Living Democracy, Basic Edition

For undergraduate courses in American Government.   This is the book that gets students to participate.    Living Democracy gets students to participate in learning, in the classroom, and in change. The book’s young and energetic author team cares deeply about student learning and student engagement.  Lead author Dan Shea founded the Center for Political Participation and his experiences working with students in the classroom and in the center inspired him to team up with co-authors Joanne Connor Green (Texas Christian University) and Christopher E. Smith (Michigan State) to write an American Government text that truly inspires students and helps them experience the impact of government in their daily lives.  Everything about the book–the writing, design, examples, photos, activities, and every page of the text–is designed to get students to participate in their class and in American politics.   In a recent survey of American Government courses, 80% of instructors named  student apathy–about the course material, about politics, about the prospect that government can do anything to enrich their lives–as the number one problem in their course. Written with the belief that introductory courses in American Government are critically important for our students–as well as for the long-term stability of the democratic process–Living Democracy is designed to help students draw connections between topics and to find a role for themselves in politics and government. The text’s innovative approach to American government presents the dynamic nature of our country's democratic process more accurately than any other book currently on the market, while offering all of the material found in a comprehensive, traditionally organized government text within an active framework.

Table of Contents:
Part One: Foundations of American Government   Preface/Walkthrough   Acknowledgments   About the Authors   1 American Government: Democracy in Action American Democracy and the Individual Citizen The Unique Democracy of the United States Themes of This Book Citizen Participation in Democratic Government Pathways of Action   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: Active Students and Local Air Pollution Laws   PATHWAYS PROFILE: A. Philip Randolph Diversity in American Society Citizen Participation and Pathways: The Example of Abortion Change and Stability in American Government Sources of Stability   PATHWAYS PROFILE: The Political Culture of Our Neighbor to the North Conclusion   2 Early Governance and the Constitutional Framework The Cry for Liberty, Equality, . . . and Slavery? The Nature of Government and Politics Types of Governments Economic Systems Early Governance in America   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: The Sons of Liberty The American Revolution   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Thomas Paine and the “Common Sense” of Democracy The Declaration of Independence The Colonial Experience and the Pathways of Change   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: Tiimothy McVeigh’s Revolution? The Articles of Confederation Limitations of the Articles of Confederation Shays’s Rebellion: An Alternative Look The Constitutional Convention The Great Compromise The Three-Fifths Compromise The Sectional Compromise The U.S. Constitution The Struggle over Ratification The Federalist Papers The Anti-Federalists’ Response Other Challenges Faced by the New Nation A Second Revolution Jacksonian Democracy Conclusion   Part Two: The Institutions of American Government   3 Federalism No Child Left Behind and the Ongoing Debate over Authority Why Divide Authority in the First Place? The Evolution of Federalism in the United States Before the Civil War   PATHWAYS PROFILE: John Marshall   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: The Civil War and the Failure of American Politics Federalism after the Civil War Federal Power: The Supreme Court and the New Deal Recent Trends in Federalism The New Deal and Cooperative Federalism The Great Society and Creative Federalism The Changing Nature of Federal Grants   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: Mandates to Prompt Change New Federalism   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: Dillon’s Rule versus Home Rule Devolution   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: Intergovernmental Lobbyists   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: States’ Rights–For Liberals? The Supreme Court’s Shift in Perspective Conclusion   4 The Judiciary Controversy over Same-Sex Marriage Court Structure and Processes The Adversarial System Trial Courts Appellate Courts The United States Supreme Court   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Ruth Bader Ginsburg The Power of American Judges Constitutional and Statutory Interpretation Judicial Review Federal Judges’ Protected Tenure Judicial Selection and Judges’ Decision Making Judicial Selection in the Federal System   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: Diversity in the Judiciary Judicial Selection in the States Judges’ Decision Making Political Science and Judicial Decision Making Action in the Court Pathway   PATHWAYS PROFILE: John G. Roberts Jr. Interest Group Litigation   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: The NAACP and Racial Segregation Elements of Strategy Implementation and Impact Judicial Policymaking and Democracy Conclusion   5 Civil Liberties Restrictions on Freedom of Speech The Bill of Rights in History Early Interpretation of the Bill of Rights The Incorporation Process and the Nationalization of Constitutional Rights   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: Cruel and Unusual Punishment First Amendment Rights Freedom of Speech   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Mary Beth Tinker Freedom of the Press   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: Supreme Court Workload Obscenity Freedom of Religion Civil Liberties and Criminal Justice The Right to Bear Arms Search and Seizure Self-Incrimination Trial Rights   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Clarence Earl Gideon Capital Punishment Privacy Abortion Private Sexual Conduct Conclusion   6 Civil Rights The Controversy over Affirmative Action The Ideal of Equality Equal Protection of the Law The Fourteenth Amendment and Reconstruction The Rise and Persistence of Racial Oppression   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Fred Korematsu Litigation Strategies and School Segregation Clarifying the Coverage of the Equal Protection Clause   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: Restrictive Covenants Grassroots Mobilization and Civil Rights African Americans and Civil Rights   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: Technology and Grassroots Mobilization Civil Rights Legislation Women and Civil Rights Latinos and Civil Rights Contemporary Civil Rights Issues Complexity of Issues Emerging Groups Conclusion   7 Congress Health, Human Services, . . . and Less Restrictive Gun Laws? The Nature and Style of Representation Congress and the Constitution Redistricting   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: The Texas Redistricting Battle Organizing the Legislative Process Standing Committees: The Workhorses of the Legislature What Committees Do Political Parties in the Legislature Legislative Leadership   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Makes History Legislative Rules and Norms   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: The Caning of Senator Charles Sumner   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: Bridges to Nowhere? How a Bill Becomes Law Making Laws: A Summary Who Sits in Congress? Gender Race and Ethnicity   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas Income and Occupation Congressional Ethics Conclusion   8 The Presidency From Storyteller to Commander in Chief–in Seven Minutes Early Concerns about Executive Power The President and the Constitution The Constitutional Convention Article II and Ratification of the Constitution The Evolution of the Presidency Models of Presidential Power   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: Theodore Roosevelt and the Bully Pulpit Institutional Changes   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: FDR Takes Charge!   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State and Political Scientist The Changing Role of the Vice President Informal Powers of the President First Ladies The Many Roles of Modern Presidents The President as Chief of State The President as Chief Legislator The President as Chief Diplomat The President as Commander in Chief The President as Chief Executive Presidential Greatness Conclusion   Part Three: The American Public and the Democratic Process   9 Bureaucracy Government and Natural Disasters   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: Arsenic Standards for Drinking Water Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy Development of the Federal Bureaucracy   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: Reorganization of the Bureaucracy Departments Independent Agencies, Independent Regulatory Commissions, and Government Corporations   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Joan Claybrook The Nature of Bureaucracy The Image of Bureaucracy The Advantages of Bureaucracy The Problems of Government Bureaucracy Reform of the Bureaucracy The Lobbying Pathway and Policymaking The Bureaucracy and Legislation   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Jeffrey N. Shane The Bureaucracy and Information Regulations Quasi-Judicial Processes Oversight and Accountability Conclusion   10 Political Socialization and Public Opinion Change in Action: Views of Homosexuality Public Opinion Fundamental Values The Stability of Political Beliefs   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: Sexism Reconsidered The Impact of Popular Culture on Political Opinions and Values The Power of Popular Culture From Values to Ideology   PATHWAYS PROFILE: New College Conservatives Political Socialization Family School Peers and Community Religion The Media Impact of Events Social Groups and Political Values Economic Bases of Partisanship and Public Opinion Education Religion   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Jim Wallis Race and Ethnicity Gender Measuring Public Opinion Use of Polls History of Polling   PATHWAYS PROFILE: George Gallup Modern Polling Techniques Survey Research Controversies Surrounding Polling Conclusion   11 The Politics of the Media Media and Cultural Change Mass Media History of Mass Media Print Media Electronic Media   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Edward R. Murrow Functions of the Media Entertainment   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: The Role of Profits Social Effects of the Media   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Dorothea Lange, Photojournalist   PATHWAYS PROFILE: The Typical Journalist Political Use of Media How Politicians Make the News How Journalists Report the News   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: The Strategic Use of Leaks How Groups Use the Media The Media and the Public in the Political Arena Media in Campaigns Global Issues Narrowcasting Concentration and Centralization of Ownership Governmental Regulations The Right to Privacy Rules regarding Content and Ownership Challenges Related to the New Media Conclusion   12 Civic and Political Engagement Citizens in Action, Rocking the Vote Activism and Protest in the United States: A Brief History Protest in Colonial America The Right to Revolt Influencing the Government through Mobilization and Participation Constitutional Guarantees for Citizen Activism and Mobilization Early Social Movements: The First National Groups Emerge, 1830s—1890 The Abolitionist Movement   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Frederick Douglass The Women’s Rights Movement: The First Wave   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Alice Stokes Paul The Prohibition Movement Progressive Era Movements, 1890s—1920 The Rise of Labor Unions Business Groups and Trade Associations New Politics: Mass Movements of the Modern Era Vietnam and the Antiwar Movement The Civil Rights Movement The Women’s Rights Movement: The Second Wave   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: The Equal Rights Amendment The Gay Rights Movement Conservative Christian Groups Pathways Profile: James Dobson Older and Newer Mobilization Tactics Theory versus Practice Free Association and Expression versus National Security 9/11 and the USA Patriot Act Freedom, Activism, and Public Opinion The Age of Apathy?   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: Youth Groups Conclusion   13 Interest Groups The Power of the National Rifle Association The Role of Interest Groups in the Policy Process What Are Interest Groups?   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: LULAC Functions of Interest Groups in a Democratic Society The Interest Group Explosion   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Ralph Nader Types of Interest Groups Bias in Representation: Who Participates? Difficulties in Mobilization Overcoming Organizational Barriers The Role of Interest Group Leaders   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Bruce S. Gordon Inside and Outside Lobbying   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: The K Street Project   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Recording Artists Coalition Outside Lobbying Lobbying Other Groups and Forming Alliances Grassroots Mobilization Grassroots Lobbying Tactics Campaign Activities   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: Traditional Volunteers versus Paid Professionals The Importance of Money in Mobilization Uses of Money Fundraising Tactics Interest Group Influence Conclusion   14 Elections and Political Participation in America How Much for That Senate Seat? Elections and Democratic Theory Republicanism and Different Ways to Select Leaders Elections as an Expression of Popular Will Stability and Legitimacy   PATHWAYS OF ACTION: The Power of the Purple Finger Civic Education Fulfilling One’s Civic Duty A Safety Valve The Limitations of Elections Elections as a Placebo A Poor Measure of Public Sentiment The Atomization of Politics Constricting the Pool of Public Officials A Broken Process? Elections and the Law The Electoral College   PATHWAYS PAST AND PRESENT: Four Winners Who Lost Amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Process Voting and Legislative Acts Referendums, Initiatives, and Recalls The Future of the Ballot Initiative as a Pathway of Change The Role of Money in Elections   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Two Innovative Campaign Operatives The Rage for Reform Political Action Committees The Incumbent Fundraising Advantage Reforming the Reforms: BCRA The Ironies of Money and Politics Levels of Political Participation The Shrinking Electorate Why Has Turnout Declined?   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Mark Shield–“This I Believe” Voting and Demographic Characteristics Are Young Voters Tuning Out? Are They Getting the Message? Young Voters in the 2004 and 2006 Elections   PATHWAYS PROFILE: Citizen Change: Puffy Gets Political Conclusion    Appendices 1 Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies 2 The Constitution of the United States 3 The Federalist, No. 10, James Madison 4 The Federalist, No. 51, James Madison 5 The Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln 6 I Have a Dream, Martin Luther King 7 Presidents and Congresses 8 Supreme Court Justices 9 ABC News Video Student Guide Glossary Notes Credits Index