Controversies In American Politics And Society

Controversies in American Politics and Society provides students with up-to-date reviews of the main controversies in American politics and society. Provides in-depth discussion of key American political and social issues Each controversy presents all sides of the debate Covers issues that are part of daily discourse, as well as those discussed in the media and academia Can be used alongside David McKay American Politics and Society (Fifth Edition, Blackwell Publishers, 2001) or other American government and politics texts

Contemporary American Politics provides a comprehensive introduction to the most salient topics of debate in contemporary American politics and society today. The text introduces and explains the history, nature and underlying issues to the key areas of p.

This popular book impartially examines eight hotly-contested current political issues in which one or or both sides seeks to use government authority to enforce certain norms of behavior--in chapters that are

Provides an up-to-date introduction and analysis of the US political scene written from a comparative perspective, newly revised and updated throughout American Politics and Society in an accessible introduction to the main institutions of the US federal government, discussing the most recent developments in broader economic, social, and comparative contexts. Now in its tenth edition, this popular textbook applies an international perspective to the relevance of historical trends, research findings in political science, and present-day governmental procedures, structures, and debates. Acclaimed author David McKay guides students through the complexities of the American political system while encouraging them to evaluate the widening ideological divide that now defines American political life and public discourse. Since the publication of the previous edition, America has undergone some of the most dramatic events in its history—from the COVID-19 pandemic, to the widespread protests against racial and economic injustice, to the aggressive populist rhetoric of Donald Trump, to the bitterly contested 2020 presidential election that culminated in the violent assault on the US Capitol. In this edition, the author addresses the escalating ideological conflict, the rise of extremism in the Republican Party, arguments over the proper role of government, the public’s expectations of politicians and political processes, and more. Offering valuable insights into both the social-political past and present of America, this classic textbook: Examines the policy process in such areas as civil rights, social policy, economic policy, the environment, and foreign policy Evaluates the performance of US government over the last decade and audits the broader American political system Encourages students to critically assess the US government in areas of democratic responsiveness and public accountability Compares international social-political perspectives to those that are uniquely American Discusses of the role of beliefs and values in American politics and how they influence broader society and economy Thanks to its clear and engaging narrative and its wealth of pedagogical features, American Politics and Society, Tenth Edition remains the ideal introductory textbook for courses exploring the institutions and processes of the US government and the most important events in the current American social and political landscape.

This book helps readers become intelligent evaluators of American political dialogue by exposing them to high-quality classic and contemporary selections from presidents, philosophers, and political scientists and the great arguments of American politics. It shows readers how to 1) arrange--and rearrange--facts, 2) identify the core arguments of public affairs, 3) evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various theories of American politics, and 4) apply those theories to current problems. Combining both core readings in political science and recent arguments on current controversies in each chapter, it shows the continuity of political debates over decades and centuries and encourages readers to come to their own conclusions while evaluating evidence and arguing over theory. The selections are excerpted/condensed for accessibility and chapter overviews and summaries place the readings in context and link the various arguments together. Features essays, excerpts, and speeches--classic, contemporary, and very recent readings--by presidents, philosophers, and political scientists on: The American Political Environment (Theories of American Government; Political Culture and Ideology; The Constitution and the Tradition of the Founders; The Tensions of Federalism); The Process of Democracy (Public Opinion and the Media; Political Parties; Interest Groups); Governmental Institutions (Congress; The Presidency; The Bureaucracy; The Judiciary); American Politics and Public Policy (Civil Rights and Liberties; Government and the Economy; America's International Relations). For anyone interested in American Government or Politics.

Contemporary American Politics provides a comprehensive introduction to the most salient topics of debate in contemporary American politics and society today. The text introduces and explains the history, nature and underlying issues to the key areas of political division and conflict in America′s on-going `culture war′, including, abortion, gun control, capital punishment, pornography, gay rights and drugs. All students will gain a deeper and critical understanding of how this powerful set of concerns continue to underpin and shape the fundamental divisions informing American domestic politics at local, state and federal levels. Completely up-to-date and featuring chapter summaries, exhibit boxes, discussion questions, weblinks and further reading guides, Contemporary American Politics offers a lively and accessible text that will be essential reading for all students of American politics and society. Robert Singh is a lecturer in politics at Birkbeck College, London. Contemporary American Politics: Issues and Controversies is a companion text to the foundation textbook American Government and Politics: A Concise Introduction also published by SAGE. `In this volume the political scientist Robert Singh has selected and analyzed closely a set of topical issues and controversies in American politics - including gun control, capital punishment and cultural wars - as a way better to understand the United States. The result is an excellent text which conveys both the diversity of contemporary America and the complexity of issues often treated superficially in media accounts. I recommend the book highly′ - Desmond King, Mellon Professor of American Government, University of Oxford `Rob Singh is a master of style, and his book is the perfect companion for those who are interested in America′s "culture wars" but hitherto have been put off by the execrable jargon they have spawned′ - Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, Professor of American History, University of Edinburgh `For those who still believe that politics is normally, naturally, about economics, Rob Singh has gathered the evidence and dialed the wake-up call: seven major instances of an ongoing culture war meet a common analytic framework here in a lively and informative fashion′ - Byron E Shafer, University of Wisconsin `For the student this is the perfect complement to a textbook. American politics is not just about institutions and processes, but also about current political issues and debates. Robert Singh′s interesting book illuminates a range of social and cultural issues that divide Americans in the 21st century. All undergraduate courses on American politics should include it on reading lists for seminars, tutorials and classes′ - Alan Ware, Worcester College, Oxford

Completely revised and updated to take full account of the mostrecent and dramatic changes in the nature of American government,the sixth edition provides a clear and concise introduction to USpolitics for all students of political science and Americanstudies. Explains, analyses and interprets the processes of USgovernment and, crucially, appraises them from a non-USperspective. Includes commentary on the 2004 presidentialelection. Fills in the social background to American political andeconomic life, preparing the ground for the central discussion ofthe book: the institutions of the federal government, Congress, theSupreme Court and the Constitution, the federal system, thePresidency, the party bandwagons and the electoral system. Reduced emphasis on limited government and greater emphasis onforeign and domestic policy linked into the War on Terror. Reworkedthroughout to reflect recent developments, with two completely newchapters on The Media and American Politics, and The SecurityState. Supported by a website, www.blackwellpublishing.com/mckay,including information on the book; its detailed contents; theauthor; controversies; sample chapters; selected tables; relatedtitles; and links to other web resources. It will be regularlyupdated to ensure teachers and students have access to the mostrecent data.

No area of public policymaking is more hotly debated than the use of government authority to enforce certain standards of behavior in areas of moral controversy. Now thoroughly revised and updated, this collection examines a variety of such policy areas - ranging from abortion and affirmative action to gay rights - including two new chapters on animal rights and hate crimes. In discussing each policy area the book examines relevant issues and arguments, as well as policy shifts over time. It considers the roles of key political and institutional actors in policymaking - including lobbies and interest groups, the bureaucracy, the president, Congress, the judiciary, and state and local authorities. Written in an accessible style that is sure to spark classroom discussion, each chapter of this new edition includes a list of relevant books, web sites, and videos for further research.