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Basics of American Politics, The, 13/E
Gary Wasserman, Georgetown University

ISBN-10: 0321489160
ISBN-13: 9780321489166

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2008
Format: Paper; 320 pp
Published: 07/02/2007

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Description

This brief, nuts-and-bolts introduction to American government has been a student favorite and a bestseller for over 30 years because of its lively, straight-forward approach to the basics, its brevity, and its always inexpensive price.

This text uses a dynamic game metaphor to engage students in the basics of the American political system and the contact sport of politics. Beginning with a clear definition of politics, it introduces four governmental and four nongovernmental “players” who must abide by the “rules of the game” established by the Constitution and civil liberties. It ends by examining rival theories of who wins and who loses in American politics. Written to engage students, and kept short to provide a flexible foundation for instructors, The Basics of American Politics covers all the terms and topics a student will need to understand the nuts-and-bolts of American government and poltics.

Features

The brief and inexpensive text is an excellent choice for instructors who want to incorporate other material–articles, readers, novels–into their course, but also ensure that their students still get the basics.
Boxed stories present engaging anecdotes and promote critical thinking on the American political system. Topics include including President Bush’s Unconservative Approach to Federalism; The Nasty Case of Jack Abramoff, TV’s Impact on Presidential Conventions; The Revival of Affirmative Action in the University of Michigan Case; The Presidential Leadership Style on Iraq; The Decline of Courtesy on the Hill; Free Speech Bake Sales on Campus, How a Chief Justice Cracked the Liberty Bell, and Federalism at 55 MPH.
“Case Studies” in each chapter allow students to apply concepts to real-life scenarios and enhance their understanding of material. These range from "The History of Separate But Equal" to "A Day in the Life of a Woman Candidate for the Senate."
“Wrap Up,” “Thought Questions,” and “Suggested Readings” at the end of every chapter aid discussion and promote further study for students interested in the topics discussed. New suggested books include Red Over Blue on the 2004 elections; and Bob Woodward’s 2006 blockbuster, State of Denial.

New To This Edition

Completely updated coverage through the 2006 midterm elections, including their impact on the Republican realignment, the heated partisan divisions over policies both here and abroad, the role of national security, lobbying corruption, and religion, and the political parties’ vigorous turnout efforts.
Discussion of the new Roberts Court sums up the Rehnquist legacy and assesses its impact on the nation. A Box on the "New Chief Umpire," John Roberts, analyzes the first term of the new court and its likely direction. Discussion also covers the recent confirmation battles of two new justices and why the Court may or may not change as much as expected.
Analysis of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster includes a case study analyzing how all three levels of government mismanaged efforts to rescue and repair New Orleans in the days following the storm and flood.
Expanded discussion of civil liberties and terrorism brings to life the continuing tension within the government and in American public opinion on the proper balance between prosecuting terrorism and protecting liberties. New coverage explores NSA wiretapping, the media’s use of leaks, Congress’s debate over renewing the Patriot Act, Civil Liberties and Cartoons on Campus, and Congress’ recent agreement to overlook habeas corpus. A case study shows the courts guarding these liberties in terrorist cases and offers a historian's perspective on the place of 9/11 in American history.
Fresh accounts of national security issues and how they have been handled by the president, congress and the media include conflicting media images of the war in Iraq, the White House spin on damaging intelligence revelations include the findings of the 9/11 Commission – and the central role of Vice President Cheney.
Continued emphasis on lobbying looks closely at the role of lobbyists in our political system and analyzes the debate over their influence on policy-making. It traces the rise in power of this much publicized actor in our political system, the continuing importance of money in campaigning, the present Abramoff corruption cases, and the tepid efforts at reform.

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1 What Is Politics?

The First Day of Class

Politics and Power

The Need for Government

The Study of Politics

What Is This Book About?

Thought Questions

Suggested Readings

Chapter 2 The Constitution: Rules of the Game

The Second Day of Class

Background to the Constitution

Four Major Constitutional Rights

Why Has the Constitution Survived?

Case Study: Federalism in a Storm: The Katrina Disaster

Wrap-Up

Thought Questions

Suggested Readings

Chapter 3 The Executive Branch: The Presidency and Bureaucracy

The President and the Constitution

History of the Presidency

Types of Presidents

The Public Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy

Problems of Bureaucracy

Case Study: 9/11: A President's Trial by Fire

Wrap-Up

Thought Questions

Suggested Readings

Chapter 4 The Legislative Branch: Congress

Makeup of the Senate and House

How Congress Works

The Committee System

Other Powers of Congress

Case Study: Campaign Finance Reform

Wrap-Up

Thought Questions

Suggested Readings

Chapter 5 The Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court and the Federal Court System

Federal Court System

U.S. Supreme Court

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Supreme Court

The Court as a Political Player

Case Study: Separate bu Equal?

Wrap-Up

Thought Questions

Suggested Readings

Chapter 6 Civil Rights and Liberties: Protecting the Players

What Are Civil Liberties and Rights?

Expanding the Bill of Rights

Civil Liberties: Protecting People from Government

Actors in Civil Liberties and Rights

Case Study: Fighting Terrori, Guarding Liberties

Wrap-Up

Thought Questions

Suggested Readings

Chapter 7 Voters and Political Parties

Voters

Who Doesn't Vote?

Political Parties

View from the Inside: Party Organizations

View from the Outside: The Two-Party System

Case Study: Blogs, Howard Dean, and the 2004 Campaign

Wrap-Up

Thought Questions

Suggested Readings

Chapter 8 Interest Groups and the Media

Interest Groups

Media

What are the Media?

Media and the Marketplace of Ideas

Case Study: The Candidate: A Day in the Life...

Wrap-Up

Thought Questions

Suggested Readings

Chapter 9 Who Wins, Who Loses: Pluralism versus Elitism

Pluralism

Elite

The Debate

Wrap-Up

Thought Questions

Suggested Readings

Appendix

The Declaration of Independence

The Constitution of the United States

Glossary

Index

Courses

American Government [COMPREHENSIVE TEXTS] (Political Science)

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Basics of American Politics, 14/E
Wasserman
©2011 | Longman | Paper; 320 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205782035  | ISBN-13: 9780205782031
Net price: $36.45  (What's this?)Brief Description  |
This brief, nuts-and-bolts introduction to American government has been a student favorite and a bestseller for over 30 years because of its lively, straight-forward approach to the basics, its brevity, and its always inexpensive price.

This text uses a dynamic game metaphor to engage students in the basics of the American political system and the contact sport of politics.  Beginning with a clear definition of politics, it introduces four governmental and four nongovernmental “players” who must abide by the “rules of the game” established by the Constitution and civil liberties. It ends by examining rival theories of who wins and who loses in American politics. Written to engage students, and kept short to provide a flexible foundation for instructors, The Basics of American Politics covers all the terms and topics a student will need to understand the nuts-and-bolts of American government and politics.
More Info

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In this section:

Backcover Copy

Backcover Copy

Features:

The brief and inexpensive text is an excellent choice for instructors who want to incorporate other material–articles, readers, novels–into their course, but also ensure that their students still get the basics.
Boxed stories present engaging anecdotes and promote critical thinking on the American political system. Topics include including President Bush’s Unconservative Approach to Federalism; The Nasty Case of Jack Abramoff, TV’s Impact on Presidential Conventions; The Revival of Affirmative Action in the University of Michigan Case; The Presidential Leadership Style on Iraq; The Decline of Courtesy on the Hill; Free Speech Bake Sales on Campus, How a Chief Justice Cracked the Liberty Bell, and Federalism at 55 MPH.
“Case Studies” in each chapter allow students to apply concepts to real-life scenarios and enhance their understanding of material. These range from "The History of Separate But Equal" to "A Day in the Life of a Woman Candidate for the Senate."
“Wrap Up,” “Thought Questions,” and “Suggested Readings” at the end of every chapter aid discussion and promote further study for students interested in the topics discussed. New suggested books include Red Over Blue on the 2004 elections; and Bob Woodward’s 2006 blockbuster, State of Denial.

New to this Edition:

Completely updated coverage through the 2006 midterm elections, including their impact on the Republican realignment, the heated partisan divisions over policies both here and abroad, the role of national security, lobbying corruption, and religion, and the political parties’ vigorous turnout efforts.
Discussion of the new Roberts Court sums up the Rehnquist legacy and assesses its impact on the nation. A Box on the "New Chief Umpire," John Roberts, analyzes the first term of the new court and its likely direction. Discussion also covers the recent confirmation battles of two new justices and why the Court may or may not change as much as expected.
Analysis of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster includes a case study analyzing how all three levels of government mismanaged efforts to rescue and repair New Orleans in the days following the storm and flood.
Expanded discussion of civil liberties and terrorism brings to life the continuing tension within the government and in American public opinion on the proper balance between prosecuting terrorism and protecting liberties. New coverage explores NSA wiretapping, the media’s use of leaks, Congress’s debate over renewing the Patriot Act, Civil Liberties and Cartoons on Campus, and Congress’ recent agreement to overlook habeas corpus. A case study shows the courts guarding these liberties in terrorist cases and offers a historian's perspective on the place of 9/11 in American history.
Fresh accounts of national security issues and how they have been handled by the president, congress and the media include conflicting media images of the war in Iraq, the White House spin on damaging intelligence revelations include the findings of the 9/11 Commission — and the central role of Vice President Cheney.
Continued emphasis on lobbying looks closely at the role of lobbyists in our political system and analyzes the debate over their influence on policy-making. It traces the rise in power of this much publicized actor in our political system, the continuing importance of money in campaigning, the present Abramoff corruption cases, and the tepid efforts at reform.

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Basics of American Politics, The, 13/E