The political science toolbox : a research companion to American government / Stephen E. Frantzich and Howard R. Ernst.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Frantzich, Stephen E.

Contributor:

Ernst, Howard R., 1970-

Frantzich, Stephen E.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States--Politics and government.

United States.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xix, 323 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, [2009]

Summary:

The Political Science Toolbox serves as a bridge between research methods classes and student research, making it a valuable supplement for an applied research methods class, as well as a useful supplement for introduction to American government courses or introduction to political science courses. Moreover, students completing honors papers, capstone assignments, or any substantial research projects in the field of American government will find the ideas and guidance provided in this work to be invaluable.

Contents:

Introduction: Thinking Like a Political Scientist 1

1 The Science of Political Analysis 1

A What Makes Political Science a "Science"? 2

B Count It, Interpret It, and Feel It 3

C Thinking in Terms of Variables and Causal Relationships 4

D Standing on the Shoulders of Others: The Literature Review 5

E Thinking in Terms of Hypotheses 6

2 Types of Academic Assignments 7

3 Writing a Major Research Paper 8

4 Making Use of Summary Tables 11

5 Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due 13

A Types of Plagiarism 14

B The Case against Plagiarism 14

6 Sources That Will Help You Understand the Research Process 15

7 Resources for Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism 15

Chapter 1 The Founding Era 17

1 The Structure of the U.S. Constitution and the Intentions of the Founders 17

A The Basic Structure of the U.S. Constitution 17

B The Constitutional Amendment Process 19

C Composition of the National Government 20

D Key Governing Principles Embodied in the U.S. Constitution 20

E Basic Goals of the Constitution 23

F Key Constitutional Compromises 24

G Comparative Perspective 26

H Enduring Structural Questions and How to Research Them 27

I Idea Generator: A Sample of Structural Questions Related to the Constitution 28

A Who Were the Framers of the U.S. Constitution? 32

B Comparative Perspective: Federalists versus Anti-Federalists 34

C The Federalist Papers 35

D Enduring Questions about the Framers and How to Research Them 37

E Idea Generator: A Sample of Additional Questions Related to the Framers 38

3 Context and Performance 44

A Important Antecedents to the U.S. Constitution 44

B Historical Development of the Constitution 49

C Enduring Contextual Questions and How to Research Them 50

D Idea Generator: A Sample of Contextual Questions Related to the Constitution 52

4 Secondary Sources That Will Help You Get Started 54

5 Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor 54

6 In Their Own Words: Primary Sources 56

7 Where to Find It 56

Chapter 2 Congress 59

1 The Structure and Intention of Congress 59

A Constitutional Basis 60

B Goals and Intentions 60

C Congress in Comparative Perspective 65

D Enduring Structural Questions and How to Research Them 66

E Idea Generator: Understanding Congress's Structure 70

2 Participants in Congress 72

A Who Are the Participants and How Were They Elected? 72

B Congressional Demographics in Comparative Perspective 74

C Enduring Questions about Participants and How to Research Them 74

D Idea Generator: The Causes and Consequences of Congress's Demographic Mix 79

3 Congressional Context and Performance 80

A Historical Development 81

B Public Support and Expectations-What Does the Public Want Congress to Do? 81

C Congress at Work 83

D Enduring Contextual and Performance Questions and How to Research Them 84

E Idea Generator: Congress at Work 86

4 Major Data Sources on Congress 86

5 Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor 87

6 Where to Find It 88

7 Taking Action-Contacting and Influencing Congress 92

Chapter 3 The Presidency and the Bureaucracy 95

1 The Structure and Intention of the Presidency and the Bureaucracy 95

A Constitutional Basis and Extraconstitutional Roles 95

B Goals and Intentions 97

C Comparative Perspective: Presidents versus Prime Ministers 98

D Enduring Structural Questions and How to Research Them 99

E Idea Generator: Presidential Power and Roles 105

A Who Are the Presidential and Bureaucratic Participants and Why Are They There? 106

B Comparative Perspective 107

C Enduring Questions about the Personnel of the Presidency and the Bureaucracy 109

D Idea Generator: Presidents and Bureaucrats? 110

3 Context and Performance of the Presidency and the Bureaucracy 112

A Historical Development 112

B Public Support and Expectations 112

C The President and Bureaucracy at Work 113

D Enduring Questions about the Context and Performance of the Presidency and How to Research Them 117

E Idea Generator: Evaluating Presidential and Bureaucratic Performance 123

4 Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor 124

5 In Their Own Words: Primary Sources 125

6 Where to Find It 125

7 Taking Action-Contacting and Influencing the President and the Bureaucracy 127

Chapter 4 The Federal Judiciary 129

1 The Structure and Function of the Federal Judiciary 129

A Constitutional Basis 129

B Goals and Intentions 131

C Comparative Perspective 132

D Enduring Structural Questions and How to Research Them 132

E Idea Generator: How the Courts Are Structured 134

2 Participants in the Judicial Process 135

A Who Are the Participants and Why Are They There? 135

B Comparative Perspective 137

C Enduring Questions about the Participants and How to Research Them 140

D Idea Generator: Who Serves on the Courts and How Do They Get There? 141

3 Context and Performance of the Courts 142

A Historical Development 142

B Public Support 143

C The Judiciary at Work 144

D Enduring Questions on the Context and Performance of the Courts and How to Research Them 145

E Idea Generator: Judging the Performance of Judges 148

4 Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor 149

5 Where to Find It 149

6 Taking Action-Contacting and Influencing the Courts 151

Chapter 5 State and Local Government 153

1 The Structure of American Federalism 153

A The Constitutional Relationship between State and Federal Governments 153

B The Relationship between State and Local Governments 154

C Types of State Governments 155

D Types of Local Governments 158

E American Federalism: Goals and Intentions of the Founders 160

F Comparative Perspective 161

G Enduring Structural and Institutional Questions and How to Research Them 161

H Idea Generator: Structural and Institutional Questions Related to Federalism 163

A Governors 165

B Legislatures 165

C Judges 165

D Enduring Questions about the Participants 169

E Idea Generator: Additional Questions Related to State-Level Participants 171

3 Context and Performance 173

A Historical Development of American Federalism 173

B The Historical Development of Home Rule 176

C The Decline of Political Machines and Party Bosses 176

D State and Local Governments at Work 179

E Enduring Contextual Questions and How to Research Them 179

F Idea Generator: A Sample of Additional Contextual Questions Related to State and Local Politics 180

4 Secondary Sources That Will Help You Get Started 183

5 Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor 183

6 Where to Find It 184

Chapter 6 The Media 187

1 The Structure and Function of the Media 187

A Constitutional and Legal Basis 187

B Goals and Intentions of the Media 191

C Comparative Perspective 193

D Enduring Structural Questions about the Media and How to Research Them 193

E Idea Generator: The Role of the Media in Society 195

A The Media Players 197

B Enduring Questions about the Participants and How to Research Them 199

C Idea Generator: Who Are the Media Players? 203

3 Context and Performance of the Media 204

A Historical Development 204

B Public Support and Expectations 205

C The Media at Work 205

D Enduring Questions on the Context and Performance of the Media and How to Research Them 206

E Idea Generator: How Well Does the Media Mediate? 210

4 Secondary Sources That Will Help You Get You Started 211

5 Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor 211

6 Where to Find It 211

7 Taking Action-Contacting and Influencing the Media 214

8 Presenting Your Findings 216

Chapter 7 Political Parties and Interest Groups 217

1 The Structure and Intention of Political Parties and Interest Groups 217

A Constitutional and Legal Basis 217

B Goals and Intentions 220

C Recent Changes in Campaign Laws That

Influence Parties and Interest Groups 222

D Comparative Perspective 223

E Enduring Structural and Institutional Questions and How to Research Them 225

F Idea Generator: Structural Questions Related to Political Parties and Interest Groups 227

A Who Are the Political Party and Interest Group Participants and Why Are They There? 231

B Comparative Perspective 234

C Enduring Questions about Political-Party and Interest-Group Participants and How to Research Them 235

D Idea Generator: Additional Questions Related to Political-Party and Interest-Group Participants 237

3 Context and Performance 242

A Historical Development of Political Parties and Interest Groups 242

B Parties and Interest Groups at Work 243

C Red States versus Blue States Reconsidered 247

D Enduring Contextual Questions about Interest Groups and Political Parties and How to Research Them 249

E Idea Generator: Additional Contextual Questions Related to Interest Groups and Political Parties 250

4 Secondary Sources That Will Help You Get Started 253

5 Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor 253

6 Where to Find It 255

Chapter 8 Elections and Voting Behavior 259

1 The Structure and Intention of Elections 259

A Constitutional and Legal Basis 259

B Goals and Intentions 261

C Rules Governing the Funding of Political Campaigns 262

D Comparative Perspective 264

E Enduring Structural Questions and How to Research Them 264

F Idea Generator: A Sample of Additional Structural Questions Related to Elections 267

A Who Are the Participants and Why Are They There? 271

B Comparative Perspective 273

C Enduring Questions about the Participants and How to Research Them 274

D Idea Generator: A Sample of Additional Questions Related to Electoral Participants 276

3 Context and Performance 280

A Historical Development of Campaign Coverage and Polling 280

B Elections at Work: Contextual Factors That Matter 283

C Enduring Contextual Questions and How to Research Them 286

D Idea Generator: A Sample of Additional Contextual Questions Related to Elections 288

4 Secondary Sources That Will Help You Get Started 289

5 Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor 289

6 Where to Find It 290

7 Taking Action-Acting and Influencing 291.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Related Work:

Frantzich, Stephen E. American government.

ISBN:

9780742547612

0742547612

9780742547629

0742547620

OCLC:

191846948