Completely revised and updated to take full account of the most recent and dramatic changes in the nature of American government, the sixth edition provides a clear and concise introduction to US politics for all students of political science and American studies.
Explains, analyses and interprets the processes of US government and, crucially, appraises them from a non-US perspective. Includes commentary on the 2004 presidential election.
Fills in the social background to American political and economic life, preparing the ground for the central discussion of the book: the institutions of the federal government, Congress, the Supreme Court and the Constitution, the federal system, the Presidency, the party bandwagons and the electoral system.
Reduced emphasis on limited government and greater emphasis on foreign and domestic policy linked into the War on Terror. Reworked throughout to reflect recent developments, with two completely new chapters on The Media and American Politics, and The Security State.
Supported by a website, www.blackwellpublishing.com/mckay, including information on the book; its detailed contents; the author; controversies; sample chapters; selected tables; related titles; and links to other web resources. It will be regularly updated to ensure teachers and students have access to the most recent data.
Contents
List of Plates
List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface to the Sixth Edition
Acknowledgements
1. Limited Versus Active Government in an Uncertain Age
The Chapters to Come
2 Beliefs, Values and American Society
The Nature of American Beliefs and Values
Values and American Society
Social Structure
3. Constitutional Government
Origins: A Unique Experiment
The American Constitution
Ratification
The Adaptive Constitution
Assessing the Constitution
4. Federalism: Why the States Still Matter
Federalism in Theory and Practice
The Evolution of American Federalism
Fiscal Federalism: the Rise and Fall of the Federal Role
A Changing Court Role?
The Pressure for National Standards
American Federalism Under Pressure
5. The Changing Role of Political Parties
The Functions of Parties
Crisis and Change in the American Party System
Party Decline
Explaining Party Change
After 2000 - Political Party Revival?
6. Elections and Political Participation
Patterns of American Electoral Behaviour
The Modern American Voter Model and the New Deal Coalition
The Decline of Partisanship and the New Deal Coalition: the 1960s to 1990s
Electoral Politics After 2000
Non-electoral Political Participation
7. The Media and American Politics
Media organization and structure
News, Bias and Political Information
Censorship and Control
The Media and American Democracy
8. US Legislators and Their Constituents
Representation and Congress
Congressional Elections
Legislators as Rational Actors
The Work of Members of Congress
Conclusions
9. Congress as Legislature: Functions and Powers
The Functions of Congress
The Structure of Power in Congress
Congress under Fire
The Rise of Part Ideology
Reform and Change in Congress
Can the New Ideological Congress Lead?
10. The Presidency
Formal Sources of Power
Informal Powers
The Presidency in Crisis
The Presidency in a Changing America
Presidential Abuse of Power and the Congressional Response
Presidential Resources
Assessing the Presidency: Presidential Power at Home and Abroad
11. Bureaucratic Power: Federal Departments and Agencies
The Federal Bureaucracy: Organization and Function
The Bureaucracy: How Uncontrollable?
The Inherent Power of Bureaucracy
The Bureaucratic Hydra: a Uniquely American Phenomenon?
Reform Attempts
Concluding Remarks
12. The Security State
The Rise of the Security State
9/11, The Patriot Act and the Department of Homeland Security
Threats to Civil Liberties
The Security State and American Values
13. Organized Interests: the Real Power?
Interests, Groups and Lobbyists
Economic Groups
Professional Groups
Promotional Groups
Political Action Committees
The Washington Lobby
Interest Groups: For and Against
14. The Supreme Court and Judicial Politics
The American Legal System
The Supreme Court: Decision-making
The Court and Political Power: the Polarised Rehnquist Court
Conclusions: the Court and American Democracy
15. Regulating Morality: Civil Rights, Liberties and the Conscience Issues
Introduction
Regulating Public Morality
Civil Liberties
Equality and Civil Rights
Conclusions
16. Social Policy in America: Self-reliance and State Dependence
The Federal Government and Social Welfare in America: the
Reluctant Provider
Welfare Reforms
Health Care Reforms
Conclusions
17. Managing Economic Change
State and Economy in the United States
Ideology and Economic Policy
Institutions and Economic Policy
Conclusions: Economic Policy in an Age of Uncertainty
18. The American World Role
The Institutional Context
American Foreign Policy in the Post 9/11 Era
The War on Terrorism
Conclusions: Bound to Lead or Bound to Fail?
19. American Politics in the Post 9/11 World
Assessing the American Polity
Reform and Renewal
Websites
Appendix: The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States
Index
Explains, analyses and interprets the processes of US government and, crucially, appraises them from a non-US perspective. Includes commentary on the 2004 presidential election.
Fills in the social background to American political and economic life, preparing the ground for the central discussion of the book: the institutions of the federal government, Congress, the Supreme Court and the Constitution, the federal system, the Presidency, the party bandwagons and the electoral system.
Reduced emphasis on limited government and greater emphasis on foreign and domestic policy linked into the War on Terror. Reworked throughout to reflect recent developments, with two completely new chapters on The Media and American Politics, and The Security State.
Supported by a website, www.blackwellpublishing.com/mckay, including information on the book; its detailed contents; the author; controversies; sample chapters; selected tables; related titles; and links to other web resources. It will be regularly updated to ensure teachers and students have access to the most recent data.
Contents
List of Plates
List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface to the Sixth Edition
Acknowledgements
1. Limited Versus Active Government in an Uncertain Age
The Chapters to Come
2 Beliefs, Values and American Society
The Nature of American Beliefs and Values
Values and American Society
Social Structure
3. Constitutional Government
Origins: A Unique Experiment
The American Constitution
Ratification
The Adaptive Constitution
Assessing the Constitution
4. Federalism: Why the States Still Matter
Federalism in Theory and Practice
The Evolution of American Federalism
Fiscal Federalism: the Rise and Fall of the Federal Role
A Changing Court Role?
The Pressure for National Standards
American Federalism Under Pressure
5. The Changing Role of Political Parties
The Functions of Parties
Crisis and Change in the American Party System
Party Decline
Explaining Party Change
After 2000 - Political Party Revival?
6. Elections and Political Participation
Patterns of American Electoral Behaviour
The Modern American Voter Model and the New Deal Coalition
The Decline of Partisanship and the New Deal Coalition: the 1960s to 1990s
Electoral Politics After 2000
Non-electoral Political Participation
7. The Media and American Politics
Media organization and structure
News, Bias and Political Information
Censorship and Control
The Media and American Democracy
8. US Legislators and Their Constituents
Representation and Congress
Congressional Elections
Legislators as Rational Actors
The Work of Members of Congress
Conclusions
9. Congress as Legislature: Functions and Powers
The Functions of Congress
The Structure of Power in Congress
Congress under Fire
The Rise of Part Ideology
Reform and Change in Congress
Can the New Ideological Congress Lead?
10. The Presidency
Formal Sources of Power
Informal Powers
The Presidency in Crisis
The Presidency in a Changing America
Presidential Abuse of Power and the Congressional Response
Presidential Resources
Assessing the Presidency: Presidential Power at Home and Abroad
11. Bureaucratic Power: Federal Departments and Agencies
The Federal Bureaucracy: Organization and Function
The Bureaucracy: How Uncontrollable?
The Inherent Power of Bureaucracy
The Bureaucratic Hydra: a Uniquely American Phenomenon?
Reform Attempts
Concluding Remarks
12. The Security State
The Rise of the Security State
9/11, The Patriot Act and the Department of Homeland Security
Threats to Civil Liberties
The Security State and American Values
13. Organized Interests: the Real Power?
Interests, Groups and Lobbyists
Economic Groups
Professional Groups
Promotional Groups
Political Action Committees
The Washington Lobby
Interest Groups: For and Against
14. The Supreme Court and Judicial Politics
The American Legal System
The Supreme Court: Decision-making
The Court and Political Power: the Polarised Rehnquist Court
Conclusions: the Court and American Democracy
15. Regulating Morality: Civil Rights, Liberties and the Conscience Issues
Introduction
Regulating Public Morality
Civil Liberties
Equality and Civil Rights
Conclusions
16. Social Policy in America: Self-reliance and State Dependence
The Federal Government and Social Welfare in America: the
Reluctant Provider
Welfare Reforms
Health Care Reforms
Conclusions
17. Managing Economic Change
State and Economy in the United States
Ideology and Economic Policy
Institutions and Economic Policy
Conclusions: Economic Policy in an Age of Uncertainty
18. The American World Role
The Institutional Context
American Foreign Policy in the Post 9/11 Era
The War on Terrorism
Conclusions: Bound to Lead or Bound to Fail?
19. American Politics in the Post 9/11 World
Assessing the American Polity
Reform and Renewal
Websites
Appendix: The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States
Index