Brief Introduction to US Politics
By Robert J. McKeever
September 2006
Pearson Education
Distrubuted by Trans-Atlantic Publications Inc.
ISBN: 0582473411
216 pages
$57.50 Paper Original
A Brief Introduction to American Politicsprovides a coherent and succinct account of how contemporary American politics blends enduring principles with the realities and demands of the present day.
Beginning with a brief overview of American society today, the book introduces
the constitutional framework of American politics and the fluid concept and
practice of federalism. It also covers the major features of the representative
process, looking at both elections and main players such as parties, interest
groups and the media. Chapters on the major institutions of the federal government
- the presidency, the Congress and the Supreme Court – examines how
they are simultaneously independent and constrained by each other. Chapters
on domestic and foreign policy demonstrate how government and politics work
in connection with the system’s main outputs.
A Brief Introduction to American Politics is a shorter version
of Politics USA 2nd Edition and is
intended for students who need an introduction to the essential features of
the American Political system.
Contents
Preface
Introduction: America government and politics
Chapter 1. The Constitution and constitutionalism
The origins of the Constitution of 1787
The Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution
The Articles of Confederation 1781-1789
The philosophy and design of the Constitution
The development of the Constitution
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
References
Chapter 2. Federalism
The states were there from the start
The states in the Constitution
Dealing with differences
The states and their local governments in US federalism
Has federalism stopped being cooperative?
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Reference
Chapter 3. Elections and the electorate
The constitutional framework of elections
Electoral strategy
Presidential nominations
Presidential election campaigns
Congressional elections
Voting behaviour
The voters
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Websites
References
Chapter 4. Political parties, interest groups and money
Origins and history of American political parties
Party realignment
Party decline?
Party government
Interest groups
Political action committees
Influence of interest groups and PACs
Access or votes?
Interest groups and the public good
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Websites
References
Chapter 5. The mass media and politics
The American press
Television
The media and elections
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Reference
Chapter 6. The presidency and the executive branch
The constitutional debate
A national office
Limited powers and presidential personality
Main elements of the federal bureaucracy
Controlling the federal bureaucracy
Bureaucratic political resources
Bureaucracy and effective government
Meeting twenty-first century challenges
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Reference
Chapter 7. The Congress
Legislative power: the constitutional design
The changing balance of legislative power
Congress today: mandate and the legislative agenda
Congressional cooperation and resistance
Congressional oversight
Political education for the public
Congressional structures and processes
Bargaining and compromise in the legislative process
Members of congress
Congressional staffs
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Websites
Reference
Chapter 8. The Supreme Court and judicial politics
Judicial review
Stages of judicial review
Judicial reasoning and politics
Judicial activism and judicial self-restraint, 1789-1954
The Supreme Court since 1954
Supreme Court decisions: implementation and resistance
Supreme Court appointments
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Websites
References
Chapter 9. US government and domestic polic
The Twenty-First Century policy debate
America's public support policies
Items from a twenty-first century agenda
The context and the future
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
References
Chapter 10. Foreign policy
Ideology and self-interest, 1776-1945
The Cold War
Containment
The foreign policy-making process
Foreign policy since the end of the Cold War
The War on Terror
Discussion points
Further reading
References
Index
Features
* Key terms and concepts are explained in a way that enables the reader to employ them with confidence
* Gives intelligent but accessible analysis of constitutionalism and federalism
* Analyses the challenges to democracy presented by an electoral system highly dependant on television and awash with interest group money
* Provides clear analysis of the powers and limitations of the presidency, the Congress and the Supreme court
* Explains the main policy issues on the American political agenda and encourages students to evaluate the way in which the system works as a whole
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