Analyzing American democracy : politics and political science / Jon R. Bond, Texas A&M University, Kevin B. Smith, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lydia M. Andrade, The University of the Incarnate Word.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bond, Jon R., author.

Smith, Kevin B., 1963- author.

Andrade, Lydia M. (Lydia Maria), author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Democracy--United States.

Democracy.

Politics and government.

United States--Politics and government.

United States.

Physical Description:

xxv, 736 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Edition:

Fourth edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2022.

Summary:

"Following one of the most contentious presidential administrations and elections in US history, there has never been a greater need for an American government text like this--evidence-based, critically thoughtful, and contemporary in tone and touch. This text teaches students to think analytically by presenting current political science theories and research in answering the engaging, big questions facing American politics today. It serves as an introduction to the discipline-covering the Constitution, political behavior, formal and informal institutions, and public policy--by reflecting the theoretical developments and types of empirical inquiry conducted by researchers. New to the Fourth Edition 2020 election data updates throughout. Strategic updates on the Covid-19 pandemic, the resulting economic crisis, and the reckoning with racial injustice. Covid-19 is considered both in terms of questions of federalism as well as public policy. Questions of social justice are examined in light of civil rights/liberties as well as in terms of policy. Coverage of the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and the ensuing battle to confirm her replacement and alter the ideological balance of the Court. A new co-author coming to the book with award-winning experience in diversity and teacher education as well as research interests in the presidency, women and politics, and foreign policy"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: ch. 1 The Basics of Democracy

Key Concepts: Politics, Government, and Popular Sovereignty

Politics and Government

Popular Sovereignty

Process and Substance

Core Democratic Principles

Two Basic Forms of Democracy

Direct Democracy

Representative Democracy

Representative Systems and Core Democratic Principles

Elections

Political Parties

Interest Groups

Representative Democracy in the United States

Central Beliefs of Democracy in America

Fallacies Associated With Democracy in America

The Challenge of American Democracy

Diversity and Difference

Dynamics

Ideology and Partisanship

False Consensus

Meeting the Challenge?

The Case for American Democracy

Major Criticisms of American Democracy

Making Sense of Politics: Political Science

The Roots of Political Science

The Scientific Method

Thinking Analytically

Theoretical Frameworks in Political Science

General Approach and Organization of the Book

Top 10 Takeaway Points

Key Terms and Cases

ch. 2 The American Constitution

The Concept of a Constitution

Circumstances That Led to the Creation of the Constitution

Historical Antecedents of the Constitution

Economic Conditions

Group Rivalries and the Movement for a Convention

The Constitutional Convention

The Founders

Agreement, Disagreement, and Compromise at the Convention

The Limited Role of Religion

The Ratification Campaign

Constitutional Principles

Written Constitution

Representative Government

Fragmentation of Power

Mixed Government

Changing the American Constitution

Formal Amendments

Constitutional Change Through Custom and Usage

Executive Interpretation

Legislative Interpretation

Judicial Interpretation

ch. 3 Federalism

The Concept of Federalism in Context: Confederal, Unitary, and Federal Systems

Confederation

Unitary Government

Federalism

Why Federalism?

Advantages of Federalism

Disadvantages of Federalism

Division of Powers in the American Federal System

The Powers of the National Government

The Powers, Rights, and Obligations of State Governments

Refereeing Power Conflicts

The Evolution of Federalism

Dual Federalism

Cooperative Federalism

New Federalism

Federalism and the Future of State-Federal Relations

ch. 4 Civil Liberties

The Concept of Civil Liberties

Liberty and Authority

Restrictions on the Government

The Bill of Rights

Restrictions on State Violations of Civil Liberties

Freedom of Religion

Prohibition Against the Establishment of Religion

Free Exercise of Religion

Freedom of Expression

General Approaches

Specific Tests

Unprotected Speech

The Right to Privacy

Criminal Procedure

Exclusionary Rule

Right to Counsel

Right Against Self-Incrimination

Capital Punishment

ch. 5 Civil Rights

The Concept of Civil Rights

African Americans

Racial Segregation

The Judicial Strategy to End Segregation

The Revolution in Race Relations

Government's Response to the Race Revolution

Affirmative Action

Latinos

Native Americans

Women

Historical Background

The Reemergence of Women's Rights

People With Disabilities

LGBTQ Citizens

ch. 6 Interest Groups

The Concept of Interest Groups

Interest Group Goals

Interest Group Membership

Why People Join Interest Groups

The Benefits and Costs of Group Membership

Collective Action, Public Goods, and Free Riders

Overcoming the Free Rider Problem

The Origins and Growth of Interest Groups

Theoretical Perspectives on the Formation of Interest Groups

The Growth of Interest Groups

Interest Group Resources and Activities

Political Resources

Political Tactics

The Power and Regulation of Interest Groups

Interest Group Power and Influence

Regulation of Interest Group Activity

ch. 7 Political Parties

The Concept of Political Parties

The Challenge of Defining American Political Parties

Comparison of Political Parties and Other Political Groupings

Membership in American Political Parties

Incentives for Associating With Political Parties

Two-Party Competition in American Politics

The General Types of Party Systems

American Party Competition at the National Level

Minor Political Parties

What Political Parties Do

Facilitate Participation

Promote Government Responsiveness

Promote Government Accountability

Promote Stability and Peaceful Resolution of Conflict

The Responsible Party Model

The Strength of Political Parties

The Strength of Party in the Electorate

The Strength of Party in Government

The Strength of Party Organizations

Cycles of Party Strength

ch. 8 The Mass Media and Politics

The Concept of a Free Press

Information and Education

Agenda Setting

Watchdog and Public Advocate

Threats to a Free Press

Government Control

Private Control

Media Bias

Political Bias

Racial and Gender Bias

Negativity Bias

Changes in the Public Sphere

The Decline of the Gatekeepers

Information and Civic Engagement

ch. 9 Public Opinion and Political Socialization

The Concept of Public Opinion

Direction

Stability

Intensity

Salience

The Competence of Public Opinion

Elite Opinion and Issue Publics

Interpreting Public Opinion Polls

Did the Poll Ask the Right People?

What Is the Poll's Margin of Error?

What Was the Question?

Which Question Came First?

The Bases of Public Opinion

Political Culture

Ideology

Political Socialization

Biological Models of Public Opinion

Public Opinion and Participation

ch. 10 Elections

The Concept of Elections

Methods of Nominating Candidates

Legislative Caucus

Convention

Direct Primary

Nominating Presidential Candidates

The Allocation of National Convention Delegates

The Method and Timing of Delegate Selection

The Nomination Campaign

Electing the President

The Electoral College

The Campaign

Financing the Presidential Election

Nominating Candidates for Congress

Primary Laws

The Politics of Choosing Congressional Candidates

Electing Members of Congress

Apportionment

Congressional Districts

Overlapping Terms and Staggered Elections

Incumbency Advantage in Congressional Elections

Financing Congressional Elections

ch. 11 Political Participation and Voting Behavior

The Concept of Political Participation

Forms of Political Participation

The Theoretical Basis of Political Participation

Is Political Participation in America High or Low?

The Right to Vote

Voter Turnout

The Political System and Turnout

Individual Desire and Ability to Participate

Voting and Democracy

Models of Voting Behavior

The Sociological Model

The Social-Psychological Model

The Rational Choice Model

Explaining Voter Choice

Party Identification

Candidate Image

Issues

Voting Behavior and the Operation of the American Political System

Contemporary Realignment?

ch. 12 Congress

The Concept of the U.S. Congress

Responsibilities of Congress

Primary Responsibilities

Secondary Responsibilities

Members of Congress and Their World

Backgrounds of National Legislators

Tenure and Career Patterns

Daily Life of a Member of Congress

Congressional Pay and Perquisites

Bicameralism in the American Congress

Leadership in the U.S. Senate

Leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives

The Committee System

Running the Legislative Obstacle Course

Bill Introduction and Committee Referral

Committee Consideration and Action

From Committee to the Floor

Resolving House-Senate Differences

ch. 13 The Presidency

The Concept of the U.S. Presidency

The Development of the Presidency

A Single Executive

Broad Constitutional Provisions

Public Acceptance of Positive Government

Congressional Delegation of Power

Contemporary Expectations of the President

The President and the Presidency

The President as an Individual

The Presidency as an Organization

Organization of the Presidency and Presidential Effectiveness

The President's Primary Constitutional Responsibilities

Chief Executive

Commander in Chief

Chief Diplomat

The President as Party Leader

Limitations on the President as Party Leader

The President and Party Organization

The President and Electoral Activities

The President as Public Opinion Leader

Going Public

Presidential Approval Ratings

The President and Congress

Messages and Recommendations

The Veto

Presidential Success in Congress

Unilateral Powers

Contents note continued: ch. 14 The Bureaucracy

The Concept of Bureaucracy

The Characteristics of Bureaucracy

The Weberian Model of Bureaucracy

The Merit System

Neutral Competence

The Bureaucrats

The Structure of American Bureaucracies

The Executive Office of the President

Cabinet Departments

Independent Agencies

Regulatory Agencies and Commissions

Government Corporations

Other Bureaus

The Politics of Organization

The Power of Bureaucracy

Rulemaking

Adjudication

Bureaucratic Lobbying

Controlling the Bureaucracy

Theories of Bureaucratic Behavior

Monitoring Bureaucracy

Influencing Bureaucracy

Reforming Bureaucracy

Running Government Like a Business

Businesses Running Government

ch. 15 The Federal Judiciary

The Concept of the Federal Judiciary

The Jurisdiction of Federal Courts

Jurisdiction Defined in the Constitution

Original and Appellate Jurisdiction

The Power of Congress to Define Jurisdiction of Federal Courts

Jurisdiction Determined by Judicial Interpretation

The Structure and Organization of Federal Courts

The District Courts

The Courts of Appeals

The U.S. Supreme Court

The Selection and Background of Federal Judges

Party Affiliation and Philosophy

Balancing the Representativeness of the Court

Judicial Experience and Merit

Confirmation Politics in the Senate

Judicial Decision Making

Models of Judicial Decision Making

Evidence of Political Influence on Judicial Decision Making

Judicial Review in a Democratic Society

The Origins of Judicial Review

Concepts of Judicial Review

Patterns in the Exercise of Judicial Review

Constraints on the Exercise of Judicial Review

ch. 16 Core Democratic Principles and Public Policy

The Concept of Public Policy

The Stages of Policymaking

Policy Formulation and Adoption

Policy Implementation

Policy Evaluation

Public Policy and Core Democratic Values

Majority Rule

Political Freedom

Political Equality

Conclusion

Key Terms and Cases.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Bond, Jon R. Analyzing American democracy

ISBN:

9780367758899

036775889X

9780367758691

0367758695

OCLC:

1245924040

Publisher Number:

99992345320