later areas of major federal legislative activity in the over 200 years since the convocation of the Continental Congress. Brand new chapters expand coverage to include the last five numbered Congresses (10 years of activity from 2003-2012), which has seen landmark legislation in the areas of health insurance and health care reform; financial regulatory reform; fiscal stimulus and the Temporary Asset Relief Program; federal support for stem cell research; reform of federal financial support for public schools and higher education; and much more. Features & Benefits: Each chapter covers one of the numbered Congresses with a historical essay, followed by the major acts of that Congress arranged in chronological order of passage - with each act summarized. A Finder's Guide summarizes all of the acts and treaties into approximately 40 separate topical policy areas. The work's extensive bibliography has been expanded and updated. This one-volume resource is a must-have for any public or academic library, especially those with strong American history or political science collections.
