About the Book
The publication of the tenth edition of "Points of View: Readings in American Government and Politics" marks this classic reader's 25th anniversary! The goal of the book remains clear: to present readable, succinct, thoughtful, and diverse perspectives across a broad range of issues. This comprehensive reader features contrasting viewpoints on current political debates and traditional topics of interest in contemporary American Government courses. By providing two opposing positions for each topic, "Points of View" challenges students to examine and appreciate differing perspectives.
Table of Contents:
*indicates new to this edition Preface A Note to the Instructor Chapter 1 Democracy How Democratic is America? Howard Zinn How Democratic is America? A Response to Howard Zinn Sidney Hook *Rebuttal to Sidney Hook, Howard Zinn *Rejoinder to Howard Zinn, Sidney Hook Chapter 2 The Constitution An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, Charles A. Beard Charles Beard and the Constitution: A Critical Analysis, Robert E. Brown Chapter 3 Federalism Unfunded Mandates *Unfunded Mandates: Laws that Bind Us Together, George Miller *The Federal Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: "Lost in the Weeds", Lamar Alexander Gay Marriage: A Matter for the States or the Federal Government? *'States, Right?' Not in the Gay Marriage Debate, Adam White *Rules of Law: Let States Decide, John Yoo Chapter 4 Public Opinion Vox Populi in Cyberspace, Dick Morris The Promise and Perils of Cyberdemocracy, Norman Ornstein and Amy Schenkenberg Mitchell Chapter 5 Voting *Turnout in the 2004 Presidential Election, Martin P. Wattenberg Compulsory Voting is the Best Way to keep Democracy Strong, Arend Lipjhart Nonvoting Is Not a Social Disease, Austin Ranney Chapter 6 Campaigns and the Media TV Ad Wars: How to Cut Advertising Costs in Political Campaigns, Fred Wertheimer Damned Spots: A Defense of Thirty-Second Campaign Ads, Stephen Bates and Edwin Diamond Chapter 7 Elections The Nominating Process *Choosing Our Choices 2004, Robert E. DiClerico *The National Primary: An Excellent Idea, John Armor *The Graduated Random Presidential Primary Election, Thomas Gangale The Electoral College Not the People's Choice: How to Democratize American Democracy, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. The Electoral College Didn't Do It, Robert Weissberg Chapter 8 Political Parties *Do Cultural + Security Issues = National Republican Era? An Assessment of Election 2004, Darrell M. West Movement Interruptus, John B. Judis and Ruy Texeira Chapter 9 Interest Groups *Power in America, G. William Domhoff *The Forces that Set the Agenda, Jeffrey A. Birmbaum Chapter 10 Congress Representation: Redistricting *Redistricting, A Bipartisan Sport, Earl Blumenauer and Jim Leach *You Can't Compete with Voters' Feet, Bill Bishop Representation: Legislative Role The Legislator as Delegate, General Assembly of Virginia The Legislator as Trustee, John F. Kennedy The Legislator as Politico, George B. Galloway Legislative Process: The Filibuster It's Time to Change the Filibuster, Tom Harkin Defending the Dinosaur: The Case for Not Fixing the Filibuster, Bill Frenzel Chapter 11 The Presidency *The Return of the Imperial Presidency? Donald R. Wolfensberger *All Hail!King George? Eric A. Posner Chapter 12 Bureaucracy Civil Service Rules: A Drag on Our National Security, Philip K. Howard A Strong Civil Service System is the Cure, Not the Problem, Gerald Pops Chapter 13 Courts The Supreme Court and Judicial Review A Jurisdiction of Original Intention, Edwin Meese, III What Did the Founding Fathers Intend? Irvin R. Kaufman Judicial Selection The Senate is Supposed to Advise and Consent, Not Obstruct and Delay, John C. Eastman and Timothy Sandefer Of Course Ideology Should Matter in Judicial Selection, Erwin Chemerinsky Chapter 14 Civil Liberties Free Speech Mandatory Student Fees Do Not Abridge Freedom of Speech, American Council on Education Mandatory Student Fees Violate Students' Right to Free Speech, Pacific Legal Foundation Civil Liberties and Terrorism *America's Unpatriotic Acts, Walter M. Brasch *Liberty and Terrorism, Robert H. Bork Criminal Rights "We're in the Fight of Our Lives", Bernard Gavzer Just Make It A Fair Fight, John C. Kilwein Chapter 15 Civil Rights Affirmative Action *Law School Admissions: The Case For Affirmative Action, Sandra Day O'Connor *Law School Admissions: The Case Against Affirmative Action, Clarence Thomas Gender Equality Wrestling with Title IX, John Irving We Must Preserve Equity for Women in College Athletics, Joanna Grossman Abortion Abortion Politics: The Case for the Right to Privacy, Susan R. Estrich and Kathleen M. Sullivan Abortion on Demand Has No Constitutional or Moral Justification, James Bopp, Jr. and Richard E Coleson
About the Author :
DiClerico received his Ph.D. at Indiana University. He is the author of THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT. Hammock received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and is currently serving as Chairman of the West Virginian State Election Commission.
