Table of Contents

PART ONE: FOUNDATIONS I

Chapter 1
The American Heritage: Seeking a More Perfect Union
Political Culture: The Core Principles of American Government
Politics: The Process of Deciding upon Society's Goals
Who Governs America?
The Concept of a Political System and the Book's Organization

Chapter 2
Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government
Before the Constitution: The Colonial and Revolutionary Experiences
The Rights of Englishmen
Negotiating Toward a Constitution
Providing for a Limited Government
Providing for Self-Government
Congressional Democracy Today

Chapter 3
Federal Government: Forging a Nation
Federalism: National and State Sovereignty
Federalism in Historical Perspective
Federalism Today
The Public's Influence: Setting the Boundaries of Federal-State Power

Chapter 4
Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Religion
The Right of Privacy
Rights of Persons Accused of Crimes
The Courts and a Free Society

Chapter 5
Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness
The Struggle for Equality
Equality Under the Law
Equality of Result
Persistent Discrimination: Superficial Differences, Deep Divisions

PART TWO: MASS POLITICS

Chapter 6
Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the People's Voice
The Nature of Public Opinion
The Measurement of Public Opinion
Political Socialization: How Americans Learn Their Politics
Frames of Reference: How Americans Think Politically
The Influence of Public Opinion on Policy

Chapter 7
Political Participation and Voting: Expressing the Popular Will
Voter Participation
Conventional Forms of Participation Other Than Voting
Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics
Participation and the Potential for Influence

Chapter 8
Elections and the Two-Party-System: Defining the Voters' Choice
Party Competition and Majority Rule
Electoral and Party Systems
Policies and Coalitions in the Two-Party System
Popular Influence and America's Two-Party System

Chapter 9
Political Parties; Candidates, and Campaigns: Contesting Elections
The Weakening of Party Control
The Structure and Role of Party Organizations
The Candidate-Centered Campaign
Parties, Candidates, and the Public's Influence

Chapter 10
Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence
The Interest-Group System
Inside Lobbying: Seeking Influence Through Official Contacts
Outside Lobbying: Seeking Influence Through Public Pressure
The Group System: Indispensable But Flawed

Chapter 11
The News Media: Communicating Political Images
The Development of the News Media: from Partisanshp To Objective Journalism
Freedom and Conformity in the U.S. News Media
The News Media as Link: Roles the Press Can and Cannot Perform

PART THREE: GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS

Chapter 12
Congressional Election and Organization: Sharing the Power
Congress as a Career: Election To Congress
Congressional Leadership
The Committee System
Institutional Support for the Work of Congress

Chapter 13
Congressional Policymaking: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests
The Lawmaking Function of Congress
The Representation Function of Congress
The Oversight Function of Congress
Congress: Too Much Pluralism?

Chapter 14
Presidential Office and Election: Leading the Nation
Foundations of the Modern Presidency
Closing the President
Staffing the Presidency
The Problem of Control

Chapter 15
Presidential Policymaking: Eliciting Support
Factors in Presidential Leadership
Presidential Leadership
The Televised Presidency and the Illusion of Presidential Government

Chapter 16
The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government
Federal Administration: Form, Personnel, and Activities
Development of the Federal Bureaucracy: Politics and Administration
The Bureaucracy's Power Imperative
Bureaucratic Accountability
Reinventing Government

Chapter 17
The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law
The Federal Judicial System
Federal Court Appointees
The Nature of Judicial Decision Making
Political Influences on Judicial Decisions
Judicial Power and Democratic Government

PART FOUR: PUBLIC POLICY

Chapter 18
Economic Policy: Contributing To Prosperity
Government as Regulator of the Economy
Government as Protector of the Environment
Government as Promoter of Economic Interests
Fiscal Policy: Government as Manager of Economy, I
Monetary Policy: Government as Manager of Economy, II

Chapter 19
Social Welfare Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need
Poverty in America: The Nature of the Problem
The Politics and Policies of Social Welfare
Individual-Benefit Programs
Education as Equality of Opportunity: The American Way
Culture, Politics, and Social Welfare

Chapter 20
Foreign and Defense Policy: Protecting the American Way
The Roots of U.S. Foreign and Defense Policy
The Process of Foreign and Military Policymaking
The Military Dimension of National Security Policy
The Economic Dimension of National Security Policy

Chapter 21
Conclusion: Renewing America's Ideals
The Challenge of Leadership
The Challenge of Citizenship
The Challenge of Ideals