American politics and society
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
American politics and society
Blackwell, 2001
5th ed
- : hbk
- : pbk
Available at 14 libraries
Note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
The fifth edition of American Politics and Society has been completely revised and updated to provide a clear and concise introduction to US politics for all students of politics and government. The book includes commentary on the November 2000 elections and the new presidency giving readers the most up-to-date assessment available.This edition also features new text features such as "controversies" for each major subject covered, and expanded further reading, all designed to encourage student participation. There is also an additional chapter on the regulation of public morality including affirmative action and civil rights and existing chapters have been expanded, combined or restructured in line with recent trends. Throughout, McKay provides an up-to-date survey of the views and criticisms of leading political commentators on the American scene.McKay fills in the social background to American political and economic life, preparing the ground for the central discussion of the book: the Institutions of the federal government, Congress, the Supreme Court and the Constitution, the federal system, the Presidency, the party bandwagons and electoral circuses.The book is also supported by a website providing: Selected tables from the text, updated every six months ensuring that teachers and students can use the most recent data.
Links to relevant websites on American politics and society. Controversy boxes. A sample chapter. A detailed contents list. Ordering information.Please visit the accompanying website at: http://www blackwellpublishers.co.uk/mckay/ This edition is not published by Blackwell in the USA.
Table of Contents
- List of Plates. List of figures. List of Tables. Preface. 1. Limited Government in the Age of High Expectations: The Chapters to Come. 2. Beliefs, Values and American Society: The nature of American Beliefs and Values: Liberty. Equality. Individualism. Democracy and the Rule of Law. Values and American Society: Immigration and Demographic Change. Economic Change. Social Structure- Income and Wealth, Race and Ethnicity, Gender, Religion, Region, Communications. Further reading. 3. Constitutional Government: Origins. The American Constitution. Ratification. The Adaptive Constitution: Change by Amendment. Amendments Affecting Elections and Office Holders. Amendments Affecting the Powers of the Federal Government. Change by Interpretation. Assessing the Constitution. Further Reading. 4. Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations: Federalism in Theory and Practice. The Evolution of American Federalism. Fiscal Federalism: The Rise and Fall of the Federal Role: The Transformation of the Federal Role, 1930-1970. The 1970s: The High Watermark of Federal Aid. The Reagan Administration: Federalism Revived? Bush and Clinton: A Permanent Change in the Federal Role? A Changing Court Role? The Pressure for National Standards. American Federalism and Public Expectations. Further Reading. 5. American Political Parties in Transition: The Functions of Parties: Aggregation of Demands. Conciliation of Groups in Society. Staffing the Government. Co-Ordination of Government Institutions. Promotion of Political Stability. Crisis and Change in the American Party System. Party Decline? Explaining Party Change. Towards the Millennium: A New Role for Political Parties? Further Reading. 6. Political Participation and Electoral Behaviour: Patterns of American Electoral Behaviour: Basic Questions. The 'American Voter' Model and the New Deal Coalition. The Decline of Partisanship and the New Deal Coalition. De-alignment, Re-alignment and the Modern American Voter: Where Do We Go From Here? Further Trends in the American Electorate. Non Electoral Political Participation. Further Reading. 7. US Legislators and Their Constituents: Representation and Congress. Congressional Elections: The Spread of Direct Primaries. The Rise and Decline of Democratic Dominance. Regional Change. The Importance of Money. Legislators as Rational Actors. The Work of Members of Congress. Conclusions. Further Reading. 8. Congress as Policy Maker: The Functions of Congress. The Structure of Power in Congress. Congress Under Fire. Reform and Change in Congress. Conclusions: Can Congress Lead? Further Reading. 9. Presidential Power: Formal Sources of Power. Informal Powers: Agenda Setter and National Leader. World Leader. The Presidency in Crisis: Presidential Selection. Presidential Selection: Faults and Foibles. The Presidency in a Changing America: The Decline of Parties and the Rise of Issue Politics. The Nationalisation of Politics and Society. The Changing Nature of American Economic and Military Power. Presidential Abuse of Power and the Congressional Response. Presidential Resources: The Public. Bureaucracy. Personality. Assessing the Presidency: Presidential Power at Century's End. Further Reading. 10. The Federal Bureaucracy: Organisation and Function. The Bureaucracy: How Uncontrollable? The Inherent Power of Bureaucracy: Information. Clientelism. The Bureaucratic Hydra: A Uniquely American Phenomenon? : Iron Triangles. Issue Networks. Public Choice and the Principle/Agent Problem. Reform Attempts. Concluding Remarks. Further Reading. 11. Organized Interests: The Real Power? : Interests, Groups and Lobbyists. Economic Groups: Business. Labour Unions. The Farmers. Professional Groups. Promotional Groups. Political Action Committees. The Washington Lobby. Interest Groups: For and Against. Further Reading. 12. The Supreme Court and Judicial Politics: The American Legal System. The Supreme Court
- Decision Making. The Court and Political Power: Constitutional Amendment. Congressional Control. Presidential Control. Public and Political Opinion. Lack of Enforcement Powers. Conclusions: The Court, The Public and Politics. Further Reading. 13. Regulating Morality - Civil Rights, Liberties and the Conscience Issues: Introduction. Civil Liberties: Freedom of Speech. Criminal Procedural Rights. The Establishment of Religion. Abortion. Equality and Civil Rights: Racial and Ethnic Minorities. Gender. Disability. Conclusions. Further Reading. 14. Social Policy in America - Self Reliance and State Dependence: The Federal Government and Social Welfare in America: The Reluctant Provider: Federalism. Social Security, Medicare and the Electoral Connection. The Continuing Importance of Self Reliance. Health Care Reforms. Conclusions. Further Reading. 15. Managing Economic Change: State and Economy in the United States. Ideology and Economic Policy. Institutions and Economic Policy: Federalism and Localism. The Separation of Powers. Conclusions: Economic Policy and Public Expectations. Further Reading. 16. The American World Role: The Institutional Context. American Foreign Policy in the Post Cold War Era. Conclusions. Further Reading. 17. The American Political System at the New Millennium: Assessing the American Polity: Institutional Fragmentation. Open Government and Pluralistic Politics. Limited Government and Public Expectations. Reform and Renewal. Index.
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