Annual Editions: American Government

Herausgeber: Stinebrickner, Bruce

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

This annually updated reader is a compilation of current magazine, newspaper, and journal articles. Annual Editions titles are supported with study tools and links to related websites at our student website, Dushkin Online (www.dushkin.com/online/).

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Produktdetails

• Annual Editions: American Gove
• Verlag: Dushkin Publishing
• 05/06
• Seitenzahl: 223
• Erscheinungstermin: Juni 2005
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 276mm x 209mm x 14mm
• Gewicht: 608g
• ISBN-13: 9780073194967
• ISBN-10: 0073194964
• Artikelnr.: 21578901

Inhaltsangabe

UNIT 1. Foundations of American Politics Part A. Basic Documents 1. The Declaration of Independence, 1776, Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence, This document formally announces that 13 former British colonies have become the free and independent United States of America. It eloquently identifies certain historic principles on which their claim to independence rests. 2. The Constitution of the United States, 1787, The Constitution of the U.S., The Constitution provides an organizational blueprint for the national government and for the federal relationship between the national government and the states. In addition, the first 10 amendments, commonly known as the Bill of Rights, spell out limits on what the government can do. A commentary accompanying the actual document provides a brief account of the writing of the Constitution and also notes some of its significant features. 3. The Size and Variety of the Union as a Check on Faction, James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 10, 1787 James Madison argues in support of the union of the 13 states under the new Constitution. According to Madison, a system of representative democracy governing a large territory and many people will help control the undesirable effects of
faction.
4. Checks and Balances, James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 51, 1787 According to James Madison, both the separation of powers among three branches of government and the division of powers between the states and the central government will help preserve representative democracy under the new Constitution. Part B. Contemporary Views and Values 5. Dawn of the Daddy State, Paul Starobin, The Atlantic Monthly, June 2004 Paul Starobin argues that the current age of terrorism requires greater authoritarianism to safeguard homeland security. He explores various challenges in fashioning the appropriate
daddy state.
6. Ever Higher Society, Ever Harder to Ascend, The Economist, January 1, 2005 This selection notes that, while Americans generally support the idea that their own efforts and abilities determine their success, genuine equality of opportunity is declining in the U.S. 7. Party On, Dudes! Ignorance Is the Curse of the Information Age, Matthew Robinson, The American Spectator, March/April 2002 Matthew Robinson provides a current update on the state of political knowledge
and ignorance
among Americans and discusses the implications for the practice of democracy in the U.S. 8. Federalism
s Ups and Downs, Carl Tubbesing, State Legislatures, February 2002 Using the views of Alexander Hamilton, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Benjamin Franklin as references, Carl Tubbesing explores three explanations for the growth of the national government
s power at the expense of the states. 9. Choice Language, Sarah Blustain, The American Prospect, December 2004 Sarah Blustain critically assesses rhetoric used in defending abortion rights and finds it unsatisfactory and even offensive. She argues for a more sensitive, more nuanced message from supporters of a pro-choice position. Part C. Constitutional and Legal Matters 10. Rights, Liberties, and Security: Recalibrating the Balance After September 11, Stuart Taylor Jr., Brookings Review, Winter 2003 Stuart Taylor argues that the post-9/11 United States needs to recalibrate the balance between civil liberties and government security measures. He favors increasing government powers in thougthful, measured ways to combat the threat of terrorism. 11. On Americäs Double Standard, Harold Hongju Koh, The American Prospect, October 2004 The author explores various facets of American exceptionalism in the areas of treaty obligations and human rights. He argues that the double standards so often practiced by the U.S. ultimately undermine universal values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. 12. Winks, Nods, Disguises
and Racial Preference, Carl Cohen, Commentary, September 2003 Carl Cohen critically assesses the 2003 landmark rulings of the Supreme Court about the constitutionality of two affirmative action admission programs used by the University of Michigan. 13. Dire Straights, Jonathan Rauch, The Washington Monthly, April 2004 Jonathan Rauch explores the complicated terrain of gay marriage, civil unions, domestic-partner programs, cohabitation, and the different social expectations that attach to these phenomena. The best defense of the institution of marriage, he argues, is to make it legally available to gays and straights alike. 14. Bush Zones Go National, Jim Hightower, The Nation, August 16
23, 2004 According to Jim Hightower,
free-speech zones
and other government tactics that curtail the effectiveness of dissent against Bush administration policies violate the principle of free expression embodied in the First Amendment. UNIT 2. Structures of American Politics Part A. The Presidency 15. The Return of the Imperial Presidency?, Donald R. Wolfensberger, The Wilson Quarterly, Spring 2002 Donald Wolfensberger reviews the concept of the imperial presidency and explores the extent to which the imperial presidency has returned in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 16. The Accidental Radical, Jonathan Rauch, National Journal, July 26, 2003 Jonathan Rauch argues that George W. Bush has made bold, even radical, moves as president. He suggests that many of his moves have been risky and that they will likely lead to either success like that of President Franklin Roosevelt or failure like that of President Lyndon Johnson. 17. Like a Rock, George Packer, Mother Jones, July/August 2004 George Packer explores the
collective personality
that charaterizes the Bush administration: resolve, discipline, inflexibility, rigidity, or whatever you want to call it. He then outlines what he considers to be the preferable leadership styles of Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. 18. A Hot Line to Heaven, The Economist, December 18, 2004 This selection identifies five main ways that President Bush uses religious rhetoric and compares his use of such language to that of his predecessors. 19. When Presidents Lie, Eric Alterman, The Nation, October 25, 2004 Eric Alterman suggests that the American public has become accustomed to presidents lying to them. He reviews various incidents of presidential dishonesty and rationales supporting it. He then assesses what presidents ought to do. Part B. Congress 20. The Legacy of the Class of
94, Jonathan Allen, CQ Weekly, September 4, 2004 Jonathan Allen examines the significant changes that Republicans introduced in the House of Representatives after their return to majority control following the November 1994 congressional elections. 21. Votes Echo Electoral Themes, Isaiah J. Poole, CQ Weekly, December 11, 2004 Isaiah Poole analyzes the extent of partisanship in congressional voting in 2004. He reports that polarization along party lines remains high. 22. On Their Own Terms, Martha Angle, CQ Weekly, December 28, 2002 Martha Angle introduces the 60-odd women who served in the 108th Congress. She suggests that they were mostly a different breed from their congressional predecessors. 23. The Case for Congress, Lee H. Hamilton, The Wilson Quarterly, Spring 2004 Lee Hamilton defends Congress against a series of frequently voiced criticisms of the institution and of its individual members. 24. Heeding the Roll Call Bell, John Cranford, CQ Weekly, December 11, 2004 John Cranford compares the total number of roll calls and the participation rates of individual members of the House and Senate in 2004 with corresponding figures over the past half-century. 25. Then Came the Hammer, Sam Rosenfeld, The American Prospect, December 2004 Sam Rosenfeld recounts how the seeds of the way today
s Congress is dominated by its Republican leadership were sown by reforms introduced by liberal Democrats in the 1970s. Part C. The Judiciary 26. Sandräs Day, Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, June 30, 2003 Ramesh Ponnuru analyzes the role that Justice Sandra Day O
Connor has played on the Supreme Court and explains why she is rightly considered the most powerful justice. 27. The God Squad, Susan Jacoby, The American Prospect, January 2005 Susan Jacoby distinguishes a politically conservative Supreme Court from a Court dominated by religious conservatives and suggests that Bush nominees might well transform today
s Court from the former to the latter. 28. Introduction
Political Scientists in McConnell v. FEC, Jonathan S. Krasno, PS: Political Science and Politics, October 2004 Jonathan Krasno briefly reports the roles that at least fourteen political scientists played in the U.S. Supreme Court
s landmark McConnell v. FEC decision on campaign finance reform. 29. Elections, Treaties, Assassination and Attack, William H. Rehnquist, American History, June 2004 Chief Justice Rehnquist surveys the history of Supreme Court justices serving in extra-judicial roles since the late eighteenth century and considers whether such activities have served the nation well. Part D. 30. Compete, or Else, John Maggs, National Journal, July 12, 2003 John Maggs explores a little-noticed initiative of the current Bush administration, a plan aimed at making government bureaucracies compete against private contractors by bidding to perform particular tasks. Maggs suggests that this plan may turn out to be one of the Bush presidency
s most important legacies. 31. The Good Guys, Alicia Mundy, The American Prospect, November 2004 Alicia Mundy argues that deregulation and other government actions have left lawsuits as a remedy of last resort for victims of unsafe cars, bad medical care, poisonous waste, and corporate fraud. In turn, she asserts, lawyers who work on behalf of such clients are performing a valuab le function. 32. Intelligence Reform
At Last, David E. Kaplan and Kevin Whitelaw, U.S. News & World Report, December 20, 2004 The authors summarize and assess the restructuring of the U.S.
s intelligence-gathering apparatus that Congress passed in December 2004. UNIT 3. Process of American Politics Part A. Political Parties and Interest Groups 33. The Chieftains and the Church, Ted Halstead, The Atlantic Monthly, January/February 2004 Ted Halstead engages in what he calls
an intellectual audit
of Americäs two major parties, and he arrives at an interesting distinction between the two parties that is reflected in the title of this selection. 34. How to Reinvent the G.O.P., David Brooks, The New York Times Magazine, August 29, 2004 David Brooks argues that the Republican party must adapt in the aftermath of the war on terror and the death of socialism. He then suggests how Republicans and conservatives can meet this challenge. 35. Democrats Adrift?, William A. Galston, The Public Interest, Fall 2004 William Galston identifies several important changes in American society that have affected Democratic party fortunes in the past couple of decades and will continue to do so in the future. He suggests how the party should respond to changed economic, cultural, and social circumstances. 36. Christian Soldiers, Peter H. Stone and Bara Vaida, National Journal, December 4, 2004 The authors discuss the influence that the Religious Right wields in the Bush administration and identify a dozen or so interest groups that pursue various religiously and socially conservative goals. Part B. The Conduct of Elections 37. America Observed, Robert A. Pastor, The American Prospect, January 2005 Robert Pastor identifies
dysfunctional decentralization
as the central cause of problems in Americäs election system and compares the various dimensions of the U.S.
s system with those of other countries. 38. The Redistricting Wars, Sasha Abramsky, The Nation, December 29, 2003 Sasha Abramsky describes and criticizes the unprecedented timing of Republican state legislators
redistricting of their states
congressional seats. He also notes the important role that newly available redistricting software has played in the process. Part C. The 2004 Elections 39. Bush
s Well-Mapped Road to Victory, Richard Lowry, National Review, November 29, 2004 Richard Lowry identifies two strategic insights that anchored the 2004 Bush campaign and shows how top campaign aides used those insights to mold the president
s successful re-election campaign. 40. The $4 Billion Campaign: Better, or Just Louder?, David Nather, CQ Weekly, October 30, 2004 David Nather reports how the 2002 campaign finance reform law reshaped the way the 2004 presidential and congressional campaigns were financed. He notes that, despite the changes, the campaigns cost more money than ever before and questions whether much good was achieved. 41. What John Kerry Taught Us About Online Advertising, Michael Bassik, Campaigns & Elections, December 2004/January 2005 Michael Bassik describes the successful use of online advertising by presidential candidate John Kerry during his 2004 presidential campaign. 42. A Dent That Counts, Richard Nadler, National Review, December 13, 2004 Richard Nadler reports the efforts of conservative
527 committees
to increase blacks
and Hispanics
support for Republican George W. Bush during the 2004 presidential election campaign and summarizes his own role in those partly successful efforts. Part D. Media 43. Journalism and Democracy, Bill Moyers, The Nation, May 7, 2001 Bill Moyers outlines what he seeks as the key role of journalism in the practice of American democracy. He also gives several examples of how powerful interests have tried to discredit important stories or even prevent them from appearing. 44. Waging the Media Battle, Robert W. McChesney, The American Prospect, July 2004 Robert McChesney laments the shortcomings of the media system in the United States. He argues that government policies have led to the domination of the entire system by twenty or so media giants and dramatically reduced competition between media outlets, with adverse effects on American democracy. 45. The Great Media Breakdown, Todd Gitlin, Mother Jones, November/December 2004 Todd Gitlin argues that all governments lie and that a primary function of news media is to detect and call attention to such dishonesty. He laments the growing failure of American news media to perform this role. 46. Low Marks, Paul McMasters, American Journalism Review, August/September 2004 Paul McMasters reports the results of a public opinion poll gauging Americans
attitudes about freedom of the press and the performance of American news media. UNIT 4. Products of American Politics Part A. Tax and Environmental Policy 47. The Tax-Cut Con, Paul Krugman, The New York Times Magazine, September 14, 2003 Paul Krugman says that a tax-cut crusade has dominated the last quarter-century of American politics. He examines the motives of those supporting that crusade and critically assesses its effects on American government both now and in the future. 48. Changing All the Rules, Bruce Barcott, The New York Times Magazine, April 4, 2004 Bruce Barcott details the working of clean air policies and regulations since the 1970 Clean Air Act and reports the big changes that the Bush administration has made in this area. 49. Pork With a Point, P.J. O
Rourke, The Atlantic Monthly, December 2004 P.J. O
Rourke wittily describes a proposed and costly transportation bill, one that included a great deal of
pork
and that was not enacted into law in 2004. He describes many of the forces and counterforces that worked to produce the bill and, at the same time, to prevent its passage. Part B. National and Homeland Security 50. The Compulsive Empire, Robert Jervis, Foreign Policy, July/August 2003 Robert Jervis identifies the factors that seem to lead the United States, almost inexorably, to imperialist aspirations and deeds. 51. Americäs Sticky Power, Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Policy, March/April 2004 Walter Russell Mead observes that the United States exercises more than one kind of power in the world today. He focuses on the importance of American economic might, which he calls
sticky power,
in anchoring the U.S.
s position in global affairs. 52. The Patriot Act Without Tears, Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, June 14, 2004 Andrew McCarthy defends the Patriot Act of 2001 as a necessary overhaul of American government
s anti-terrorist structures in the aftermath of 9/11. 53. Clearer Than the Truth, Benjamin Schwarz, The Atlantic Monthly, April 2004 Benjamin Schwarz observes that presidents and their administrations have regularly engaged in distortions and exaggerations in pursuing what they deemed to be critical national security interest. He then proceeds to assess Bush administration pronouncements about Iraq and Saddam Hussein in this context.