We the People

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We the People: An Introduction to American Politics 11e/Essentials edition......Page 1 Half title ......Page 2 Map ......Page 3 Title Page ......Page 6 Copyright ......Page 7 Dedication ......Page 8 Contents ......Page 10 Preface ......Page 22 Acknowledgments......Page 24 1. Introduction: The Citizen and Government......Page 31 Government Affects Our Lives Every Day......Page 34 Political Efficacy Means People Can Make a Difference......Page 36 Citizenship Is Based on Political Knowledge and Participation......Page 37 Different Forms of Government Are Defined by Power and Freedom......Page 38 Limits on Governments Encouraged Freedom......Page 39 The Goal of Politics Is Having a Say in What Happens......Page 40 The Identity of Americans Has Changed over Time......Page 41 Immigration and Increasing Ethnic Diversity Have Long Caused Intense Debate ......Page 42 Today the Country Still Confronts the Question “Who Are Americans?" ......Page 43 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Global Diversity ......Page 46 Liberty Means Freedom......Page 48 Equality Means Treating People Fairly......Page 49 American Political Values and Your Future......Page 50 WHO PARTICIPATES? Who Participated in the 2012 Presidential Election?......Page 52 Key Terms......Page 55 For Further Reading......Page 56 2. The Founding and the Constitution......Page 57 Narrow Interests and Political Conflicts Shaped the First Founding ......Page 60 British Taxes Hurt Colonial Economic Interests......Page 61 Political Strife Radicalized the Colonists......Page 62 The Declaration of Independence Explained Why the Colonists Wanted to Break with Great Britain ......Page 63 The Articles of Confederation Created America’s First National Government......Page 64 The Failure of the Articles of Confederation Made the “Second Founding” Necessary......Page 65 Shays’s Rebellion Showed How Weak the Government Was......Page 66 The Constitutional Convention Didn’t Start Out to Write a New Constitution......Page 67 The Constitution Created Both Bold Powers and Sharp Limits on Power......Page 70 The Legislative Branch Was Designed to Be the Most Powerful......Page 72 The Executive Branch Created a Brand New Office......Page 73 National Unity and Power Set the New Constitution Apart from the Old Articles......Page 74 The Constitution Limits the National Government’s Power......Page 75 Ratification of the Constitution Was Difficult......Page 78 Federalists and Antifederalists Fought Bitterly over the Wisdom of the New Constitution......Page 79 Both Federalists and Antifederalists Contributed to the Success of the New System......Page 81 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Comparing Systems of Government......Page 82 Amendments: Many Are Called; Few Are Chosen......Page 83 The Amendment Process Reflects “Higher Law" ......Page 84 The Constitution and Your Future......Page 87 WHO PARTICIPATES? Who Gained the Right to Vote through Amendments? ......Page 88 Key Terms......Page 91 For Further Reading......Page 92 3. Federalism......Page 93 Federalism Comes from the Constitution......Page 96 Federalism under the “Traditional System” Gave Most Powers to the States......Page 100 The Supreme Court Paved the Way for the End of the “Traditional System" ......Page 102 FDR’s New Deal Remade the Government......Page 104 Changing Court Interpretations of Federalism Helped the New Deal While Preserving States’ Rights......Page 105 Cooperative Federalism Pushes States to Achieve National Goals......Page 107 National Standards Have Been Advanced through Federal Programs......Page 108 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Government Spending in Federal and Unitary Systems......Page 110 New Federalism Means More State Control......Page 112 There Is No Simple Answer to Finding the Right National–State Balance......Page 113 Federalism and Your Future......Page 117 WHO PARTICIPATES? Who Participates in State and Local Politics? ......Page 118 Key Terms......Page 120 For Further Reading......Page 122 4. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights......Page 123 The Origin of the Bill of Rights Lies in Those Who Opposed the Constitution......Page 126 The Fourteenth Amendment Nationalized the Bill of Rights through Incorporation......Page 127 Separation between Church and State Comes from the First Amendment......Page 130 Free Exercise of Religion Means You Have a Right to Your Beliefs......Page 131 Political Speech Is Consistently Protected......Page 132 Symbolic Speech, Speech Plus, Assembly, and Petition Are Highly Protected......Page 133 Some Speech Has Only Limited Protection......Page 135 The Second Amendment Now Protects an Individual’s Right to Own a Gun......Page 138 The Fourth Amendment Protects against Unlawful Searches and Seizures......Page 140 The Fifth Amendment Covers Court-Related Rights......Page 142 The Eighth Amendment Bars Cruel and Unusual Punishment......Page 144 The Right to Privacy Means the Right to Be Left Alone......Page 145 Plessy v. Ferguson Established “Separate but Equal" ......Page 147 Lawsuits to Fight for Equality Came after World War II......Page 148 The Civil Rights Struggle Escalated after Brown v. Board of Education......Page 150 The Civil Rights Acts Made Equal Protection a Reality......Page 151 Americans Have Fought Gender Discrimination......Page 155 Latinos and Asian Americans Fight for Rights......Page 158 Native Americans Have Sovereignty but Still Lack Rights......Page 159 Gay Men and Lesbians Have Gained Significant Legal Ground......Page 160 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Same-Sex Marriage around the World......Page 162 The Supreme Court Shifts the Burden of Proof in Affirmative Action......Page 163 Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, and Your Future......Page 164 WHO PARTICIPATES? Religious Affiliation and Freedom of Religion ......Page 166 Key Terms......Page 169 For Further Reading......Page 170 5. Public Opinion ......Page 171 Public Opinion Represents Attitudes about Politics......Page 174 Americans Share Common Political Values......Page 175 America’s Dominant Political Ideologies Are Liberalism and Conservatism......Page 177 Americans Exhibit Low Trust in Government......Page 178 Political Socialization Shapes Public Opinion......Page 179 Political Knowledge Is Important in Shaping Public Opinion......Page 185 The Media and Government Mold Opinion......Page 187 The News Media’s Message Affects Public Opinion......Page 188 Government Policies Also Respond to Public Opinion......Page 189 Public-Opinion Surveys Are Accurate If Done Properly......Page 190 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Public Opinion on Climate Change......Page 191 Why Are Some Polls Wrong?......Page 194 Public Opinion, Democracy, and Your Future......Page 197 WHO PARTICIPATES? Who Expresses Their Political Opinions? ......Page 198 Key Terms......Page 201 For Further Reading......Page 202 6. The Media......Page 203 Print Media......Page 206 Broadcast Media......Page 208 More Media Outlets Are Owned by Fewer Companies......Page 209 The Rise of New Media Has Strongly Influenced How Americans Get Their News......Page 211 Online News Takes Many Forms......Page 212 New Media Have Many Benefits......Page 216 But New Media Raise Several Concerns......Page 217 The Media Influence Public Opinion through Agenda-Setting, Framing, and Priming ......Page 218 Leaked Information Can Come from Government Officials or Independent Sources......Page 220 Adversarial Journalism Has Risen in Recent Years......Page 221 Broadcast Media Are Regulated but Not Print Media......Page 222 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Press Freedom around the world......Page 224 The Media, Democracy, and Your Future......Page 225 WHO PARTICIPATES? Who Participates via Social Media? ......Page 226 Key Terms......Page 229 For Further Reading......Page 230 7. Political Parties, Participation, and Elections......Page 231 Political Parties Arose from the Electoral Process......Page 234 Parties Help Get Out the Vote......Page 235 Presidents Need Political Parties......Page 237 America Is One of the Few Nations with a Two-Party System......Page 238 Electoral Realignments Define Party Systems in American History......Page 244 American Third Parties Sometimes Change the Major Parties and Election Outcomes......Page 245 Voting Is the Most Important Form of Traditional Participation......Page 247 Digital Political Participation Is Surging......Page 248 Voter Turnout in America Is Low......Page 250 Why Do People Vote? ......Page 251 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Voter Turnout in Comparison......Page 253 Party Loyalty Is Important......Page 254 Candidate Characteristics Are More Important in the Media Age......Page 255 The Electoral Process Has Many Levels and Rules......Page 256 The Electoral College Still Organizes Presidential Elections......Page 257 The 2016 Election......Page 258 The General Election Was Bitterly Fought......Page 259 White Working-Class Voters Were Key to Trump’s Victory......Page 261 The 2016 Election Raised Important Questions About the Future......Page 262 Campaign Funds Come from Direct Appeals, the Rich, PACs, and Parties......Page 264 Political Parties, Elections, and Your Future......Page 267 WHO PARTICIPATES? Who Voted in 2012? ......Page 268 Key Terms......Page 271 For Further Reading......Page 272 8. Interest Groups......Page 273 Interest Groups Form to Advocate for Different Interests......Page 276 What Interests Are Represented? ......Page 277 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Labor Union Membership in Global Decline......Page 278 Group Membership Has an Upper-Class Bias......Page 279 The Organizational Components of Groups Include Money, Offices, and Members ......Page 280 The Internet Has Changed the Way Interest Groups Foster Participation......Page 283 The Expansion of Government Has Spurred the Growth of Groups......Page 284 Interest Groups Use Different Strategies to Gain Influence......Page 285 Direct Lobbying Combines Education, Persuasion, and Pressure......Page 286 Cultivating Access Means Getting the Attention of Decision Makers......Page 287 Using the Courts (Litigation) Can Be Highly Effective......Page 289 Mobilizing Public Opinion Brings Wider Attention to an Issue......Page 290 Groups Often Use Electoral Politics......Page 292 Groups, Interests, and Your Future......Page 294 WHO PARTICIPATES? How Much Do Major Groups Spend? ......Page 296 Key Terms......Page 299 For Further Reading......Page 300 9. Congress ......Page 301 The House and Senate Offer Differences in Representation......Page 304 Representation Can Be Sociological or Agency......Page 305 The Electoral Connection Hinges on Incumbency......Page 308 Direct Patronage Means Bringing Home the Bacon......Page 313 Party Leadership in the House and the Senate Organizes Power......Page 315 The Committee System Is the Core of Congress......Page 316 The Staff System Is the Power behind the Power......Page 318 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Legislatures in Comparison ......Page 319 Debate Is Less Restricted in the Senate Than in the House......Page 320 The President’s Veto Controls the Flow of Legislation......Page 323 Interest Groups Influence Constituents and Congress......Page 324 Party Leaders Rely on Party Discipline......Page 325 Partisanship Has Thwarted the Ability of Congress to Decide......Page 329 Much Congressional Energy Goes to Tasks Other Than Lawmaking......Page 330 Special Senate Powers Include Advice and Consent......Page 331 Congress and Your Future......Page 332 WHO PARTICIPATES? Who Elects Congress? ......Page 334 Key Terms......Page 337 For Further Reading......Page 340 10. The Presidency......Page 341 Presidential Power Is Rooted in the Constitution......Page 344 Expressed Powers Come Directly from the Words of the Constitution......Page 345 Delegated Powers Come from Congress......Page 350 Modern Presidents Have Claimed Inherent Powers......Page 351 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Executive Branches in Comparison......Page 352 Institutional Resources of Presidential Power Are Numerous......Page 353 The Cabinet Is Often Distant from the President......Page 354 The Executive Office of the President Is a Visible Sign of the Modern Strong Presidency......Page 355 The First Spouse Has Become Important to Policy......Page 356 Party, Popular Mobilization, and Administration Make Presidents Stronger......Page 357 Going Public Means Trying to Whip Up the People......Page 358 The Administrative Strategy Increases Presidential Control......Page 360 Presidential Power Has Limits......Page 363 The Presidency and Your Future......Page 365 WHO PARTICIPATES? Who Voted for Donald Trump in 2016? ......Page 366 Key Terms......Page 369 For Further Reading......Page 370 11. Bureaucracy......Page 371 Bureaucracy Exists to Improve Efficiency......Page 374 Bureaucrats Fulfill Important Roles......Page 375 The Size of the Federal Service Has Actually Declined......Page 377 The Executive Branch Is Organized Hierarchically......Page 379 Federal Bureaucracies Promote the Public Welfare......Page 380 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Bureaucracy in Comparison......Page 382 Federal Agencies Provide for National Security......Page 384 Federal Bureaucracies Help to Maintain a Strong National Economy......Page 386 The President as Chief Executive Can Direct Agencies......Page 388 Congress Promotes Responsible Bureaucracy......Page 390 Can the Bureaucracy Be Reformed? ......Page 392 Bureaucracy, Democracy, and Your Future......Page 393 WHO PARTICIPATES? Getting Information from the Bureaucracy ......Page 394 Key Terms......Page 397 For Further Reading......Page 398 12. The Federal Courts......Page 399 Court Cases Proceed under Criminal and Civil Law......Page 402 Types of Courts Include Trial, Appellate, and Supreme......Page 403 The Lower Federal Courts Handle Most Cases......Page 406 The Appellate Courts Hear 20 Percent of Lower-Court Cases......Page 407 The Supreme Court Is the Court of Final Appeal......Page 408 Judges Are Appointed by the President and Approved by the Senate......Page 409 Judicial Review Covers Acts of Congress......Page 411 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Judicial Review across the Globe......Page 412 Judicial Review Applies to Presidential Actions......Page 413 Judicial Review Also Applies to State Actions......Page 414 Most Cases Reach the Supreme Court by Appeal......Page 415 The Solicitor General, Law Clerks, and Interest Groups Also Influence the Flow of Cases......Page 416 The Supreme Court’s Procedures Mean Cases May Take Months or Years......Page 418 Supreme Court Decisions Are Influenced by Activism and Ideology......Page 421 The Federal Judiciary and Your Future......Page 424 WHO PARTICIPATES? Influencing the Supreme Court? ......Page 426 Key Terms......Page 429 For Further Reading......Page 430 13. Domestic Policy......Page 431 Promotional Policies Get People to Do Things by Giving Them Rewards ......Page 434 Regulatory Policies Are Rules Backed by Penalties......Page 436 Redistributive Policies Affect Broad Classes of People......Page 438 Should the Government Intervene in the Economy? ......Page 440 The History of the Government Welfare System Dates Only to the 1930s......Page 441 The Social Security Act of 1935 Was the Foundation of the Welfare System......Page 442 Welfare Reform Has Dominated the Welfare Agenda in Recent Years......Page 445 Education Policies Provide Life Tools......Page 447 Health Policies Mean Fewer Sick Days......Page 449 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: U.S. Education Policy: Lagging or Leading?......Page 450 Housing Policies Provide Residential Stability......Page 454 Senior Citizens Receive over a Third of All Federal Dollars......Page 455 The Working Poor Receive Fewer Benefits......Page 457 Spending for the Nonworking Poor Is Declining......Page 458 Minorities, Women, and Children Are Most Likely to Face Poverty......Page 459 Domestic Policy and Your Future......Page 460 WHO PARTICIPATES? Who Pays Taxes? ......Page 462 Key Terms......Page 465 For Further Reading......Page 466 14. Foreign Policy......Page 467 Security Is Based on Military Strength......Page 470 America Seeks a More Humane World......Page 474 AMERICA SIDE BY SIDE: Trade in Comparison......Page 475 American Foreign Policy Is Shaped by Government and Nongovernment Actors......Page 477 The President Leads Foreign Policy......Page 478 Congress’s Legal Authority Can Be Decisive......Page 479 Interest Groups Pressure Foreign Policy Decision Makers......Page 481 Tools of American Foreign Policy Include Diplomacy, Force, and Money......Page 482 The United Nations Is the World’s Congress......Page 483 Economic Aid Has Two Sides......Page 484 Collective Security Is Designed to Deter War......Page 485 Military Force Is “Politics by Other Means" ......Page 486 Foreign Policy, Democracy, and Your Future......Page 487 WHO PARTICIPATES? Public Opinion on Security Issues ......Page 488 Key Terms......Page 491 For Further Reading......Page 492 The Declaration of Independence......Page 494 The Articles of Confederation......Page 498 The Constitution of the United States of America......Page 504 Amendments to the Constitution......Page 515 The Federalist Papers......Page 524 The Anti-Federalist Papers......Page 533 Presidents and Vice Presidents......Page 541 Glossary......Page 544 Endnotes......Page 558 Answer Key......Page 588 Credits......Page 590 Index......Page 592