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If you’re wondering why you should buy this new edition of Essentials of American Government, here are 10 good reasons!, i
Copyright, vi
Preface, xvii
Historical Perspective, xx
Putting It into Action, xxii
Analyzing Visuals, xxiv
Resources in Print and Online, xxviii
Improve Results With MyPoliSciLab, xxix
Acknowledgments, xxx
Part 1. Foundations of Government, 2
Chapter 1. The Political Landscape, 2
Roots of American Government: What Are They and Why Are They Important?, 5
Functions of Government, 5
Ideas Into Action: The American’s Creed, 6
Establishing Justice, 6
Ensuring Domestic Tranquility, 6
Providing for the Common Defense, 7
Promoting the General Welfare, 7
Securing the Blessings of Liberty, 7
Types of Government, 7
The Philosophical Origins of American Government, 8
The Reformation and the Enlightenment: Questioning the Divine Right of Kings, 8
Hobbes, Locke, and the Social Contract Theory of Government, 9
Devising a National Government in the American Colonies, 10
American Political Culture and the Basic Tenets of American Democracy, 10
Personal Liberty, 10
Equality, 10
Popular Consent, Majority Rule, and Popular Sovereignty, 11
Civil Society, 11
Individualism, 11
Religious Faith and Religious Freedom, 11
Political Ideology: Its Role in the World and in American Politics, 12
Prevailing American Political Ideologies, 12
Conservatism, 12
Liberalism, 13
Problems with Political Labels, 13
Changing Characteristics of the American People, 13
Changing Size and Population, 14
Changing Demographics of the U.S. Population, 15
Changes in Racial and Ethnic Composition, 15
Changes in Age Cohort Composition, 15
Changes in Family and Family Size, 15
Join the Debate: The Huntington Theory of Hispanization, 16
Toward Reform: Population Changes and Americans’ Attitudes Toward Government, 18
Attitudinal Change and Reform, 19
High Expectations, 20
Redefining Our Expectations Concerning Reform, 20
Analyzing Visuals: Faith in Institutions, 21
Chapter 2. The Constitution, 24
Roots of the New American Nation, 26
Trade and Taxation, 27
Timeline: Key Events Leading to American Independence, 28
First Steps Toward Independence, 28
The Continental Congresses, 29
The Declaration of Independence, 30
The First Attempt at Government: The Articles of Confederation, 31
Problems Under the Articles of Confederation, 32
The Miracle at Philadelphia: Writing the U.S. Constitution, 32
Analyzing Visuals: Framers or Troublemakers?, 33
The Characteristics and Motives of the Framers, 33
The Virginia and New Jersey Plans, 34
Constitutional Compromises, 35
Unfinished Business Affecting the Executive Branch, 36
The U.S. Constitution, 36
The Basic Principles of the Constitution, 36
Federalism, 37
Separation of Powers, 37
Checks and Balances, 38
The Articles of the Constitution, 38
Article I: The Legislative Branch, 38
Article II: The Executive Branch, 39
Join the Debate: The Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment, 40
Article III: The Judicial Branch, 40
Articles IV Through VII, 42
The Drive for Ratification of the U.S. Constitution, 42
Federalists versus Anti-Federalists, 42
The Federalist Papers, 43
Ratifying the Constitution, 44
Ideas Into Action: Celebrating the Constitution, 45
Amending the Constitution: The Bill of Rights, 45
Toward Reform: Methods of Amending the U.S. Constitution, 45
Formal Methods of Amending the Constitution, 46
The Living Constitution: Article V, 47
Informal Methods of Amending the Constitution, 48
Judicial Interpretation, 48
Social and Cultural Change, 48
Politics Now: Politics and the Flag, 49
Annotated Constitution, 52
Chapter 3. Federalism, 82
Roots of the Federal System and the Constitutional Allocation of Governmental Powers, 85
National Powers Under the Constitution, 86
State Powers Under the Constitution, 87
Concurrent Powers Under the Constitution, 87
Powers Denied Under the Constitution, 87
Relations Among the States, 88
The Living Constitution: Article IV, Section 1, 89
Relations within the States: Local Governments, 90
Federalism and the Marshall Court, 90
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), 90
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), 91
Dual Federalism: The Taney Court, Slavery, and the Civil War, 91
Dred Scott and the Advent of the Civil War, 92
The Civil War, Its Aftermath, and the Continuation of Dual Federalism, 92
Setting the Stage for a Stronger National Government, 93
Cooperative Federalism: The New Deal and the Growth of National Government, 93
The New Deal, 94
The Changing Nature of Federalism: From Layer Cake to Marble Cake, 95
Federal Grants and National Efforts to Influence the States, 95
Join the Debate: Federalism and the Environment, 96
New Federalism: Returning Power to the States, 98
The Reagan Revolution, 98
The Devolution Revolution, 99
Politics Now: No Child Left Behind, 100
Federalism Under the Bush Administration, 100
Toward Reform: A New Judicial Federalism?, 101
Ideas Into Action: Violence on Campus, 102
Analyzing Visuals: State-by-State Report Card on Access to Abortion, 103
Chapter 4. Civil Liberties, 108
Roots of Civil Liberties: The Bill of Rights, 111
The Incorporation Doctrine: The Bill of Rights Made Applicable to the States, 111
Selective Incorporation and Fundamental Freedoms, 112
First Amendment Guarantees: Freedom of Religion, 113
The Establishment Clause, 113
Politics Now: Religious Accommodation on College Campuses, 115
The Free Exercise Clause, 115
First Amendment Guarantees: Freedoms of Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition, 116
Freedom of Speech and the Press, 116
The Alien and Sedition Acts, 116
Slavery, the Civil War, and Rights Curtailments, 117
World War I and Anti-Governmental Speech, 117
Protected Speech and Publications, 118
Prior Restraint, 118
Symbolic Speech, 118
Hate Speech, Unpopular Speech, and Speech Zones, 118
Ideas Into Action: Political Speech and Mandatory Student Fees, 119
Unprotected Speech and Publications, 119
Libel and Slander, 120
Fighting Words, 120
Obscenity, 120
Freedoms of Assembly and Petition, 121
The Second Amendment: The Right to Keep and Bear Arms, 121
The Rights of Criminal Defendants, 122
The Fourth Amendment and Searches and Seizures, 122
The Fifth Amendment: Self-Incrimination and Double Jeopardy, 123
The Fourth and Fifth Amendments and the Exclusionary Rule, 125
The Sixth Amendment and the Right to Counsel, 125
The Sixth Amendment and Jury Trials, 126
The Eighth Amendment and Cruel and Unusual Punishment, 126
The Right to Privacy, 127
Join the Debate: The Death Penalty, 128
Birth Control, 129
The Living Constitution: Ninth Amendment, 130
Abortion, 130
Timeline: The Supreme Court and the Right to Privacy, 132
Homosexuality, 132
The Right to Die, 133
Toward Reform: Civil Liberties and Combating Terrorism, 134
The First Amendment, 134
The Fourth Amendment, 134
Due Process Rights, 134
Analyzing Visuals: Water-Boarding, 135
Chapter 5. Civil Rights, 140
Roots of Suffrage 1800–1890, 142
Slavery and Congress, 143
The First Civil Rights Movements: Abolition and Women’s Rights, 143
The 1850s: The Calm Before the Storm, 143
The Civil War and Its Aftermath: Civil Rights Laws and Constitutional Amendments, 144
The Living Constitution: Thirteenth Amendment, Section 1, 145
Civil Rights, Congress, and the Supreme Court, 145
The Push for Equality, 1890–1954, 146
The Founding of Key Groups, 147
Litigating for Equality, 148
The Civil Rights Movement, 149
School Desegregation After Brown, 150
A New Move for African American Rights, 150
Formation of New Groups, 150
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, 151
Analyzing Visuals: Police Confront Civil Rights Demonstrators in Birmingham, 152
The Women’s Rights Movement, 153
Litigation for Equal Rights, 153
The Equal Protection Clause and Constitutional Standards of Review, 154
Statutory Remedies for Sex Discrimination, 156
Other Groups Mobilize for Rights, 157
Hispanic Americans, 157
Timeline: Important Moments in Hispanic American Rights, 158
American Indians, 159
Asian and Pacific Americans, 160
Gays and Lesbians, 161
Politics Now: Gay and Lesbian Rights, 162
Ideas Into Action: Accommodating College Students with Disabilities, 163
Americans with Disabilities, 163
Join the Debate: Determining A Living Wage, 164
Toward Reform: Civil Rights, Affirmative Action, and Pay Equity, 165
Affirmative Action, 166
Pay Equity and Other Issues of Workplace Discrimination, 166
Part 2. Institutions of Government, 170
Chapter 6. Congress, 170
Roots of the Legislative Branch of Government, 172
How Congress Is Organized, 174
The Role of Political Parties in Organizing Congress, 174
The House of Representatives, 175
The Speaker of the House, 176
The Living Constitution: Article 1, Section 8, Clause 4, 177
Other House Leaders, 177
Politics Now: Leadership Styles of the Speaker of the House, 178
The Senate, 178
The Committee System, 179
Types of Committees, 179
Committee Membership, 181
Committee Chairs, 181
The Members of Congress, 182
Running for and Staying in Office, 182
Congressional Demographics, 183
Theories of Representation, 183
How Members Make Decisions, 184
Party, 184
Constituents, 184
Analyzing Visuals: Approval Ratings of Congress and Individual Representatives, 185
Colleagues and Caucuses, 185
Interest Groups, Lobbyists, and Political Action Committees, 186
Staff and Support Agencies, 186
Ideas Into Action: Be a Congressional Intern, 187
The Law-Making Function of Congress, 187
How A Bill Becomes A Law: The Textbook Version, 187
Join the Debate: Minority Party Rights in Congress, 190
Toward Reform: Congressional Checks on the Executive and Judicial Branches, 190
The Shifting Balance of Power, 191
Foreign Policy and National Security, 192
Confirmation of Presidential Appointments, 193
The Impeachment Process, 193
Congress and the Judiciary, 193
Chapter 7. The Presidency, 196
Roots of the Office of President of the United States, 199
Presidential Qualifications and Terms of Office, 199
Rules of Succession, 200
The Living Constitution: Twenty-Fifth Amendment, Section 2, 201
The Constitutional Powers of the President, 201
The Appointment Power, 202
The Power to Convene Congress, 202
The Power to Make Treaties, 202
Veto Power, 203
The Power to Preside over the Military as Commander in Chief, 203
The Pardoning Power, 205
The Development and Expansion of Presidential Power, 205
Join the Debate: The War Powers Act, 206
The Presidential Establishment, 209
The Vice President, 209
The Cabinet, 209
The First Lady, 210
The Executive Office of the President (EOP), 211
The White House Staff, 211
Presidential Leadership and the Importance of Public Opinion, 211
Presidential Leadership, 212
Going Public: Mobilizing Public Opinion, 212
The Public’s Perception of Presidential Performance, 212
Ideas Into Action: Exploring Presidential Visits, 213
Analyzing Visuals: Presidential Approval Ratings Since 1981, 214
Toward Reform: The President as Policy Maker, 214
The President’s Role in Proposing and Facilitating Legislation, 215
The Budgetary Process and Legislative Implementation, 215
Politics Now: Are Signing Statements Constitutional?, 216
Policy Making Through Executive Order, 217
Chapter 8. The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy, 220
Roots of the Federal Bureaucracy, 223
The Civil War and the Growth of Government, 223
From the Spoils System to the Merit System, 223
Regulating the Economy, 224
The Growth of Government in the Twentieth Century, 224
Analyzing Visuals: Federal Employees in the Executive Branch, 1789–2005, 225
The Modern Bureaucracy, 226
Who Are Bureaucrats?, 226
Formal Organization, 229
Cabinet Departments, 229
Government Corporations, 230
Independent Executive Agencies, 230
The Living Constitution: Article II, Section 2, Clause 1, 231
Independent Regulatory Commissions, 231
Government Workers and Political Involvement, 232
How the Bureaucracy Works, 233
Making Policy, 235
Rule Making, 235
Administrative Adjudication, 235
Ideas Into Action: Enforcing Gender Equity in College Athletics, 236
Toward Reform: Making Agencies Accountable, 236
Politics Now: The Bush Administration and Bureaucratic Control, 237
Executive Control, 237
Join the Debate: Funding the War in Iraq, 238
Congressional Control, 240
Judicial Control, 240
Chapter 9. The Judiciary, 244
Roots of the Federal Judiciary, 247
The Living Constitution: Article III, Section 1, 248
The Judiciary Act of 1789 and the Creation of the Federal Judicial System, 249
Join the Debate: Senate Advice and Consent on Judicial Nominations, 250
The Marshall Court: Marbury v. Madison (1803) and Judicial Review, 252
The American Legal System, 254
Jurisdiction, 254
Criminal and Civil Law, 254
The Federal Court System, 256
District Courts, 256
The Courts of Appeals, 257
The Supreme Court, 257
How Federal Court Judges Are Selected, 258
Who are Federal Judges?, 259
Appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court, 259
Nomination Criteria, 259
Analyzing Visuals: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender of Federal Court Appointees, 260
Competence, 260
Ideology or Policy Preferences, 260
Rewards, 261
Pursuit of Political Support From Various Groups, 261
Religion, 261
Race, Ethnicity, and Gender, 261
The Supreme Court Confirmation Process, 261
Investigation, 261
Lobbying by Interest Groups, 262
The Senate Committee Hearings and Senate Vote, 262
The Supreme Court Today, 262
Deciding to Hear a Case, 262
Politics Now: Should Supreme Court Proceedings Be Televised?, 263
Writs of Certiorari and the Rule of Four, 264
The Role of Clerks, 264
How Does a Case Survive the Process?, 266
The Federal Government, 267
Conflict Among the Courts of Appeals, 267
Interest Group Participation, 267
Ideas Into Action: Be a Friend of the Court, 268
Hearing and Deciding the Case, 268
Oral Arguments, 268
The Conference and the Vote, 268
Writing Opinions, 269
Judicial Philosophy and Decision Making, 269
Judicial Philosophy, Original Intent, and Ideology, 269
Models of Judicial Decision Making, 270
Behavioral Characteristics, 270
The Attitudinal Model, 270
The Strategic Model, 270
Public Opinion, 271
Toward Reform: Power, Policy Making, and the Court, 271
Policy Making, 272
Implementing Court Decisions, 272
Part 3. Political Behavior, 276
Chapter 10. Public Opinion and The News Media, 276
Roots of Political Values: Political Socialization, 278
The Family, 278
School and Peers, 279
Join the Debate: Teaching Civics in American High Schools, 280
The Mass Media, 280
Religious Beliefs, 282
Race and Ethnicity, 283
Gender, 283
Age, 284
Region, 284
The Impact of Events, 285
Public Opinion and Polling, 285
The History of Public Opinion Research, 286
Traditional Public Opinion Polls, 287
Determining the Content and Phrasing the Questions, 287
Politics Now: Cell Phones Challenge Pollsters, 288
Selecting the Sample, 288
Contacting Respondents, 289
Political Polls, 289
Push Polls, 289
Tracking Polls, 289
Exit Polls, 290
Shortcomings of Polling, 290
Margin of Error, 290
Sampling Error, 291
Limited Respondent Options, 291
Lack of Information, 291
Difficulty Measuring Intensity, 291
Why We Form and Express Political Opinions, 291
Personal Benefits, 292
Political Knowledge, 292
Cues from Leaders or Opinion Makers, 292
Political Ideology, 293
The Evolution of News Media in the United States, 293
Print Media, 293
Timeline: The Development of American News Media, 294
The Living Constitution: First Amendment, 296
Radio News, 297
Television News, 297
The New Media, 298
Ideas Into Action: Where Do Young People Get Their Campaign News?, 299
Current Media Trends, 300
The Influence of Media Giants, 300
Media Consolidation, 301
Increasing Use of Experts, 301
Narrowcasting, 302
Technological Innovation, 302
Rules Governing the Media, 302
Journalistic Standards, 302
Government Regulation of the Electronic Media, 303
Content Regulation, 303
Efforts to Control the News Media, 304
How the Media Cover Politics, 305
How the Press and Public Figures Interact, 305
Covering the Presidency, 306
Covering Congress, 306
Covering the Supreme Court, 307
Toward Reform: Media Influence, Media Bias, and Public Confidence, 307
Media Influence, 307
Media Bias, 308
The Public’s Perception of the Media, 309
Chapter 11. Political Parties and Interest Groups, 312
Roots of the American Party System, 314
The Birth of American Political Parties, 315
The Living Constitution:, 317
The Early Parties Fade, 318
Democrats and Republicans: The Golden Age, 318
The Modern Era, 319
Realignment, 320
Secular Realignment, 320
Dealignment and the Strength of Political Parties, 321
The Functions and Organization of the American Party System, 322
What Do Parties Do?, 322
Mobilizing Support and Gathering Power, 322
A Force for Stability and Moderation, 322
Unity, Linkage, and Accountability, 322
The Electioneering Function, 322
Party As a Voting and Issue Cue, 324
Policy Formulation and Promotion, 324
Legislative Organization, 324
Crashing the Party: Minor Parties in the American Two-Party System, 325
The Party Organization, 326
National Committees, 326
Politics Now: The Impact of a National Committee Chair, 327
Leadership, 327
National Conventions, 328
States and Localities, 328
Sources of Party Identification, 328
Group Affiliations, 329
Interest Group Structure and Functions, 330
Interest Group Formation, 331
Interest Group Maintenance, 332
The Development of American Interest Groups, 332
The Rise of the Interest Group State, 334
What Do Interest Groups Do?, 335
Lobbying, 335
Ideas Into Action: Guns on Campus, 336
Election Activities, 337
Join the Debate: Should There Be Limits on Interest Group Participation?, 338
Analyzing Visuals: Interest Group Ratings of Selected Members of Congress, 340
Toward Reform: Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbyists, 341
Chapter 12. Voting, Elections, and Campaigns, 344
Roots of Voting Behavior, 347
Patterns in Voter Turnout, 347
Education and Income, 347
Politics Now: Can Turnout Aid One Candidate?, 348
Age, 348
Ideas Into Action: Motivating Young Voters, 349
Gender, 349
Race and Ethnicity, 349
Timeline: The Expansion of Voting Rights, 350
Interest in Politics, 351
Why Is Voter Turnout So Low?, 352
Too Busy, 352
Difficulty of Registration, 352
Difficulty of Absentee Voting, 352
Number of Elections, 353
Patterns in Vote Choice, 353
Party Identification, 353
Issues, 353
Join the Debate: Should Felons Be Allowed to Vote?, 354
Types of Elections, 355
Presidential Elections, 356
The Nomination Campaign, 356
The Living Constitution, 357
Primaries Versus Caucuses, 358
The Party Conventions, 358
Delegate Selection, 359
The General Election Campaign, 359
The Key Players: The Candidate and the Campaign Staff, 360
The Candidate, 360
The Campaign Staff, 360
The Candidate’s Professional Staff, 361
The Electoral College: How Presidents Are Elected, 361
The Electoral College in the Nineteenth Century, 362
The Electoral College in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries, 362
Congressional Elections, 364
The Incumbency Advantage, 364
Redistricting, 364
The Impact of Scandals, 365
Presidential Coattails, 365
Midterm Elections, 365
The 2008 Congressional Elections, 365
The Media’s Role in the Campaign Process, 367
Paid Media, 367
Free Media, 368
The New Media, 368
The Main Event: The 2008 Presidential Campaign, 369
The Party Nomination Battles, 370
The Democratic and Republican Conventions, 371
The Debates and the General Election Campaign, 372
Election Results and Analysis, 374
Toward Reform: Campaign Finance, 375
Current Rules, 376
Individual Contributions, 376
Political Action Committee (PAC) Contributions, 377
Political Party Contributions, 378
Member-to-Candidate Contributions, 378
Candidates’ Personal Contributions, 378
Public Funds, 378
Analyzing Visuals: The Ten Most Active 527 Groups in 2008, 379
Soft Money and the 527 Loophole, 379
Part 4. Public Policy, 382
Chapter 13. Social and Economic Policy, 382
Roots of Public Policy: The Policy-Making Process, 385
Problem Recognition and Definition, 386
Agenda Setting, 387
Policy Formulation, 387
Policy Adoption, 387
Budgeting, 388
Policy Implementation, 388
Politics Now: Supreme Court Action on Clean Air, 389
Policy Evaluation, 391
Social Welfare Policy, 391
The Origins of Social Welfare, 392
Income Security, 392
Health Care, 393
Social Welfare, 393
Non-Means-Based Programs, 394
Analyzing Visuals: Unemployment Rates by State, 396
Means-Tested Programs, 397
The Effectiveness of Income Security Programs, 398
Health Care, 399
Medicare, 400
Medicaid, 400
Toward Reform: Economic Policy, 401
The Nineteenth Century, 401
The Living Constitution: Sixteenth Amendment, 402
The Progressive Era, 402
Financial Reforms, 403
Agriculture and Labor, 404
Industry Regulations, 404
Economic and Social Regulations, 404
Deregulation, 404
Stabilizing the Economy, 406
Monetary Policy: Controlling the Money Supply, 406
Ideas Into Action: Discovering Your Tax Burden, 407
Join the Debate: Economic Stimulus Payments, 408
Fiscal Policy: Taxing and Spending, 408
Chapter 14. Foreign and Defense Policy, 412
Roots of U.S. Foreign and Defense Policy, 415
The Living Constitution: Article I, Section 8, 416
Détente and Human Rights: 1969–1981, 417
Containment Revisited and Renewed: 1981–1989, 418
Searching for a New International Order: 1989–2001, 418
Timeline: Major Acts of Terrorism Affecting the United States, 1990–Present, 420
The War on Terrorism: 2001 to the Present, 420
Join the Debate: Should the United States Pull Out of the United Nations?, 422
Ideas Into Action: The Impact of the War on Terrorism on American Campuses, 425
Foreign and Defense Policy Decision Making, 425
The Executive Branch, 425
The President, 426
The Departments of State and Defense, 426
The Department of Homeland Security, 427
Congress, 427
Politics Now: Private Security Firms in Iraq, 428
The Military-Industrial Complex, 430
The News Media, 430
Analyzing Visuals: Abu Ghraib Prisoner Abuse, 431
The Public, 431
Toward Reform: Twenty-First-Century Challenges, 432
Promoting Democracy in the Middle East, 433
Transnational Threats to Peace, 433
Appendix I. The Declaration of Independence, 436
Appendix II. Federalist No. 10, 438
Appendix III. Federalist No. 51, 441
Appendix IV. Presidents, Congresses, and Chief Justices: 1789–2009, 443
Selected Supreme Court Cases, 446
Glossary, 454
Notes, 465
Index, 475

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