American Politics: The Enduring Constitution, Election Update

Contents I. The Nature of American Democracy 1. Introduction Politics Then and Now Understanding American Democracy Four Models of Democracy The Challenges of American Politics Studying American Politics A Final Word 2. The Constitution Basic Concepts The Framers and Their Ideas Economics and Politics: An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution Debating the Constitution: Is the Constitution Democratic? 3. Federalism Basic Concepts A History of Federalism under the Constitution Federalism Today: Cooperation and Conflict Does Federalism Matter? Debating the Constitution: Should Welfare Be Controlled by the States? 4. Civil Liberties Basic Concepts The Politics of Civil Liberties What Rights Do I Have? What Rights Do Others Have? Global Perspectives: Human Rights and American Foreign Policy Debating the Constitution: Should Capital Punishment Be Abolished? 5. Civil Rights Basic Concepts The Perennial Challenge of Race Relations in America The Civil Rights Movement Extended Affirmative Action Economics and Politics: The Radical Income Gap Global Perspectives: Immigration and Civil Rights Debating the Constitution: Affirmative Action, Pro and Con II. The People and Their Government 6. Political Culture Basic Concepts The Dark Side of American Politics Multiculturalism and American Political Culture Debating the Constitution: Is America Different? 7. Public Opinion Basic Concepts American Public Opinion: A Snapshot Tracking Public Opinion: The Power of Political Polling Global Perspectives: Public Opinion Around the World Debating the Constitution: Are Public Opinion Polls Bad for Democracy? 8. Interest Groups Basic Concepts Interest Groups in American Politics The Changing Character of Interest Groups Interest Groups and Ethics Debating the Constitution: Does Interest Group Pluralism Promote Democracy? 9. Political Parties Basic Concepts Parties and Party Systems in American History The Modern American Party System Global Perspectives: Two-Party Versus Multiparty Systems Debating the Constitution: Was There a Realignment of the 1990s? 10. Campaigns and Elections Basic Concepts The Modern Campaign Voters Debating the Constitution: Should the Electoral College Be Abolished? Global Perspectives: Elections in Other Democracies Economics and Politics: The Political Business Cycle 11. The Media Basic Concepts The Media and the Government: Watchdog or Lapdog? Are the Media Biased? Debating the Constitution: Should Criminal Trials Be Televised? III. Political Institutions 12. Congress Basic Concepts Representing the People How Congress Really Works Overseeing the Bureaucracy Evaluating the Modern Congress Debating the Constitution: Should Congressional Terms Be Limited? 13. The Presidency Basic Concepts The Evolution of the American Presidency The President and the Administrative Process The President and the Legislative Process The White House and the People Global Perspectives: Presidential Versus Parliamentary Systems Debating the Constitution: Should Presidents Serve a Single Six-Year Term? 14. The Bureaucracy Basic Concepts What the Bureaucracy Does and How It Does It Controlling the Bureaucracy: A Job for All Three Branches Debating the Constitution: Are Bureaucracies Dangerous? 15. The Courts Basic Concepts The Supreme Court and Judicial Review The Courts in American Government The Courts and the Democratic Process Debating the Constitution: Should the Supreme Court Follow the "Original Intent" of the Framers? IV. Public Policy 16. Domestic Policy Basic Concepts Economic Policy Social Welfare and Health Policy Education Policy Health Policy Public Policy and the Public Interest Debating the Constitution: School Choice 17. Foreign and Military Policy Basic Concepts The Substance of American Foreign Policy Debating the Constitution: Does the President Have the Authority to Make War Without Congressional Approval? Appendix The Declaration of Independence The Constitution of the United States The Federalist No. 10 The Federalist No. 51 Presidents of the United States, 1789-1999 Glossary. References. Index to References. Index. Illustration Credits.William Lasser is the author of 'American Politics: The Enduring Constitution, Election Update', published 1999 under ISBN 9780395948088 and ISBN 0395948088.