The logic of American politics
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The logic of American politics
SAGE, CQ Press, c2018
8th ed
- : pbk
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Note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Other author: Gary C. Jacobson, Thad Kousser, Lynn Vavreck
Description and Table of Contents
Description
The Eight Edition is thoroughly updated and includes the dramatic 2016 election results and a thorough analysis of those results. It continues to delve into partisan differences among voters and in government and highlight the increasingly partisan nature of campaigns. By exploring issues such as the Affordable Care Act’s troubled implementation, the increasing legalization of marijuana and same-sex marriage in the states, and the debate over immigration, the book illustrates how the institutional structures of government, federalism, and even campaigns can help voters make sense of their choices. The concluding chapter on policymaking examines the noticeable logic that guides American policy, as shown through policies like health care reform, global climate change, and the federal budget. Students glean insights into the sources of policy problems, identify possible solutions, and realize why agreement on those solutions is often so hard to achieve.
Table of Contents
Preface
A Note to Students
Chapter 1: The Logic of American Politics
The Importance of Institutional Design
Constitutions and Governments
Collective Action Problems
The Costs of Collective Action
Representative Government
The Work of Government
Collective Action and America’s Constitution
Nota Bene
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
PART 1 The Nationalization of Politics
Chapter 2: The Constitution
The Road to Independence
America’s First Constitution: The Articles of Confederation
Drafting a New Constitution
The Fight for Ratification
The Theory Underlying the Constitution
Designing Institutions for Collective Action: The Framers’ Tool Kit
The Constitution Begins the Nationalization of American Politics
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Chapter 3: Federalism
American-Style Federalism
Federalism and the Constitution
The Paths to Nationalization
Modern Federalism
Evolving Federalism: A By-Product of National Policy
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Chapter 4: Civil Rights
What Are Civil Rights?
The Civil Rights of African Americans
The Politics of Black Civil Rights
The Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement
Challenging Tyranny
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Chapter 5: Civil Liberties
Nationalization of Civil Liberties
Writing Rights and Liberties into the Constitution
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of the Press
Freedom of Religion
Gun Rights
Criminal Rights
Privacy
Assessing Civil Liberties as Public Policy
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
PART 2 The Institutions of Government
Chapter 6: Congress
Congress in the Constitution
Congress and Electoral Politics
Who Serves in Congress?
The Basic Problems of Legislative Organization
Organizing Congress
Making Laws
Evaluating Congress
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Chapter 7: The Presidency
The Historical Presidency
The Modern Presidency
Dilemma of Leadership
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Chapter 8: The Bureaucracy
The Development of the Federal Bureaucracy
An Expanding Government
Bureaucracy in Action
Who Controls the Bureaucracy?
Bureaucratic Reform: A Hardy Perennial
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Chapter 9: The Federal Judiciary
Setting the Stage for Judicial Review
Three Eras of the Court’s Judicial Review
The Structure of the Federal Judiciary
Judicial Decision Making
The Supreme Court’s Place in the Separation of Powers
Who Guards the Guardians?
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
PART 3 The Public’s Influence on National Policy
Chapter 10: Public Opinion
What Is Public Opinion?
Measuring Public Opinion
The Origins of Public Opinion
Is Public Opinion Meaningful?
The Content of Public Opinion
Effects of Background on Public Opinion
Public Opinion: A Vital Component of American Politics
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Chapter 11: Voting, Campaigns, and Elections
The Logic of Elections
The Right to Vote
Who Uses the Right to Vote?
Election Campaigns
The Logic of Elections Revisited
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Chapter 12: Political Parties
The Constitution’s Unwanted Offspring
The Development and Evolution of the Party Systems
The Revival of the Parties: A Sixth Party System?
Expediency Persists
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Chapter 13: Interest Groups
The Logic of Lobbying
The Origins of Interest Group Politics in the United States
Contemporary Interest Groups
What Do Interest Groups Do?
Interest Group Politics: Controversial and Thriving
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Chapter 14: The News Media
Development of the News Business
News as a Consumer Product
News Media as the “Fourth Branch”
News as the Product of Politics
Strategic Relations between Politicians and Reporters
Conclusion: Politician–Press Relations Then and Now
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
PART 4 Conclusion
Chapter 15: Is There a Logic to American Policy?
Free Riding and Health Care
The Obstacles to Taking Domestic Action to Stop Global Climate Change
High-Stakes Maneuvering: Why We Tiptoe Up To, but Have Not Fallen Off, the Fiscal Cliff
The Prisoner’s Dilemma of Entitlement Reform
The Success and Failure of Collective Action: A Tale of Two Tax Reforms
Conclusion
Key Terms
Suggested Readings
Review Questions
Reference Material
Notes
Glossary
Index
About the Authors
by "Nielsen BookData"