Logic of American Politics » (3rd Edition)

The authors (of the U. of California at San Diego) of this introductory textbook on American politics emphasize the centrality of institutions in enabling and constraining collective decision making in the United States. They first offer chapters on what they see as the foundational elements of American national politics, the Constitution, federalism, civil rights, and civil liberties, explaining their development over time. They then examine Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal judiciary, discussing how the politics and logic of their development shaped their organizational features, practices, and relations with one another. Next come chapters examining the historical development, political logic, and present-day operations and activities of the institutions that link citizens with government officials, covering public opinion; voting, campaigns, and elections; political parties; interest groups; and the news media. A final chapter explores the dilemmas of institutional reform. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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Suitable for an introductory undergraduate course in American government, this textbook examines political institutions and practices as solutions to the need for collective action. The authors discuss the historical background of the Constitution and ideas of civil rights and liberties; the forms and functions of Congress, the executive branch, the judiciary, and the bureaucracy; and the impact of public opinion, political campaigns, political parties, interest groups, and the media on American politics. There is no chapter on interactions between the federal and the state governments, which could, perhaps, be considered an omission. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)