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American Politics and Society. Edition No. 10

  • Book

  • 512 Pages
  • November 2021
  • Region: United States
  • John Wiley and Sons Ltd
  • ID: 5838977

Provides an up-to-date introduction and analysis of the US political scene written from a comparative perspective, newly revised and updated throughout

American Politics and Society in an accessible introduction to the main institutions of the US federal government, discussing the most recent developments in broader economic, social, and comparative contexts. Now in its tenth edition, this popular textbook applies an international perspective to the relevance of historical trends, research findings in political science, and present-day governmental procedures, structures, and debates. Acclaimed author David McKay guides students through the complexities of the American political system while encouraging them to evaluate the widening ideological divide that now defines American political life and public discourse.

Since the publication of the previous edition, America has undergone some of the most dramatic events in its history - from the COVID-19 pandemic, to the widespread protests against racial and economic injustice, to the aggressive populist rhetoric of Donald Trump, to the bitterly contested 2020 presidential election that culminated in the violent assault on the US Capitol. In this edition, the author addresses the escalating ideological conflict, the rise of extremism in the Republican Party, arguments over the proper role of government, the public’s expectations of politicians and political processes, and more. Offering valuable insights into both the social-political past and present of America, this classic textbook:

  • Examines the policy process in such areas as civil rights, social policy, economic policy, the environment, and foreign policy
  • Evaluates the performance of US government over the last decade and audits the broader American political system
  • Encourages students to critically assess the US government in areas of democratic responsiveness and public accountability
  • Compares international social-political perspectives to those that are uniquely American
  • Discusses of the role of beliefs and values in American politics and how they influence broader society and economy

Thanks to its clear and engaging narrative and its wealth of pedagogical features, American Politics and Society, Tenth Edition remains the ideal introductory textbook for courses exploring the institutions and processes of the US government and the most important events in the current American social and political landscape.

Table of Contents

List of Plates xii

List of Figures xiv

List of Tables xvii

Preface to the Tenth Edition xviii

1 Governing in a Polarized Society 1

Chapters to Come 5

Glossary 5

2 Beliefs, Values and American Society 6

The Nature of American Beliefs and Values 7

Values and American Society 17

Controversy 2.1. Immigration: The Changing Nature of the Debate 23

Controversy 2.2. How Classless is American Society? 26

Controversy 2.3. Americans’ Ambivalent View of Government and Taxes 27

Social Structure 27

Summary 38

Questions for Discussion 38

Glossary 38

Notes 39

Further Reading 40

3 Constitutional Government 41

Origins 42

The American Constitution 46

Biographies. Hamilton and Madison 52

Ratification 52

The Adaptive Constitution 54

Controversy 3.1. How Democratic is the Constitution? 58

Assessing the Constitution 59

Summary 60

Questions for Discussion 61

Glossary 61

Notes 62

Further Reading 62

4 Federalism: Cooperation and Conflict 63

Federalism in Theory and Practice 64

The Evolution of American Federalism 68

The Changing Federal Role 70

Controversy 4.1. Federal versus State Power 72

Briefing 4.1. US Federalism in Comparative Perspective 75

A Changing Court Role? 80

The Future of American Federalism 82

Summary 84

Questions for Discussion 84

Glossary 84

Notes 86

Further Reading 86

5 American Political Parties: Polarization and Conflict 87

The Functions of Parties 88

Briefing 5.1. Why Only Two Parties in the US? 93

Crisis and Change in the American Party System 94

The Decline and Rise of Political Parties 100

Biographies: Lee Atwater and Karl Rove - Republican Party ‘Heavies’ 102

Changing Party Ideology: 1970-2021 102

Explaining Party Change 105

Briefing 5.2. Populism and American Political Parties 106

Stronger but More Polarized Parties 107

Briefing 5.3. The Tea Party Movement and its Legacy 108

Summary 109

Questions for Discussion 109

Glossary 109

Notes 110

Further Reading 111

6 Elections and Political Participation 112

Patterns of American Electoral Behaviour 114

The ‘American Voter’ Model and the New Deal Coalition 122

The Decline of the New Deal Coalition and the Rise of a Divided Electorate 124

Controversy 6.1. Non-voting: Does it Matter? 127

Controversy 6.2. Are American Elections Corrupt? 128

Controversy 6.3. Does the Decline in Social Capital Matter? 133

Non-Electoral Political Participation 134

Summary 139

Questions for Discussion 139

Glossary 139

Notes 140

Further Reading 141

7 The Media and American Politics 142

Media Structure and Organization 143

Organization and Ownership 144

How Biased? The Media and the Political Agenda 146

Biography. The Rise and Fall of Roger Ailes Creator of the Fox News Network 150

Controversy 7.1. Legitimizing the Conservative Right? The Role of Real Clear Politics 152

Controversy 7.2. How Biased Are Television, Radio and the Electronic Media? 152

Controlling the Media 153

The Media and American Democracy 154

Summary 155

Questions for Discussion 156

Glossary 156

Notes 156

Further Reading 157

8 Congress I: The People’s Branch? 158

Representation and Congress 160

Briefing 8.1. Forms of Representation 162

Congressional Elections 163

Legislators as Rational Actors 170

Biography. Jim Jordan: Freedom Caucus Firebrand 172

The Work of Members of Congress 175

Conclusions 177

Summary 178

Questions for Discussion 178

Glossary 179

Notes 179

Further Reading 180

9 Congress II: Functions and Powers - The Broken Branch? 181

The Functions of Congress 182

The Structure of Power in Congress 183

Congress Under Fire 191

Biography. Jack Abramoff: Master Lobbyist and Convicted Felon 201

Controversy 9.1. Divided Government: For and Against 201

Biography. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and the ‘Squad’ 202

Reform and Change in Congress 202

Is Congress the ‘Broken Branch’? 207

Summary 208

Questions for Discussion 208

Glossary 209

Notes 210

Further Reading 210

10 The Presidency I: Powers and Selection 211

Formal Sources of Power 212

Briefing 10.1. The American Presidency: A Unitary Institution 214

Informal Powers 215

Presidential Selection 217

Controversy 10.1. Primaries: For and Against 220

Briefing 10.2. The Role of Money 222

Presidential Selection: Faults and Foibles 228

Summary 230

Questions for Discussion 230

Glossary 230

Notes 231

Further Reading 231

11 The Presidency II: The President as Chief Executive 232

The Presidency in a Changing America 233

Presidential Abuse of Power and the Congressional Response 238

Presidential Resources 241

Biography. Steve Bannon: Political Strategist and Crisis Junkie 244

Briefing 11.1. Organizing the White House 245

Assessing the Presidency: Presidential Power at Home and Abroad 253

Summary 255

Questions for Discussion 255

Glossary 255

Notes 256

Further Reading 256

12 Bureaucratic Power: Federal Departments and Agencies 258

The Federal Bureaucracy: Organization and Function 260

Controversy 12.1. Privatization: For and Against 265

The Bureaucracy: How Uncontrollable? 266

The Inherent Power of Bureaucracy 266

The Bureaucratic Hydra: A Uniquely American Phenomenon? 268

Reform Attempts 271

Concluding Remarks 275

Summary 276

Questions for Discussion 276

Glossary 277

Notes 278

Further Reading 278

13 The Security State 279

The Rise of the Security State 280

9/11, the Patriot Act and the Department of Homeland Security 282

Briefing 13.1. The Department of Homeland Security and the Culture of Threat 284

Threats to Civil Liberties 285

Trump and the Security State 287

The Security State and American Values 289

Summary 291

Questions for Discussion 291

Glossary 291

Notes 292

Further Reading 292

14 Organized Interests: The Real Power? 293

Interests, Groups and Lobbyists 295

Economic Groups 297

Briefing 14.1. The Enron Collapse and Crony Capitalism 298

Controversy 14.1. Do the Bankruptcy Laws Damage Workers’ Rights? 299

Professional Groups 303

Promotional Groups 305

Political Action Committees 307

The Washington Lobby 309

Interest Groups: For and Against 309

Summary 313

Questions for Discussion 313

Glossary 313

Notes 314

Further Reading 315

15 The Supreme Court and Judicial Politics 316

The American Legal System 318

The Supreme Court: Decision Making 321

The Supreme Court and Political Power 326

Controversy 15.1. The Supreme Court: An Active or a Passive Role? 333

Briefing 15.1. The Supreme Court and the Guantánamo Bay Detainees 338

The Polarized Rehnquist and Roberts Courts 339

Conclusions: The Court and American Democracy 343

Summary 344

Questions for Discussion 344

Glossary 345

Notes 346

Further Reading 346

16 Regulating Morality: Civil Rights, Liberties and the Conscience Issues 347

Introduction 348

Regulating Public Morality 348

Civil Liberties 349

Controversy 16.1. What’s So Wrong with Gun Control? 356

Briefing 16.1. Abortion and American Politics 357

Equality and Civil Rights 358

Briefing 16.2. Federalism and Same-Sex Marriage 364

Conclusions 364

Summary 365

Questions for Discussion 365

Glossary 366

Note 367

Further Reading 367

17 Social Policy in America: Self-Reliance and State Dependence 368

The Federal Government and Social Welfare in America: The Reluctant Provider 369

Federalism 371

Social Security, Medicare and the Electoral Connection 372

The Continuing Importance of Self-reliance 374

Briefing 17.1. Why was Health Care So Hard to Reform? 374

Health-care Reforms 375

The Federal Government and Education 377

Conclusions 378

Summary 379

Questions for Discussion 379

Glossary 380

Further Reading 380

18 Managing Economic Change 381

State and Economy in the United States 382

Ideology and Economic Policy 384

Controversy 18.1. Foreign Economic Policy and Trumps America First Policy 387

Institutions and Economic Policy 388

Briefing 18.1. Institutional Sclerosis and the Budget, 2011-2013 391

Briefing 18.2. The Great Housing Crash, 2007-2012 397

Conclusions: Economic Policy in an Age of Uncertainty 398

Summary 399

Questions for Discussion 399

Glossary 399

Further Reading 400

19 Environmental Politics 401

Background 402

The Emerging Environmental Agenda 402

Controversy 19.1. International Cooperation on Climate Change:

The Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Treaty on Climate Change 405

Policy Actors and Institution 406

Chronology 411

Political Parties and the Environment 413

Conclusions: The Future of Environmental Politics 413

Summary 414

Questions for Discussion 414

Glossary 414

Notes 415

Further Reading 415

20 The American World Role 416

The Institutional Context 418

American Foreign Policy in the Post-9/11 World 421

Briefing 20.1. The Rise and Fall of Neoconservatism 426

Conclusions: Bound to Lead or Bound to Fail? 426

Summary 428

Questions for Discussion 428

Glossary 429

Notes 429

Further Reading 430

21 The American Political System in a Divided Society 431

Assessing the American Polity 432

Reform and Renewal 436

Questions for Discussion 438

Glossary 438

Notes 438

Further Reading 438

Websites 439

Glossary 443

Appendix: The Constitution of the United States 455

Index 474

Authors

David McKay University of Essex, UK.