We the People

Preface 1 American Political Culture: Seeking a More Perfect Union Political Culture: The Core Principles of American Government America's Core Values: Liberty, Equality, and Self-Government Politics: The Process of Deciding Upon Society''s Goals The Concept of a Political System and This Book''s Organization Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 1: Securing Freedom's Triumph, George W. Bush 2 Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government Before the Constitution: The Colonial and Revolutionary Experiences Negotiating Toward a Constitution Protecting Liberty: Limited Government Providing for Self-Government Constitutional Democracy Today Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 2: There's a Small Matter of Checks and Balances, David E. Sanger 3 Federalism: 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 Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 3: The Nation: 5-to-4, Now and Forever; At the Court, Dissent over States' Rights is Now War, Linda Greenhouse 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 Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 4: Judges Ban Pledge of Allegiance from Schools, Citing "Under God", Evelyn Nieves 5 Equal Rights: Struggling Towards Fairness The Struggle for Equality Equality Under the Law Equality of Result Persistent Discrimination: Superficial Differences, Deep Divisions Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 5: The World: What's in a Name?; Redefining Minority, Susan Sachs 6 Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the People''s Voice The Nature of Public Opinion Political Socialization: How Americans Learn Their Politics Frames of Reference: How Americans Think Politically The Influence of Public Opinion on Policy Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 6: Wrong Number: The Unbearable Lightness of Public Opinion Polls, Adam Clymer 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 Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 7: Election Day Curtain Call, Maura J. Casey 8 Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voter''s Choice Party Competition and Majority Rule: The History of U.S. Parties Electoral and Party Systems Party Organizations The Candidate-Centered Campaign Parties, Candidates, and the Public''s Influence Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 9: The 2002 Campaign: The Commercials; A Softer Spin on the Mean Season, Lizette Alvarez 9 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 Biased Summary Key Terms List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 10: Lobbyists Waitin' on the Levy for Their Ship to Come In, Jill Abramson 10 The News Media: Communicating Political Images The Development of the News Media: From Partisanship to Objective Journalism Freedom and Conformity in the U.S. News Media The News Media As Link: Roles the Press Can and Cannot Perform Organizing the Public in the Media Age Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 10: Mideast Turmoil: The News Outlets; Some U.S. Backers of Israel Boycott Dailies Over Mideast Coverage That They Deplore, Felicity Barringer 11 Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests Congress as a Career: Election to Congress Congressional Leadership The Committee System How a Bill Becomes Law Congress''s Policymaking Role Congress: Too Much Pluralism? Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 11: Unlikely Allies Press to Add Conservation to Farm Bill, Elizabeth Becker 12 The Presidency: Leading the Nation Foundations of the Modern Presidency Choosing the President Staffing the Presidency Factors in Presidential Leadership Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 12: After the Attacks: Assessment; President Seems to Gain Legitimacy, R.W. Apple Jr. 13 The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government The Federal Administration: Form, Personnel, and Activities Development of the Federal Bureaucracy: Politics and Administration The Bureaucracy''s Power Imperative Bureaucratic Accountability Reinventing Government Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 13: Signing Homeland Security Bill, Bush Appoints Ridge as Secretary, Richard W. Stevenson 14 The Judiciary: Applying the Law The Federal Judicial System Federal Court Appointees Political Influences on Judicial Decisions Judicial Power and Democratic Government Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 14: Divining the Consequences of a Court Divided, Linda Greenhouse 15 Economic and Environmental 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 the Economy, I Monetary Policy: Government as Manager of the Economy, II Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 15: Will Reforms WithPatterson, Thomas E. is the author of 'We the People', published 2003 under ISBN 9780072935288 and ISBN 0072935286.