Politics USA

Description

Features

• Topics for Discussion help both lecturers and students to explore the most important questions arising out of each chapter
• Controversies, tables, diagrams and boxed examples highlight key aspects of American politics
• End of chapter summaries will help students with their revision
• Updated suggestions for further reading including useful websites, ensure quality of student research

New to this Edition

• Elections and voting behaviour: includes data and analysis of the 2004 presidential and congressional elections
• Congress and the President: examines the new Republican grip on the major offices of the federal government and how this might affect the relationship between president and congress
• The Supreme Court and American Politics: includes new data on the Court’s decisions and examines the implications of key cases such as those on the vote recount in Florida in the 2000 election and the 2003 case that ignited the debate over gay marriage
• New chapter on America in the twenty-first century looks at the ‘state of the nation’ as America adjusts to a changing world
• New chapter on the War on Terror examines changes in foreign policy, new legislation on domestic intelligence gathering and the debates over prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib
• New chapters on presidential power, race ethnicity and immigration and domestic policies for a New Century

Table of Contents

Contents

Preface to the Second Edition

Acknowledgements

Dedication

1.  America in the twenty-first century - Introduction

Part 1.  The constitutional dimension of American politics

2.  The Constitution and constitutionalism

 3.  Federalism

Part 2.  The socio-economic contexts

4.  The rise and fall of consensus since 1945

5.  Economy and society

6.  Gender and American politics

7.  Race, ethnicity and immigration in the USA

Part 3.  The representative process

8.  Elections and voting behaviour

9.  The mass media and politics

10.  Political parties

11.  Interest groups and political action committees

Part 4.  The executive process

12.  Presidential power

13.  The federal bureaucracy

Part 5.  The legislative process

14.  Congress and the president

15.  Congressional structures and processes

Part 6.  The judicial process

16.  The Supreme Court and judicial review

17.  The Supreme Court and American politics

Part 7.  The policy process

18.  Serving the people: government and domestic policy

19.  The politics of race and affirmative action

20.  Abortion

21.  Foreign policy

22.  The War on Terror

Index

Back Cover

Politics USA is a lively, student-friendly introduction to US politics.  It is a complete guide, giving students a rich and varied resource for all aspects of their course.

The book provides an accessible overview of US political institutions and has in-depth coverage of the presidency, the Congress and the Supreme Court.

Politics USA pays considerable attention to the historic and socio-economic contexts of American politics.  This greatly enhances the reader's ability to understand not only the What? of American politics, but also the Why?

The second edition of Politics USA is thoroughly updated to include analysis of:

-         The terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001

-         The first administration of George W. Bush

-         The re-election of George W. Bush.

-         The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

Key Features

·        A range of 'boxed' features highlights key historical figures, important concepts, and topical issues to enliven discussion and encourage a deeper understanding

·        A selection of topical photographs and cartoons provide a visual insight into events discussed in the text

·        End of chapter summaries provide a useful review of each chapter

·        Discussion points raise questions to help students consolidate their understanding

·        Guide to further reading directs students to alternative sources

Dr Robert McKeever lectures at Reading University and is Head of the School of Sociology, Politics & International Relations

Professor Philip Davies lectures at De Montfort University and is the Director of The Eccles Centre at the British Library.

Reader Review(s)