We the People

This concise yet comprehensive book provides a lively, future-oriented narrative introduction to American government and politics. "We the People" presents material with a currency and relevancy that captures the vivid world of real-life politics. In addition, the text challenges readers to think critically; by giving contextual understanding of major concepts and issues, it encourages them to think about the implications for society and themselves. "We the People" delves deeper into the basics than most brief books, and each of the 17 chapters (including 3 policy chapters) concludes with a "New York Times" reading selection and an extensive bibliography. The fifth edition is accompanied by an Online Learning Center that is unsurpassed in American Government courses, as well as free access to PowerWeb (see "Supplements" for details)!

Table of Contents:
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 With Few Teeth Be Able to Bite?, Stephen Labaton 16 Welfare and Education Policy: Provideing for Personal Security and Need Poverty in America: The Nature of the Problem The Politics and Policies of Social Welfare Individual-Benefit Programs Culture, Politics, and Social Welfare Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 16: Vouchers: A Shift, Bug Just How Big?, Kate Zernike 17 Foreign and Defense Policy: Protecting the American Way The Roots of U.S. Foreign and Defense Policy The Process of Foreign and Military Policymaking The Military Dimension of National Security Policy The Economic Dimension of National Security Policy Summary Key Terms Suggested Readings List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice New York Times Reading 17: All Roads Lead to D.C., Emily Eakin Summary Key Terms List of Websites Questions: Politics in Theory and Practice Questions: What's Your Opinion? Index

About the Author :
Thomas E. Patterson is Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was previously distinguished professor of political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University. Raised in a small Minnesota town near the Iowa and South Dakota borders, he was educated at South Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota, where he received his Ph.D. in 1971. Currently running the "Vanishing Voter" study at the Kennedy School of Government, which has been widely used in the media and on college campuses, Tom is also the author of six books and dozens of articles, which focus primarily on the media and elections. His book, 'Out of Order'(1994), received national attention when President Clinton said every politician and journalist should be required to read it. An earlier book, 'The Mass Media Election'(1980), received a 'Choice' award as Outstanding Academic Book, 1980-81. Another of Patterson's books, 'The Unseeing Eye'(1976), was recently selected by the American Association for Public Opinion Research as one of the fifty most influential books of the past half century in the field of public opinion. His current research includes a study of White House communication and a study of the news media's role in Western democracies. His work has been funded by major grants from the National Science Foundation, the Markle Foundation, the Smith-Richardson Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts.