The Revolution and the Constitution -- Federalism and the American constitutional order -- Civil liberties : democracy and the expansion of liberty's realm -- Civil rights : where liberty and equality collide -- Shaping Americans : political socialization, public opinion and the media -- Factions today : interest groups and political parties -- Democracy's moment : voting, campaigns, and elections -- Congress : partisanship, polarization, and gridlock -- The executive branch : the president, the bureaucracy, and executive power -- The federal courts : originalism versus living constitutionalism -- Appendix A. The Declaration of Independence -- Appendix B. Constitution of the United States -- Appendix C. Federalist numbers 10, 51, and 78.
Summary:
"American Government: Constitutional Democracy Under Pressure highlights the necessary tension between our constitutional principles and institutions and the populist heat that sometimes roils our national politics, especially at the current political moment. Our constitutional democracy has been under pressure for some time, but few would deny that fears for its fate have deepened in just the past few years. We assume that our political institutions will limit and contain contemporary populism, just as the Founders intended and as they have in the past, but will they? An increasingly polarized electorate, urging their representatives to fight and never to compromise, may be stressing Constitutional limits. This new edition offers to help American government teachers lead their students to a nuanced theoretical and practical understanding of what is happening in the politics of their Constitutional democracy today"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.