American Politics and Society Book

1 Government and the people in a polarized society 1

2 Beliefs, values and American society 6

3 Constitutional government 40

4 Federalism and intergovernmental relations 63

5 American political parties in transition 86

6 Elections and political participation 111

7 The media and American politics 145

8 Congress I : the people's branch? 160

9 Congress II : functions and powers - the broken branch? 183

10 The presidency I : powers and selection 213

11 The presidency II : the president as chief executive 234

12 Bureaucratic power : federal departments and agencies 258

13 The security state 280

14 Organized interests : the real power? 293

15 The Supreme Court and judicial politics 319

16 Regulating morality : civil rights, liberties and conscience issues 350

17 Social policy in America : self-reliance and state dependence 369

18 Managing economic change 383

19 Environmental politics 402

20 The American world role 415

21 The American political system in an uncertain world 429

Websites 437

Glossary 440

App The Constitution of the United States 457

Index 479