American Democracy in Context

First Edition

John Anthony Maltese - University of Georgia, USA
Joseph A. Pika - University of Delaware, USA
W. Phillips Shively - University of Minnesota, USA

Available with:

Courses:
Introduction to American Government | Introduction to American Government

December 2019 | 528 pages | CQ Press

Discover what makes American democracy unique and how its government impacts your life

American Democracy in Context provides a combined comparative and historical approach to inspire students to better understand American government and become active citizens. Bestselling authors Maltese, Pika, and Shively explain the distinctive features of how Americans practice democracy—how they vote, translate election results into representation of interests, make policy decisions, enforce laws and maintain justice—and how those practices differ from other democracies throughout the world. The emphasis is always on the American political system, but the search for understanding encourages students to examine how the American system has developed over time (historical context) and how it compares with similar practices in other democracies (comparative context). This combined approach motivates students to understand why politics is relevant to their everyday lives and how they can affect changes and make a difference.

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Preface

A Note From the Authors

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

PART I FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

CHAPTER 1: DEMOCRACY AND AMERICAN POLITICS

Government and Politics

Democracy as a Form of Government

Functions of Government

American Values

American Ideologies

Comparative and Historical Contexts

Consequences for Democracy

CHAPTER 2: THE FOUNDING AND THE CONSTITUTION

The American Colonies

Revolution and Independence

The Articles of Confederation

Starting Over: The Constitutional Convention

The Constitution

Ratifying the Constitution

Amending the Constitution

Consequences for Democracy

CHAPTER 3: FEDERALISM

Understanding Federalism

The Constitutional Allocation of the Powers of Government

Competing Interpretations of Federalism

Early Precedents: National Supremacy Prevails

The Resurgence of States’ Rights

The New Deal and the Rise of Cooperative Federalism

The New Federalism and Beyond

Consequences for Democracy

PART II CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS

CHAPTER 4: CIVIL LIBERTIES

The Bill of Rights

The First Amendment Freedoms of Speech, Press, and Assembly

The First Amendment Guarantee of Freedom of Religion

The Right of Privacy

The Rights of Criminal Defendants

Consequences for Democracy

CHAPTER 5: CIVIL RIGHTS

Slavery in America

Civil Rights for African Americans After the Civil War

African American Civil Rights in the Twentieth Century

Women and Equal Rights

Discrimination Based on Ethnicity

New Frontiers in Civil Rights

Redressing Past Discrimination

Consequences for Democracy

PART III PEOPLE AND POLITICS

CHAPTER 6: PUBLIC OPINION AND POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

Public Opinion and Political Culture

Political Socialization

Group Differences in the United States

How Public Opinion Changes

How Ideologies Gain Their Structure

How Public Opinion Is Measured

Consequences for Democracy

CHAPTER 7: POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS

Defining Political Parties and Interest Groups

The Development of American Political Parties

The Structure of American Parties

The Two-Party System

Responsible Party Government

Interest Groups in American Politics

Interest Group Representation and the Organization of Public Opinion

Consequences for Democracy

CHAPTER 8: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

The Development of Elections in the United States

The Presidential Campaign

Congressional Elections

Electoral Systems and Their Effects

Elections and the Representation of Women and Minorities

Campaign Finance

Consequences for Democracy

CHAPTER 9: PARTICIPATION, VOTING BEHAVIOR, AND CAMPAIGNS

Political Participation

Voter Turnout

How People Make Voting Decisions

Political Campaigns and the Voters’ Choices

Party Polarization Among Voters

Consequences for Democracy

CHAPTER 10: MEDIA AND POLITICS

The Functions of the Media

Tracing the Development of Media in the United States

Government Regulation of the Media

Government and the Media

Assessing the Media

Consequences for Democracy

PART IV INSTITUTIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

CHAPTER 11: CONGRESS

The Functions of Congress

Constitutional Powers

The Structure of Congress

How Congress Operates

Assembling Coalitions Makes Action Possible

The Legislative Process

Consequences for Democracy

CHAPTER 12: THE PRESIDENCY

Presidential and Parliamentary Systems

The Evolving Job of President

Public Approval of Presidents

The Institutional Presidency

Presidential Goals and Keys to Success

Consequences for Democracy

CHAPTER 13: BUREAUCRACY

Democracy and Bureaucracy in the United States

Features of a Modern Bureaucracy

The Checkered History of Bureaucracy in the United States

The Complex Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy

The Size of the Federal Bureaucracy

The Search for Control

Consequences for Democracy

CHAPTER 14: THE JUDICIARY

An Independent Judiciary Enforcing the Rule of Law

An Overview of the U.S. Court System

The Supreme Court in Action

Limits on the Supreme Court

How Judges Are Selected

Consequences for Democracy

PART V PUBLIC POLICY

CHAPTER 15: DOMESTIC AND ECONOMIC POLICY

Making Public Policy

Health Care

Social Security

Energy and the Environment

Economic Policy

Consequences for Democracy

Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence

Appendix B: The Constitution of the United States of America

Appendix C: Federalist No. 10 (James Madison)

Appendix D: Federalist No. 51 (James Madison)

Glossary

Notes

Index

Supplements

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Key features

KEY FEATURES:

The new edition is available as a digital option through SAGE Vantage, an intuitive digital platform that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools—including video—all designed to enable students to better prepare for class. Learn more.

Perspective chapter-opening vignettes set the stage for the rest of the chapter discussion, as well as help students see political connections, by comparing a historical moment, current event, or policy in the United States to that of another country.
Picture Yourself exercises help students to fully understand and appreciate different aspects of American government by encouraging them to consider what it would be like to experience some aspect of the political system of another country or of the U.S. at another period of time or from a particular vantage point.
Consequences for Democracy sections provide thought-provoking summaries for each chapter to help students understand the distinctive features of American politics as well as the common features of democracy.
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SAGE course outcomes help you track and measure student success. Crafted with specific course outcomes in mind and vetted by advisors in the field, SAGE course outcomes clearly define and benchmark the knowledge and skills students are expected to achieve upon completion of your course.