This comprehensive text on American Government highlights two recurrent themes: that politics involves conflict, and that the rules for decision-making in government help determine the outcomes of that conflict. Separate and expanded chapters discuss civil liberties and civil rights. There is a new chapter on domestic policy which supplements the federal budget chapter by examining how goverment manages the economy, regulates business, and promotes social welfare. New extended discussions are included on the Second Amendment, the rising importance of the Internet and talk radio, and how congressional ethics address pressing political issues. The book contains boxed features to provide comparative biographies of key historical and contemporary political actors, and is intended for the American Government and Politics, political science and social science markets.

Table of Contents:
1 Studying the Dynamics of Democracy: Conflict, Rules, and ChangePolitics and ConflictGovernment as Rule MakerPutting It All Together: Context, Participants, Institutions, and ProcessesSummary*Readings for Further Study*Key Terms* 2 The ConstitutionThe Constitution as a Reflection of Political ConflictThe Constitution as a Reflection of the Founder's PhilosophyThe Core Provisions of the ConstitutionThree Consequences of the ConstitutionFederalism: The Vertical Dimension to the ConstitutionReadings for Further StudyThe Constitution of the United States 3 The Social Context of American PoliticsWho Are Americans?Social and Economic CharacteristicsDiversity and Social HarmonyPolitical Power in the United States 4 Civil LibertiesInterpreting the ConstitutionThe Bill of Rights and State GovernmentThe First Amendment: Freedom of Speech, Assembly, Press, and ReligionThe Second Amendment: The Right to Bear Arms?Government and the Rights of Criminal SuspectsPrivacy as a Constitutional Right 5 Civil RightsCivil Liberties and Civil RightsDiscrimination Against African AmericansDiscrimination Against Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, and OthersDiscrimination Against WomenExtending Civil RightsAffirmative Action: Equal Opportunity or Equal Outcomes? 6 Public OpinionThe People's Limited Knowledge of PoliticsThe Nature and Acquisition of Opinions and ValuesIdeologiesPublic Opinion on the Issues 7 Voting and ParticipationWho Votes?Political ActivistsHow Voters Make Choices 8 The News MediaDo the News Media Matter?The Changing Face of the News MediaFreedom of the PressReporting the NewsEvaluating the News MediaThe News Media and Democracy 9 Political PartiesWhat Is a Political Party?Characteristics of the U.S. Political PartyThe History of U.S. Parties and ElectionsModern Party Organization 10 Interest GroupsDefining Interest GroupsThe Growth of Interest GroupsThe Diversity of Organized InterestsInterest Group Formation and MaintenanceInterest Group StrategiesInterest Group InfluenceThe Balance Sheet on Interest Groups 11 CongressThe Structure of CongressThe Evolution of CongressGetting There and Staying There-Congressional ElectionsServing in CongressCongress as an OrganizationThe Business of CongressCongress and the Idea of Representation 12 The PresidencyThe Development of the PresidencySelecting a PresidentThe Presidency as an InstitutionThe Presidency in American Politics 13 The Federal BureaucracyWhat Is Bureaucracy?The Structure and Tasks of the Federal BureaucracyDevelopment of the Federal BureaucracyThe Politics of the Federal BureaucracyReinventing the Federal Bureaucracy 14 The CourtsThe Federal CourtsThe Federal Courts as Policy MakersThe Supreme Court as a Political InstitutionDecision Making at the Supreme CourtThe Lower Federal CourtsState Courts 15 The Federal System and State GovernmentRelations Between Federal, State, and Local GovernmentState Government and PoliticsState BudgetsLocal GovernmentWho Delivers? Public Opinion and Level of Government 16 The Federal BudgetBudgets, Deficit Spending, and the National DebtWhere Does Government Revenue Come From?Where Does Government Spending Go?Why Do Budget Deficits Persist?The Budgetary ProcessIs the Budget Process Irrational? 17 Domestic PolicyManaging the EconomyRegulating BusinessPromoting Social Welfare 18 Foreign PolicyA Brief History of U.S. Foreign PolicyForeign Policy Versus Domestic PolicyWho Makes U.S. Foreign Policy?Challenges to the United States in the Post-Cold War Era