American Democracy in Context

First Edition
John Anthony Maltese - University of Georgia, USA
Joseph A. Pika - University of Delaware, USA
W. Phillips Shively - University of Minnesota, USA
American Democracy in Context
December 2019 | 528 pages | CQ Press
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Description

Discover what makes American democracy unique and how its government impacts your life 

American Democracy in Context provides a combined comparative and historical approach to inspire students to better understand American government and become active citizens. Bestselling authors Maltese, Pika, and Shively explain the distinctive features of how Americans practice democracy—how they vote, translate election results into representation of interests, make policy decisions, enforce laws and maintain justice—and how those practices differ from other democracies throughout the world. The emphasis is always on the American political system, but the search for understanding encourages students to examine how the American system has developed over time (historical context) and how it compares with similar practices in other democracies (comparative context). This combined approach motivates students to understand why politics is relevant to their everyday lives and how they can affect changes and make a difference.

Hear author John Maltese talk about key features in the book. Watch now!

This title is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package. Contact your Sage representative to request a demo.
  • Digital Option / Courseware
    Sage Vantage is an intuitive digital platform that delivers this text’s content and course materials in a learning experience that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools, all carefully designed to ignite student engagement and drive critical thinking. Built with you and your students in mind, it offers simple course set-up and enables students to better prepare for class. Learn more.
    • Assignable Video with Assessment
      Assignable video (available with Sage Vantage) is tied to learning objectives and curated exclusively for this text to bring concepts to life. Watch a sample video now.
  • LMS Cartridge (formerly known as Sage Coursepacks): Import this title’s instructor resources into your school’s learning management system (LMS) and save time. Don’t use an LMS? You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site. Learn more.


Contents

Preface

Preface

A Note From the Authors

A Note From the Authors

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

About the Authors

PART I FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

  • CHAPTER 1: DEMOCRACY AND AMERICAN POLITICS
  • Government and Politics
  • Democracy as a Form of Government
  • Functions of Government
  • American Values
  • American Ideologies
  • Comparative and Historical Contexts
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 2: THE FOUNDING AND THE CONSTITUTION
  • The American Colonies
  • Revolution and Independence
  • The Articles of Confederation
  • Starting Over: The Constitutional Convention
  • The Constitution
  • Ratifying the Constitution
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 3: FEDERALISM
  • Understanding Federalism
  • The Constitutional Allocation of the Powers of Government
  • Competing Interpretations of Federalism
  • Early Precedents: National Supremacy Prevails
  • The Resurgence of States’ Rights
  • The New Deal and the Rise of Cooperative Federalism
  • The New Federalism and Beyond
  • Consequences for Democracy

PART II CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS

  • CHAPTER 4: CIVIL LIBERTIES
  • The Bill of Rights
  • The First Amendment Freedoms of Speech, Press, and Assembly
  • The First Amendment Guarantee of Freedom of Religion
  • The Right of Privacy
  • The Rights of Criminal Defendants
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 5: CIVIL RIGHTS
  • Slavery in America
  • Civil Rights for African Americans After the Civil War
  • African American Civil Rights in the Twentieth Century
  • Women and Equal Rights
  • Discrimination Based on Ethnicity
  • New Frontiers in Civil Rights
  • Redressing Past Discrimination
  • Consequences for Democracy

PART III PEOPLE AND POLITICS

  • CHAPTER 6: PUBLIC OPINION AND POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION
  • Public Opinion and Political Culture
  • Political Socialization
  • Group Differences in the United States
  • How Public Opinion Changes
  • How Ideologies Gain Their Structure
  • How Public Opinion Is Measured
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 7: POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
  • Defining Political Parties and Interest Groups
  • The Development of American Political Parties
  • The Structure of American Parties
  • The Two-Party System
  • Responsible Party Government
  • Interest Groups in American Politics
  • Interest Group Representation and the Organization of Public Opinion
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 8: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
  • The Development of Elections in the United States
  • The Presidential Campaign
  • Congressional Elections
  • Electoral Systems and Their Effects
  • Elections and the Representation of Women and Minorities
  • Campaign Finance
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 9: PARTICIPATION, VOTING BEHAVIOR, AND CAMPAIGNS
  • Political Participation
  • Voter Turnout
  • How People Make Voting Decisions
  • Political Campaigns and the Voters’ Choices
  • Party Polarization Among Voters
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 10: MEDIA AND POLITICS
  • The Functions of the Media
  • Tracing the Development of Media in the United States
  • Government Regulation of the Media
  • Government and the Media
  • Assessing the Media
  • Consequences for Democracy

PART IV INSTITUTIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

  • CHAPTER 11: CONGRESS
  • The Functions of Congress
  • Constitutional Powers
  • The Structure of Congress
  • How Congress Operates
  • Assembling Coalitions Makes Action Possible
  • The Legislative Process
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 12: THE PRESIDENCY
  • Presidential and Parliamentary Systems
  • The Evolving Job of President
  • Public Approval of Presidents
  • The Institutional Presidency
  • Presidential Goals and Keys to Success
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 13: BUREAUCRACY
  • Democracy and Bureaucracy in the United States
  • Features of a Modern Bureaucracy
  • The Checkered History of Bureaucracy in the United States
  • The Complex Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy
  • The Size of the Federal Bureaucracy
  • The Search for Control
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 14: THE JUDICIARY
  • An Independent Judiciary Enforcing the Rule of Law
  • An Overview of the U.S. Court System
  • The Supreme Court in Action
  • Limits on the Supreme Court
  • How Judges Are Selected
  • Consequences for Democracy

PART V PUBLIC POLICY

  • CHAPTER 15: DOMESTIC AND ECONOMIC POLICY
  • Making Public Policy
  • Health Care
  • Social Security
  • Energy and the Environment
  • Economic Policy
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence
  • Appendix B: The Constitution of the United States of America
  • Appendix C: Federalist No. 10 (James Madison)
  • Appendix D: Federalist No. 51 (James Madison)
  • Glossary
  • Notes
  • Index

Description

Discover what makes American democracy unique and how its government impacts your life 

American Democracy in Context provides a combined comparative and historical approach to inspire students to better understand American government and become active citizens. Bestselling authors Maltese, Pika, and Shively explain the distinctive features of how Americans practice democracy—how they vote, translate election results into representation of interests, make policy decisions, enforce laws and maintain justice—and how those practices differ from other democracies throughout the world. The emphasis is always on the American political system, but the search for understanding encourages students to examine how the American system has developed over time (historical context) and how it compares with similar practices in other democracies (comparative context). This combined approach motivates students to understand why politics is relevant to their everyday lives and how they can affect changes and make a difference.

Hear author John Maltese talk about key features in the book. Watch now!

This title is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package. Contact your Sage representative to request a demo.
  • Digital Option / Courseware
    Sage Vantage is an intuitive digital platform that delivers this text’s content and course materials in a learning experience that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools, all carefully designed to ignite student engagement and drive critical thinking. Built with you and your students in mind, it offers simple course set-up and enables students to better prepare for class. Learn more.
    • Assignable Video with Assessment
      Assignable video (available with Sage Vantage) is tied to learning objectives and curated exclusively for this text to bring concepts to life. Watch a sample video now.
  • LMS Cartridge (formerly known as Sage Coursepacks): Import this title’s instructor resources into your school’s learning management system (LMS) and save time. Don’t use an LMS? You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site. Learn more.


Contents

Preface

Preface

A Note From the Authors

A Note From the Authors

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

About the Authors

PART I FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

  • CHAPTER 1: DEMOCRACY AND AMERICAN POLITICS
  • Government and Politics
  • Democracy as a Form of Government
  • Functions of Government
  • American Values
  • American Ideologies
  • Comparative and Historical Contexts
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 2: THE FOUNDING AND THE CONSTITUTION
  • The American Colonies
  • Revolution and Independence
  • The Articles of Confederation
  • Starting Over: The Constitutional Convention
  • The Constitution
  • Ratifying the Constitution
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 3: FEDERALISM
  • Understanding Federalism
  • The Constitutional Allocation of the Powers of Government
  • Competing Interpretations of Federalism
  • Early Precedents: National Supremacy Prevails
  • The Resurgence of States’ Rights
  • The New Deal and the Rise of Cooperative Federalism
  • The New Federalism and Beyond
  • Consequences for Democracy

PART II CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS

  • CHAPTER 4: CIVIL LIBERTIES
  • The Bill of Rights
  • The First Amendment Freedoms of Speech, Press, and Assembly
  • The First Amendment Guarantee of Freedom of Religion
  • The Right of Privacy
  • The Rights of Criminal Defendants
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 5: CIVIL RIGHTS
  • Slavery in America
  • Civil Rights for African Americans After the Civil War
  • African American Civil Rights in the Twentieth Century
  • Women and Equal Rights
  • Discrimination Based on Ethnicity
  • New Frontiers in Civil Rights
  • Redressing Past Discrimination
  • Consequences for Democracy

PART III PEOPLE AND POLITICS

  • CHAPTER 6: PUBLIC OPINION AND POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION
  • Public Opinion and Political Culture
  • Political Socialization
  • Group Differences in the United States
  • How Public Opinion Changes
  • How Ideologies Gain Their Structure
  • How Public Opinion Is Measured
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 7: POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
  • Defining Political Parties and Interest Groups
  • The Development of American Political Parties
  • The Structure of American Parties
  • The Two-Party System
  • Responsible Party Government
  • Interest Groups in American Politics
  • Interest Group Representation and the Organization of Public Opinion
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 8: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
  • The Development of Elections in the United States
  • The Presidential Campaign
  • Congressional Elections
  • Electoral Systems and Their Effects
  • Elections and the Representation of Women and Minorities
  • Campaign Finance
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 9: PARTICIPATION, VOTING BEHAVIOR, AND CAMPAIGNS
  • Political Participation
  • Voter Turnout
  • How People Make Voting Decisions
  • Political Campaigns and the Voters’ Choices
  • Party Polarization Among Voters
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 10: MEDIA AND POLITICS
  • The Functions of the Media
  • Tracing the Development of Media in the United States
  • Government Regulation of the Media
  • Government and the Media
  • Assessing the Media
  • Consequences for Democracy

PART IV INSTITUTIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

  • CHAPTER 11: CONGRESS
  • The Functions of Congress
  • Constitutional Powers
  • The Structure of Congress
  • How Congress Operates
  • Assembling Coalitions Makes Action Possible
  • The Legislative Process
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 12: THE PRESIDENCY
  • Presidential and Parliamentary Systems
  • The Evolving Job of President
  • Public Approval of Presidents
  • The Institutional Presidency
  • Presidential Goals and Keys to Success
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 13: BUREAUCRACY
  • Democracy and Bureaucracy in the United States
  • Features of a Modern Bureaucracy
  • The Checkered History of Bureaucracy in the United States
  • The Complex Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy
  • The Size of the Federal Bureaucracy
  • The Search for Control
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 14: THE JUDICIARY
  • An Independent Judiciary Enforcing the Rule of Law
  • An Overview of the U.S. Court System
  • The Supreme Court in Action
  • Limits on the Supreme Court
  • How Judges Are Selected
  • Consequences for Democracy

PART V PUBLIC POLICY

  • CHAPTER 15: DOMESTIC AND ECONOMIC POLICY
  • Making Public Policy
  • Health Care
  • Social Security
  • Energy and the Environment
  • Economic Policy
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence
  • Appendix B: The Constitution of the United States of America
  • Appendix C: Federalist No. 10 (James Madison)
  • Appendix D: Federalist No. 51 (James Madison)
  • Glossary
  • Notes
  • Index

December 2019 | 528 pages | CQ Press

Format Published Date ISBN Price

Discover what makes American democracy unique and how its government impacts your life 

American Democracy in Context provides a combined comparative and historical approach to inspire students to better understand American government and become active citizens. Bestselling authors Maltese, Pika, and Shively explain the distinctive features of how Americans practice democracy—how they vote, translate election results into representation of interests, make policy decisions, enforce laws and maintain justice—and how those practices differ from other democracies throughout the world. The emphasis is always on the American political system, but the search for understanding encourages students to examine how the American system has developed over time (historical context) and how it compares with similar practices in other democracies (comparative context). This combined approach motivates students to understand why politics is relevant to their everyday lives and how they can affect changes and make a difference.

Hear author John Maltese talk about key features in the book. Watch now!

This title is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package. Contact your Sage representative to request a demo.
  • Digital Option / Courseware
    Sage Vantage is an intuitive digital platform that delivers this text’s content and course materials in a learning experience that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools, all carefully designed to ignite student engagement and drive critical thinking. Built with you and your students in mind, it offers simple course set-up and enables students to better prepare for class. Learn more.
    • Assignable Video with Assessment
      Assignable video (available with Sage Vantage) is tied to learning objectives and curated exclusively for this text to bring concepts to life. Watch a sample video now.
  • LMS Cartridge (formerly known as Sage Coursepacks): Import this title’s instructor resources into your school’s learning management system (LMS) and save time. Don’t use an LMS? You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site. Learn more.



Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • A Note From the Authors
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Authors
  • PART I FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
  • CHAPTER 1: DEMOCRACY AND AMERICAN POLITICS
  • Government and Politics
  • Democracy as a Form of Government
  • Functions of Government
  • American Values
  • American Ideologies
  • Comparative and Historical Contexts
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 2: THE FOUNDING AND THE CONSTITUTION
  • The American Colonies
  • Revolution and Independence
  • The Articles of Confederation
  • Starting Over: The Constitutional Convention
  • The Constitution
  • Ratifying the Constitution
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 3: FEDERALISM
  • Understanding Federalism
  • The Constitutional Allocation of the Powers of Government
  • Competing Interpretations of Federalism
  • Early Precedents: National Supremacy Prevails
  • The Resurgence of States’ Rights
  • The New Deal and the Rise of Cooperative Federalism
  • The New Federalism and Beyond
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • PART II CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS
  • CHAPTER 4: CIVIL LIBERTIES
  • The Bill of Rights
  • The First Amendment Freedoms of Speech, Press, and Assembly
  • The First Amendment Guarantee of Freedom of Religion
  • The Right of Privacy
  • The Rights of Criminal Defendants
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 5: CIVIL RIGHTS
  • Slavery in America
  • Civil Rights for African Americans After the Civil War
  • African American Civil Rights in the Twentieth Century
  • Women and Equal Rights
  • Discrimination Based on Ethnicity
  • New Frontiers in Civil Rights
  • Redressing Past Discrimination
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • PART III PEOPLE AND POLITICS
  • CHAPTER 6: PUBLIC OPINION AND POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION
  • Public Opinion and Political Culture
  • Political Socialization
  • Group Differences in the United States
  • How Public Opinion Changes
  • How Ideologies Gain Their Structure
  • How Public Opinion Is Measured
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 7: POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
  • Defining Political Parties and Interest Groups
  • The Development of American Political Parties
  • The Structure of American Parties
  • The Two-Party System
  • Responsible Party Government
  • Interest Groups in American Politics
  • Interest Group Representation and the Organization of Public Opinion
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 8: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
  • The Development of Elections in the United States
  • The Presidential Campaign
  • Congressional Elections
  • Electoral Systems and Their Effects
  • Elections and the Representation of Women and Minorities
  • Campaign Finance
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 9: PARTICIPATION, VOTING BEHAVIOR, AND CAMPAIGNS
  • Political Participation
  • Voter Turnout
  • How People Make Voting Decisions
  • Political Campaigns and the Voters’ Choices
  • Party Polarization Among Voters
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 10: MEDIA AND POLITICS
  • The Functions of the Media
  • Tracing the Development of Media in the United States
  • Government Regulation of the Media
  • Government and the Media
  • Assessing the Media
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • PART IV INSTITUTIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
  • CHAPTER 11: CONGRESS
  • The Functions of Congress
  • Constitutional Powers
  • The Structure of Congress
  • How Congress Operates
  • Assembling Coalitions Makes Action Possible
  • The Legislative Process
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 12: THE PRESIDENCY
  • Presidential and Parliamentary Systems
  • The Evolving Job of President
  • Public Approval of Presidents
  • The Institutional Presidency
  • Presidential Goals and Keys to Success
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 13: BUREAUCRACY
  • Democracy and Bureaucracy in the United States
  • Features of a Modern Bureaucracy
  • The Checkered History of Bureaucracy in the United States
  • The Complex Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy
  • The Size of the Federal Bureaucracy
  • The Search for Control
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • CHAPTER 14: THE JUDICIARY
  • An Independent Judiciary Enforcing the Rule of Law
  • An Overview of the U.S. Court System
  • The Supreme Court in Action
  • Limits on the Supreme Court
  • How Judges Are Selected
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • PART V PUBLIC POLICY
  • CHAPTER 15: DOMESTIC AND ECONOMIC POLICY
  • Making Public Policy
  • Health Care
  • Social Security
  • Energy and the Environment
  • Economic Policy
  • Consequences for Democracy
  • Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence
  • Appendix B: The Constitution of the United States of America
  • Appendix C: Federalist No. 10 (James Madison)
  • Appendix D: Federalist No. 51 (James Madison)
  • Glossary
  • Notes
  • Index

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