Description
Understand American government today by exploring its evolution over time
This text is guided by the belief that students must first understand the origins of American government to fully understand the issues facing the United States today. It offers the strongest coverage of both history and current events of any college textbook devoted to American politics.
Essentials of American Government: Roots and Reform provides the historical context students need to understand our government and the most crucial and controversial issues affecting the nation in the 21st century, in an essentials format. The end result: students that are more informed citizens that will make thoughtful political choices in the future.
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Table of Contents
2. Full Table of Contents
1. Brief Table of Contents
PART I: FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT
Chapter 1: American Government: Roots, Context, and Culture
Chapter 2: The Constitution
Chapter 3: Federalism
Chapter 4: Civil Liberties
Chapter 5: Civil Rights
PART II: INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
Chapter 6: Congress
Chapter 7: The Presidency
Chapter 8: The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy
Chapter 9: The Judiciary
PART III: POLITICAL BEHAVIOR
Chapter 10: Public Opinion and the News Media
Chapter 11: Political Parties and Interest Groups
Chapter 12: Elections, Campaigns, and Voting
PART IV: PUBLIC POLICY
Chapter 13: Social and Economic Policy
Chapter 14: Foreign and Defense Policy
2. Full Table of Contents
PART I: FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT
1. American Government: Roots, Context, and Culture
Roots of American Government: We the People
| The Living Constitution
Types of Government
Functions of American Government
American Political Culture and the Basic Tenets of American Democracy
The Changing American Public
| Explore Your World
Political Ideology
Toward Reform: People and Politics
| Take a Closer Look
| Infographic: Is the American Dream a Reality?
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a City Council Member
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: How Do You Measure Freedom?
2. The Constitution
Roots of the New American Nation
| Take a Closer Look
The First Attempt at Government: The Articles of Confederation
The Miracle at Philadelphia: Writing the U.S. Constitution
| Infographic: Who Were the Framers?
The U.S. Constitution
| Explore Your World
The Drive For Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
Toward Reform: Methods Of Amending The U.S. Constitution
| The Living Constitution
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are A Founder
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: How Long Did It Take To Ratify The Constitution?
3. The Federal System
Roots of the Federal System
| The Living Constitution
Federalism and the Marshall Court
| Explore Your World
Dual Federalism: States’ Rights, the Civil War, and Reconstruction
Cooperative Federalism: The Growth of National Government
| Infographic: How Has the Federal-State Relationship Evolved?
Federal Grants to State and Local Governments
| Take A Closer Look
Toward Reform: Attempts to Balance National and State Power
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a Federal Judge
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: Which States Win or Lose the Federal Aid Game?
4. Civil Liberties
Roots of Civil Liberties: The Bill of Rights
First Amendment Guarantees: Freedom of Religion
First Amendment Guarantees: Freedom of Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
| Explore Your World
The Second Amendment: The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
| Infographic: How Do States Restrict the Right the Bear Arms?
The Rights of Criminal Defendants
| Take a Closer Look
The Right to Privacy
| The Living Constitution
Toward Reform: Civil Liberties and Combating Terrorism
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a Police Officer
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: Should the Government Apply the Death Penalty?
5. Civil Rights
Roots of Suffrage: 1800-1890
| The Living Constitution
The Push For Equality, 1890-1954
The Civil Rights Movement
| Take a Closer Look
The Women’s Rights Movement
| Explore Your World
Other Groups Mobilize for Rights
| Infographic: How Does the Government Regulate Gay Marriage?
Toward Reform: Civil Rights and Affirmative Action
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a Mayor
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: Are All Forms of Discrimination The Same?
PART II: INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
6. Congress
Roots of the Legislative Branch of Government
| The Living Constitution
The Members of Congress
| Infographic: The House of Representatives
How Congress Is Organized
| Explore Your World
Powers of Congress
| Take A Closer Look
How Members Make Decisions
Toward Reform: Balancing Institutional Power
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are A Consumer Advocate
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: Can Congress Get Anything Done?
7. The Presidency
Roots of the Office of President of the United States
| Living Constitution
The Constitutional Powers of the President
| A Closer Look
The Development and Expansion of Presidential Power
The Presidential Establishment
| Infographic: What Does the West Wing Say about the Presidency?
Presidential Leadership and the Importance of Public Opinion
Toward Reform: The President as Policy Maker
| Explore Your World
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a First-Term President
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: What Influences a President's Public Approval?
8. The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy
Roots of the Federal Bureaucracy
The Modern Bureaucracy
| Infographic: The Composition of the Federal Workforce
| Living Constitution
How The Bureaucracy Works
| Take a Closer Look
Toward Reform: Making Agencies Accountable
| Explore Your World
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are Head of FEMA
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: What Puts the 'Big' in Big Government?
9. The Judiciary
Roots of the Federal Judiciary
| The Living Constitution
The Federal Court System
| Explore Your World
How Federal Court Judges Are Selected
| Infographic: Who Are the Federal Judges?
The Supreme Court Today
| Take A Closer Look
Judicial Philosophy and Decision Making
Toward Reform: Power, Policy Making, and the Court
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a Supreme Court Clerk
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: Who Are the Activist Judges?
PART III: POLITICAL BEHAVIOR
10. Public Opinion and the News Media
Roots of Public Opinion Research
Conducting and Analyzing Public Opinion Polls
| Explore Your World
Forming Political Opinions
| Infographic: How Do Demographics Influence One’s Opinion of the Government?
Roots of the News Media in the United States
| The Living Constitution
Rules Governing the News Media
How the News Media Cover Politics
| Take a Closer Look
Toward Reform: News Media Influence, News Media Bias, and Public Confidence
Shortcomings of Polling
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a Polling Consultant
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: What Do Young People Think About Politics Today?
11. Political Parties and Interest Groups
Roots of the Two-Party System
| The Living Constitution
| Infographic: Are American Political Parties Polarized?
The Organization of American Political Parties
Activities Of American Political Parties
Party Identification
Roots of the American Interest Group System
| Take a Closer Look
What Do Interest Groups Do?
| Explore Your World
Toward Reform: Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbyists
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a Lobbyist
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: Which Party Governs Better?
12. Campaigns, Elections, and Voting
Roots of Modern Political Campaigns
Assembling a Campaign Staff
Raising Money
| Infographic: How Has Campaign Financing Changed Over Time?
Reaching Voters
| Take a Closer Look
Presidential Elections
| The Living Constitution
Congressional Elections
Toward Reform: Voter Choice and Turnout
| Explore Your World
| Take a Closer Look
| Explore Your World
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a Campaign Strategist
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: Who Votes–and Who Doesn't?
PART IV: PUBLIC POLICY
Chapter 13: Social and Economic Policy
Roots of Public Policy: The Policy-Making Process
| The Living Constitution
Health Policy Today
Income Security Policy
Fiscal Policy
| Infographic: How Much Government Debt Is Too Much
Monetary Policy
| Explore Your World
Toward Reform: Recession and Economic Recovery
| Take a Closer Look
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a Federal Reserve Chair
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: Is Health Care a Public Good?
14: Foreign and Defense Policy
Roots of U.S. Foreign and Defense Policy
The United States as a World Power
| Explore Your World
Foreign and Defense Policy Decision Making
| The Living Constitution
Contemporary Challenges In Foreign and Defense Policy
| Infographic: How Big Is the World’s Stockpile of Nuclear Weapons?
Toward Reform: New Challenges in American Foreign Policy
| Take a Closer Look
> MyPoliSciLab Video Series
> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a President During a Foreign Policy Crisis
> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: How Much Does America Spend On Defense?
> MyPoliSciLab Document: The Declaration of Independence
> MyPoliSciLab Document: The Constitution of the United States
> MyPoliSciLab Document: Federalist No. 10
> MyPoliSciLab Document: Federalist No. 15
> MyPoliSciLab Document: Federalist No. 51
> MyPoliSciLab Document: Federalist No. 78
> MyPoliSciLab Document: Anti-Federalist No. 17
> MyPoliSciLab Document: Marbury v. Madison
> MyPoliSciLab Document: McCulloch v. Maryland
> MyPoliSciLab Document: Brown v. Board of Education
> MyPoliSciLab Document: The Gettysburg Address
> MyPoliSciLab Document: Washington’s Farewell Address
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Package ISBN-13: 9780205943418
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- You Decide! 2012, 9th Edition
John T. Rourke
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