American Government: Policy and Politics Book

To the Instructor xv

To the Student xxi

Introduction Government, Politics, and the Policymaking Process 1

Learning Outcomes 1

The Importance of Government 2

Government and Politics 3

The Public Policy Approach 5

Getting Involved: Government and You 9

Key Terms 10

Notes 10

Chapter 1 A Changing America in a Changing World 13

Learning Outcomes 13

Political Culture 15

The International Environment 17

The Demographic Environment 18

Global Perspective: Immigration Policy and Politics in France 22

The Economic Environment 23

Conclusion: The Cultural, International, and Socioeconomic Context for Policymaking 27

Getting Involved: A Changing Nation, Changing Communities 28

Key Terms 30

Notes 30

Chapter 2 The American Constitution 33

Learning Outcomes 33

The Background of the Constitution 35

Constitutional Principles 40

The Living Constitution 47

Global Perspective: The British Parliamentary System 49

The Constitution, Politics, and Public Policy 52

Conclusion: The Constitutional Environment for Policymaking 54

Getting Involved: Service Learning 55

Key Terms 56

Notes 57

Chapter 3 The Federal System 59

Learning Outcomes 59

The Constitutional Basis of Federalism 61

Federal Grant Programs 70

Global Perspective: Education Policy and Federalism in Germany 73

Conclusion: Federalism and Public Policy 75

Getting Involved: Federal Programs and You 77

Key Terms 79

Notes 79

Chapter 4 Public Opinion 81

Learning Outcomes 81

Political Socialization 83

Measuring Public Opinion 89

Political Knowledge 94

Support for Democratic Principles 95

Global Perspective: Civil Unions inDenmark 98

Political Trust and Political Legitimacy 99

Political Efficacy 99

Political Philosophy 100

Conclusion: Public Opinion and Public Policy 106

Getting Involved: Family Politics 107

Key Terms 109

Notes 109

Chapter 5 Political Participation 113

Learning Outcomes 113

Forms of Participation 114

Explaining Participation 116

Patterns of Participation 117

Nonvoters 120

Trends in Voter Turnout 121

Participation Rates in Comparative Perspective 121

Increasing Voter Turnout 123

Global Perspective: Compulsory Voting in Australia 124

Participation Bias 125

Conclusion: Political Participation and Public Policy 127

Getting Involved: Registering to Vote 128

Key Terms 129

Notes 129

Chapter 6 The Media 133

Learning Outcomes 133

The Media Landscape 135

Global Perspective: Government Control of the Media in Cuba 137

Government Regulation of the News Media 137

Covering the News 141

Media Biases 144

Conclusion: The Media and Public Policy 145

Getting Involved: Favorite News and Information Links 146

Key Terms 147

Notes 147

Chapter 7 Interest Groups 149

Learning Outcomes 149

Why People Join Groups 151

Types of Interest Groups 152

Global Perspective: Church and State in Mexico 156

Interest Group Tactics 160

Getting Involved: Participating in a Student Group 167

The Strength of Interest Groups 168

Conclusion: Interest Groups and Public Policy 170

Key Terms 172

Notes 172

Chapter 8 Political Parties 175

Learning Outcomes 175

The Party System 176

Global Perspective: The Israeli Party System 178

Party Organization 179

Political Cycles and Party Realignment 182

The Party Balance: Democrats, Republicans, and Independents 183

Voting Patterns 184

Issue Orientation 189

Divided Government 192

Conclusion: Political Parties and Public Policy 195

Getting Involved: Party Politics at the Grassroots 196

Key Terms 197

Notes 197

Chapter 9 Elections 199

Learning Outcomes 199

Types of Elections 200

Election Districts and Redistricting 202

Election Campaigns 206

Congressional Elections 213

Global Perspective: Legislative Elections in Brazil 215

Presidential Elections 216

The Voters Decide 236

Conclusion: Elections and Public Policy 237

Getting Involved: In-Person Politics 238

Key Terms 240

Notes 240

Chapter 10 Congress 245

Learning Outcomes 245

Bicameralism 247

Membership 248

Organization 254

Global Perspective: The Indian Parliament 259

The Legislative Process 261

Getting Involved: Sending E-Mail to Your U.S. Representative 273

Conclusion: Congress and Public Policy 273

Key Terms 274

Notes 275

Chapter 11 The Presidency 277

Learning Outcomes 277

The Constitutional Presidency 279

Presidential Powers 286

Two Presidencies Thesis 293

The Development of the Modern Presidency 293

The Organization of the Presidency 295

Global Perspective: The Russian Presidency 298

Theories of Presidential Leadership 300

Presidential Popularity 304

The Presidency in Context 306

Getting Involved: Why Do They Run? 307

Conclusion: The Presidency and Public Policy 308

Key Terms 309

Notes 310

Chapter 12 The Federal Bureaucracy 313

Learning Outcomes 313

Organization of the Bureaucracy 315

Personnel 321

Rulemaking 324

Politics and Administration 325

Global Perspective: The Egyptian Bureaucracy 330

Subgovernments and Issue Networks 331

Conclusion: The Federal Bureaucracy and Public Policy 333

Getting Involved: Working for Uncle Sam 334

Key Terms 335

Notes 336

Chapter 13 The Federal Courts 339

Learning Outcomes 339

Judicial Policymaking 340

Political History of the Supreme Court 341

The Federal Court System 345

Global Perspective: Islamic Law in Nigeria 356

Power, Politics, and the Courts 360

Conclusion: The Courts and Public Policy 362

Getting Involved: A Day in Court 363

Key Terms 364

Notes 364

Chapter 14 Economic Policymaking 367

Learning Outcomes 367

The Goals of Economic Policy 369

Global Perspective: Healthcare in Canada 373

Tax Revenues 374

Budget Deficits and Surpluses 381

Government Expenditures 383

Fiscal Policymaking 391

Monetary Policymaking 393

Conclusion: Economic Policymaking 394

Getting Involved: Tax Breaks for College Students 397

Key Terms 398

Notes 399

Chapter 15 Civil Liberties Policymaking 401

Learning Outcomes 401

The Constitutional Basis of Civil Liberties Policymaking 403

Civil Liberties Issues and Policies 405

Global Perspective: Population Policy in China 406

Getting Involved: Talking About Miranda 425

Conclusion: Civil Liberties Policymaking 426

Key Terms 428

Notes 429

Chapter 16 Civil Rights Policymaking 431

Learning Outcomes 431

The Constitutional Basis of Civil Rights Policymaking 432

Civil Rights Issues and Policies 433

Global Perspective: Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia 441

Getting Involved: Voices from the Past 453

Conclusion: Civil Rights Policymaking 453

Key Terms 458

Notes 458

Chapter 17 Foreign and Defense Policymaking 461

Learning Outcomes 461

The International Community 464

The Ends and Means of American Foreign and Defense Policy 466

The History of American Foreign Policy 470

Foreign Policy 478

Defense Policy 480

Global Perspective: Nuclear Weapons in Pakistan 482

Conclusion: Foreign and Defense Policymaking 484

Getting Involved: America in the Eyes of the World 485

Key Terms 490

Notes 491

Appendix 493

Glossary 517

Photo Credits 530

Index 531

Practice Tests PT-1