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If you’re wondering why you should buy this new edition of The New American Democracy, here are 6 good reasons!, i
Copyright, vi
Preface, xxii
Our Approach, xxiii
New to This Edition, xxiv
Elections Theme, xxv
Critical Thinking, xxvi
Resources in Print and Online, xxviii
Acknowledgments, xxx
About the Authors, xxxi
Part 1. The Foundations of a New American Democracy, 1
Chapter 1. Democracy in the United States, 1
The Long, Long 2008 Election Campaign, 2
Elections and Government, 3
Governmental Power, 4
Classic Types of Government, 6
Government by One Person, 6
Government by the Few, 7
Government by the Many, 8
Traditional Types of Democracy, 8
Direct Democracy, 8
Representative Democracy, 9
The New American Democracy, 11
Half-a-Million Elected Officials, 12
Nominating Candidates and Deciding Issues, 12
Permanent Campaigns, 13
International Comparison: Elections in Other Democracies, 13
The Power of the Few, 18
Voter Participation, 19
Nominating Candidates, 20
Single-Issue Voters, 20
Campaign Resources, 20
Uninformed Citizens, 21
Should American Democracy Be Reformed?, 21
A Pretty Good Government, 22
Election Voices: Initiatives and Referenda, 24
Chapter Summary, 25
Key Terms, 26
Suggested Readings, 26
On the Web, 26
Chapter 2. Establishing a Constitutional Democracy, 27
The First National Election, 28
The Colonial and Revolutionary Era, 29
The Colonial Experience with Democracy, 29
The Spread of Democratic Ideals During the Revolutionary War, 31
The Theory of Rights and Representation, 33
Government After Independence, 35
Broadening Participation, 36
The Articles of Confederation (1781-1789), 36
Drafting and Adopting a New Constitution, 38
The Constitutional Convention, 39
A Government of Separated Powers, 41
The Bill of Rights, 45
The Anti-Federalist—Federalist Debate, 46
Amendments to the Constitution, 48
The Constitution: An Assessment, 49
A Step Backward?, 49
Election Connection: Amendments to the Constitution Have Extended Liberties and Tightened the Election Connection, 50
Achievements, 51
The Constitution Today, 51
International Comparison: Constitution-Making in Iraq, 53
Election Voices: The Politics of the Death Penalty, 54
Chapter Summary, 58
Key Terms, 58
Suggested Readings, 59
On the Web, 59
Chapter 3. Federalism: Division of Power Among National, State, and Local Governments, 60
The Politics of Katrina, 61
The Federalism Debate: It’s New But It’s Old, 62
Federalism in Context, 62
Federalism and the Ratification of the Constitution, 63
International Comparison: Great Britain and the United States: Unitary and Federal Governments, 64
Evolution of the Federalism Debate, 65
Dual Sovereignty and Nullification, 66
The Supreme Court and the Meaning of Dual Sovereignty, 68
The Commerce Clause and the Court-Packing Episode, 68
Necessary and Proper Clause, 70
State Sovereign Immunity, 72
Cooperative Federalism, 72
Spending Clause, 73
Election Connection: Cooperative Federalism and the Homeland Security Grant Program, 75
Categorical Grants, 75
Problems of Implementation, 76
Block Grants, 77
The Contemporary Debate, 80
Local Government, 81
The Number and Types of Local Governments, 82
Local Elections, 83
Popularity of Local Government, 83
Limits on Local Government, 84
State Government, 85
State Elections, 85
Variation in State Government Responsibilities, 86
Modern State Politics, 86
Election Voices: The Drinking Age, 88
Chapter Summary, 91
Key Terms, 91
Suggested Readings, 92
On the Web, 92
Chapter 4. American Political Culture, 93
A Hard Test for American Diversity, 94
Americans: A Contradictory People?, 95
International Comparison: Citizenship in Europe and the United States, 96
Social Diversity, 97
A Nation of Immigrants Then, 98
A Nation of Immigrants Now, 102
Immigration as a Contemporary Issue, 102
Philosophical Unity, 104
American Individualism, 106
The Tension Between Individualism and Equality, 108
One Nation, Under God?, 110
Why a Liberal Political Culture?, 113
Traditional Explanations of American Liberalism, 113
Newer Explanations, 114
Election Voices: The Immigration Issue, 116
Chapter Summary, 119
Key Terms, 120
Suggested Readings, 120
On the Web, 120
Part 2. The Ingredients of the New American Democracy, 122
Chapter 5. Public Opinion, 122
Public Opinion and War, 123
What Is Public Opinion?, 124
Sources of Public Opinion, 125
Socialization, 125
Personal Experiences, 126
Self-Interest, 126
Education, 127
Reference Groups, 127
The Media, 128
Measuring Public Opinion, 129
Sampling Error, 129
Selection Bias, 131
Measurement Error, 132
Characteristics of Public Opinion, 138
Public Opinion Is Uninformed, 138
Many of the Opinions Expressed in Polls Are Not Strongly Held, 140
Public Opinion Is Not Ideological, 141
Public Opinion Is Inconsistent, 142
Governing by Public Opinion?, 144
The Power of Public Opinion, 145
The Limits of Public Opinion: Gun Control, 146
Chapter Summary, 148
Key Terms, 149
Suggested Readings, 149
On the Web, 149
Chapter 6. Individual Participation, 150
Getting Out the Vote in 2008, 151
A Brief History of the Franchise in the United States, 152
Voting Rights in the Amendment Process, 152
How Voting Rights Spread, 153
Why People Participate: Costs and Benefits, 155
International Comparisons of Voter Turnout, 156
Election Connection: Nonvoters Who Actually Turned Out, 158
Personal Costs and Benefits: Registration, 158
Personal Costs and Benefits: Compulsion, 159
Other Personal Costs and Benefits, 160
Mobilization and Turnout, 160
Why Has American Turnout Declined?, 161
Declining Personal Benefits, 163
Declining Mobilization, 163
Declining Social Connectedness, 163
Who Votes and Who Doesn’t?, 164
Is Low Turnout a Problem?, 166
Three Arguments Why Low Turnout Is Not a Problem, 166
Three Arguments Why Low Turnout Is a Problem, 167
Evaluating the Arguments, 168
Beyond the Voting Booth, 169
Election Voices: Should Voting Be Compulsory?, 171
Chapter Summary, 173
Key Terms, 174
Suggested Readings, 174
On the Web, 174
Chapter 7. Interest-Group Participation in American Democracy, 175
How One Group Challenged Congress, 176
Interest Groups in the United States, 177
Growth and Development of Groups, 178
The Nature and Variety of “Interest Groups”, 180
Forming and Maintaining Interest Groups, 180
The Free-Rider Problem, 181
Overcoming the Free-Rider Problem, 183
How Interest Groups Influence Government, 187
Government Lobbying, 187
Grassroots Lobbying, 188
Electioneering and PACs, 189
Persuading the Public, 191
Direct Action, 193
Litigation, 193
Why Groups Use Particular Tactics, 194
How Influential Are Interest Groups?, 195
Subgovernments, 195
Issue Networks, 196
Interest Groups and Democratic Politics, 197
Election Voices: Should Lobbying Be Restricted?, 199
Chapter Summary, 201
Key Terms, 201
Suggested Readings, 202
On the Web, 202
Chapter 8. Political Parties, 203
A Tale of Two Conventions, 204
What Parties Do, 205
How Parties Contribute to Democratic Politics, 206
How Parties Detract from Democratic Politics, 207
The Balance Sheet, 210
Political Parties in American History, 211
The Party-Systems Interpretation of American History, 211
The Contemporary Party System, 218
Two-Party and Multi-Party Systems: American Parties in Comparative Perspective, 222
How Strong Are American Parties Today?, 225
The Decline of Party Organizations, 226
The Revival of Party Organizations?, 228
Parties Versus Interest Groups, 229
Chapter Summary, 230
Key Terms, 231
Suggested Readings, 231
On the Web, 231
Chapter 9. The Media, 232
The Media: 800-Pound Gorilla or 98-Pound Weakling?, 233
Development of the Mass Media, 234
The Partisan Press and the Penny Press, 235
Newspapers and Magazines, 1865-1920, 236
Radio and Television, 237
The Contemporary Scene, 239
The New Media, 241
What Information Sources Do Americans Rely On?, 243
Media Effects, 246
Agenda Setting, 246
Priming and Framing, 247
Socialization, 248
How Strong Are Media Effects?, 249
Media Biases, 249
Selection Bias, 249
Professional Bias, 252
Ideological Bias, 252
International Comparison: Al Jazeera—Questionable Sources?, 255
Prospects for Change, 256
A Word About Entertainment Media, 257
The Media and Electoral Politics, 258
Campaign Coverage, 258
The Conventions, 259
The Presidential Debates, 260
Media Coverage of Government, 260
Emphasis on the President (and Other Personalities), 261
Emphasis on Conflict, 261
Emphasis on the Negative, 262
The Response: Exaggerated Concern with the Press, 262
Election Voices: Should Freedom of the Press Be Limited to Protect National Security?, 263
Chapter Summary, 265
Key Terms, 266
Suggested Readings, 266
On the Web, 266
Part 3. Campaigns and Elections, 267
Chapter 10. Electing the President, 267
The Meaning of Elections, 268
Nominating a Presidential Candidate, 269
Evolution of the Nomination Process, 269
The Contemporary Nomination Process, 270
Election Connection: A 2004 Caucus Experience, 272
Financing Nomination Campaigns, 273
The Presidential Nomination Process in Action, 274
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Nomination Process, 276
Who Nominates the Vice-President?, 278
The General Election for President, 279
Financing the General-Election Campaign, 279
International Comparison: Campaign Financing in Other Democracies, 281
Spending in the General-Election Campaign, 281
The Electoral College, 282
Voting Behavior in Presidential Elections, 283
When Americans Decide, 284
How Americans Decide, 284
What Difference Do Presidential Campaigns Make?, 289
The Contemporary Presidential Election Scene, 291
The 1970s and 1980s: The Republican “Lock”, 291
The 1990s: Democratic Resurgence, 292
The 2000 Election, 294
The 2004 Showdown, 295
The 2008: A Mandate for Change, 295
Election Voices: Is a National Primary the Best Way to Nominate Presidential Candidates?, 296
Chapter Summary, 299
Key Terms, 300
Suggested Readings, 300
On the Web, 301
Chapter 11. Choosing the Congress, 302
Congressional Elections and the Fate of the Bush Agenda, 303
The Electoral Evolution of the Congress, 305
Reapportionment and Redistricting, 306
International Comparison: Redistricting Around the World, 308
The Congressional Nomination Process, 309
Contemporary House Elections, 310
Party Decline, 311
Expanding Member Resources, 312
Change in Importance of “Representative” Activities, 312
Campaign Funds, 313
More Responsive Incumbents, 315
Contemporary Senate Elections, 316
Party Competition, 317
Uncontrolled Information, 317
Better Challengers, 318
High Ambitions, 318
National Forces in Congressional Elections, 318
National Forces in the 1990s: A New Era?, 319
Congressional Elections in the 2000s: Neck and Neck, 319
Why Have National Forces Grown Stronger?, 321
Do Congressional Elections Produce a Representative Body?, 322
Women, 324
Minorities, 324
Elections, Parties, and Group Representation, 326
Chapter Summary, 327
Key Terms, 327
Suggested Readings, 328
On the Web, 328
Part 4. The Government, 329
Chapter 12. The Congress and Its Work, 329
Homeland Security Pork, 330
Congress—The First Branch, 331
The Organization of Congress, 332
The Congressional Parties, 332
International Comparison: Congress in a Presidential System, 334
The Committee System, 338
Caucuses, 342
How a Bill Becomes a Law, 342
Evaluating Congress, 345
Criticisms of Congress, 345
Why Americans Like Their Members of Congress So Much More Than Congress Itself, 347
Election Voices: An Explosion of Earmarks, 349
Chapter Summary, 352
Key Terms, 352
Suggested Readings, 352
On the Web, 353
Chapter 13. The Presidency: Powers and Practice, 354
Is the President a “Lame Duck” in the Last Two Years?, 355
Presidential Constituencies, 356
National Constituency, 356
Partisan Constituencies, 357
Partisan Support in Congress, 357
Separate Institutions Sharing Power, 359
The Power to Inform and Persuade, 359
The Veto Power, 362
The Appointment Power, 363
The Power to Recommend, 366
The President as Commander in Chief, 368
The President as Chief of State, 369
International Comparison: The Chief of State in Other Countries, 370
Inherent Executive Power, 373
The Impeachment Power, 374
Presidential Expectations and Presidential Performance, 375
Presidential Reputations, 376
Presidential Popularity, 376
Great Presidents, 377
Election Voices: The Politics of U.S. Energy Policy, 379
Chapter Summary, 383
Key Terms, 383
Suggested Readings, 383
On the Web, 384
Chapter 14. The Bureaucracy, 385
Organizing for Homeland Security, 386
The Role of Bureaucracy, 387
The Bureaucracy Problem, 389
Impossible Tasks, 389
Difficulty Measuring Performance, 389
Expansionary Tendencies, 390
Slow to Change, 390
Red Tape, 390
American Bureaucracies: Particularly Political, 392
Difficult Beginnings, 392
Mountains of Patronage, 392
Advantages of the Spoils System, 394
Disadvantages of the Spoils System, 395
Erosion of the Spoils System, 395
Political Appointees Today, 396
International Comparison: Political Versus Professional Bureaucrats, 397
The President and the Bureaucracy, 398
The Cabinet, 398
Independent Regulatory Agencies, 401
The Office of Management and Budget, 402
Congress and the Bureaucracy, 403
Senate Confirmations, 403
Agency Reorganization, 405
Legislative Detail, 405
Election Connection: Congressional Legislation: A Matter of Detail, 406
Budgetary Control, 406
Legislative Oversight, 407
Iron Triangles and Issue Networks, 407
Elections and Bureaucracy, 409
Bureaucratic Secrecy, 410
Bureaucratic Coercion, 411
Curbing Agency Expansion, 411
Administrator Caution, 412
Compromised Capacity, 412
Muddling Through, 413
Election Voices: The Politics of the New Department of Homeland Security, 414
Chapter Summary, 418
Key Terms, 418
Suggested Readings, 419
On the Web, 419
Chapter 15. The Courts, 420
The Battle That Wasn’t: John Roberts’ Appointment to the Supreme Court, 421
State Courts, 422
State Trial Courts: The Judicial Workhorses, 422
The Politics of Selecting State Judges, 423
Prosecuting State Cases, 424
An Independent and Powerful Federal Judiciary, 424
Tenure and Salary, 425
Judicial Review, 425
Approaches to Constitutional Interpretation, 427
Judicial Review in Practice, 428
Statutory Interpretation, 430
International Comparison: Statutory Interpretation in the United States and Britain, 431
The Federal Court System, 431
District Courts, 432
Appeals Courts, 432
Specialized Courts, 433
Selection of Federal Judges, 434
Deciding to Prosecute, 435
Relations Between State and Federal Courts, 435
The Supreme Court, 436
The Politics of Supreme Court Appointments, 436
Election Connection: The Harriet Miers Nomination to the Supreme Court, 439
Stare Decisis, 440
Certs, 440
The Role of the Chief Justice, 441
The Role of the Solicitor General, 441
The Role of Clerks, 442
Supreme Court Decision Making, 442
Voting on the Supreme Court, 444
Checks on Court Power, 446
Constitutional Amendment, 446
Statutory Revision, 446
Nonimplementation, 447
Litigation as a Political Strategy, 447
Election Voices: Should Judges Be Elected?, 448
Chapter Summary, 450
Key Terms, 450
Suggested Readings, 451
On the Web, 451
Part 5. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, 452
Chapter 16. Civil Liberties, 452
Privacy in the Age of Terrorism, 453
Origins of Civil Liberties in the United States, 454
Origins of the Bill of Rights, 454
Few Liberties Before the Civil War, 455
Applying the Bill of Rights to State Governments, 456
Freedom of Speech, Press, and Assembly, 457
Free Speech and Majoritarian Democracy, 458
From “Bad Tendency” to “Clear and Present Danger”, 458
The Fighting Words Doctrine, 461
The Balancing Doctrine, 461
The Fundamental Freedoms Doctrine, 462
Freedom of the Press, 463
Freedom of Association, 464
Limitations on Free Expression, 465
Freedom of Religion, 466
Establishment of Religion Clause, 466
The Free Exercise of Religion Clause, 468
Establishment of Religion or Free Exercise?, 469
Law, Order, and the Rights of Suspects, 469
Election Politics and Criminal Justice, 470
International Comparison: United States Has Much Higher Murder, but Not Burglary, Rates Than Most Other Countries, 471
Search and Seizure, 472
Immunity Against Self-Incrimination, 473
Impartial Jury, 473
Legal Counsel, 474
Double Jeopardy, 474
Rights in Practice: Habeas Corpus, 475
Rights in Practice: The Plea Bargain, 475
The Right of Privacy, 476
Regulation of Sexual Behavior, 476
Abortion: Right to Life or Right to Choose?, 477
Privacy in the Information Age, 478
Election Voices: School Choice: Vouchers and Charter Schools, 480
Chapter Summary, 483
Key Terms, 484
Suggested Readings, 484
On the Web, 485
Chapter 17. Civil Rights, 486
Race and Gender in the 2008 Campaign, 487
The Origins of Civil Rights, 488
Conflict Over Civil Rights After the Civil War, 489
Early Court Interpretations of Civil Rights, 490
Blacks Get Electoral Power, 491
Awakening the Supreme Court to Civil Rights, 492
Redefining the Equal Protection Clause, 493
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, 493
Civil Rights After Brown, 495
The Decline in Strength of the Civil Rights Movement, 498
The Supreme Court No Longer Forges Ahead, 499
Affirmative Action, 500
Elections, Courts, and Civil Rights: An Appraisal, 501
The Civil Rights of Other Minorities, 501
Latinos, 502
Asian Americans, 503
Gays and Lesbians, 504
Native Americans, 505
Women’s Rights, 506
The Right to Equality Before the Law, 506
The Initial Court Response to Women’s Rights, 508
Discrimination in the Workplace, 509
Sexual Harassment, 509
Single-Sex Schools and Colleges, 510
The Future of Women’s Rights, 510
Americans with Disabilities, 510
Election Voices: Affirmative Action, 512
Chapter Summary, 515
Key Terms, 515
Suggested Readings, 515
On the Web, 516
Appendices, 517
Appendix I. The Declaration of Independence, 517
Appendix II. The Constitution of the United States of America, 520
Appendix III. The Federalist No. 10, 534
Appendix IV. The Federalist No. 51, 539
Appendix V. Presidents of the United States, 542
Glossary, 545
Endnotes, 555
Photo Credits, 583
Name Index, 585
Subject Index, 589

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