Inside American Politics

Introduction and Acknowledgments
About the Author

PART I: Inside the Foundations of American Politics

Chapter 1: Going Inside American Politics
Politics, Political Science, and Government
On Political Systems
Ideas and the American Regime
The Plan of This Book: From Principles to Process to Politics
Exercise 1.1: Regimes and Governments
Exercise 1.2: Direct and Representative Democracy

Chapter 2: Creating a Constitutional Republic
Prelude: The Framers and Their Work
Principles: A Set of Values to Build On
Process: A Blueprint for the American Regime
America’s Constitution-Centered Politics
Epilogue: Ratification
Exercise 2.1: Ideas and the Constitution
Exercise 2.2: The Constitution and the Rule of Law
Exercise 2.3: The Constitution and Slavery

Chapter 3: Democracy, Federalism, and the Practice of Constitutional Government
Principles: Fundamental Law in a Dynamic Regime
Process: The Methods of Constitutional Practice
The Politics of Constitutional Government
Epilogue: How Should the Courts Interpret the Constitution?
Exercise 3.1: Proposed Constitutional Amendments
Exercise 3.2: Draft a Constitutional Amendment

Chapter 4: Citizen Rights and Liberties
Principles: American Ideals of Liberty and Justice
Process: The Means for Protecting Citizen Rights and Liberties
The Politics of Rights and Liberties
Exercise 4.1: Which One of Your Rights Would You Give Up?
Exercise 4.2: Is There a Right Not to Be Off ended?

PART II: How Citizens Connect to the Political Process

Chapter 5: The Public, Opinion, and Political Participation
Principles: Citizenship and Political Community
Process: How Citizens Are Linked to the Political System
The Politics of Citizenship and Community
Exercise 5.1: What Should We Do about Voter Turnout?
Exercise 5.2: Problems with Public Opinion Polls

Chapter 6: Interest Groups and Organized Action
Principles: “Special” Interests and the Public Interest
Process: The Place of Interest Groups in the Political System
Interest Groups in Contemporary American Politics
Exercise 6.1: Who Is Lobbying Your Representatives?
Exercise 6.2: Lobbyists and Their Clients

Chapter 7: Parties, Campaigns, and Elections
Principles: Elections as the Heart of Democratic Politics
Parties and the Electoral Process in America
Electoral Politics in America
Exercise 7.1: The Electoral College
Exercise 7.2: Political Parties

Chapter 8: Politics in a Multimedia Environment
A Brief History of the Media and American Politics
Principles: A Democratic Government Covered by a Free Press
Process: The Structure and Operations of the Media
Politics in Today’s Multimedia Environment
Exercise 8.1: What Does the Media Cover?
Exercise 8.2: How Does the Media Cover a Political News Story?

PART III: Inside the Institutions of Government

Chapter 9: Congress
Principles: The Place of the Legislature in a Democratic Republic
Process: The Machinery of Representation and Deliberation
Congressional Politics
Exercise 9.1: Members of Congress in Washington and Back Home
Exercise 9.2: Are Term Limits a Good Idea?

Chapter 10: The American Presidency
The President’s Many Roles
Principles
Process
Politics
Exercise 10.1: Presidential Roles
Exercise 10.2: The Practice of Presidential Power

Chapter 11: The Bureaucracy
The Distinguishing Features of Bureaucracy
How the Federal Bureaucracy Is Organized
Who Works in the Federal Bureaucracy?
Principles
Process
Politics
Exercise 11.1: Should the United States Create an Office of Ombudsman to Assist Citizens in Dealing with the Bureaucracy?
Exercise 11.2: Should the United States Create a System of Administrative Courts?

Chapter 12: The American Judiciary
American Law
America’s Dual Court System
Principles
Process
The Supreme Court
Politics
Exercise 12.1: Selecting Judges

Part IV: The Political System at Work

Chapter 13: Inside the Washington Community
Principles
Process
Politics
Exercise 13.1: Is the Washington Community Too Removed from the Real World?
Exercise 13.2: Who Is Influential in Washington?

Chapter 14: Public Policy
The Domain of Public Policy
Principles
Process
Politics
Exercise 14.1: Defining the Political and Governmental Agendas
Exercise 14.2: How the Budget Affects Policy

Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
Appendix B: The Constitution of the United States