American Politics and Society

Now in its eighth edition, this popular introduction tackles the most recent trends in American politics and society through explanation, analyses, and interpretations of government processes – adding valuable international context for students by considering these procedures and developments from a non–U.S. perspective. Acclaimed author, David McKay, incorporates numerous updates and revisions to reflect recent trends in American society and politics; developments characterized by some of the deepest ideological divisions since before World War II. Reflecting these historic changes, McKay shifts his focus from the gap between public expectations and government performance to the increasingly strident and divisive ideological climate now seen in the modern American political system. This new edition also features two full chapters devoted to the recent course of the Obama presidency and a new chapter on environmental politics. The book is written in a student–friendly style and is supplemented with numerous illustrations and helpful pedagogical features, including chronologies, biographies, and definition boxes highlighting key concepts and controversial issues. It offers thought–provoking insights into the social background to contemporary politics in America, while fully embracing the latest developments in its most turbulent political arena in decades.

List of Plates xiv List of Figures xvii List of Tables xx Preface to the Eighth Edition xxii 1 Government and the People in a Polarized Society 1 2 Beliefs, Values and American Society 6 3 Constitutional Government 41 4 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations 63 5 American Political Parties and the Politics of Polarization 86 6 Elections and Political Participation 111 7 The Media and American Politics 146 8 Congress I: The People’s Branch? 160 9 Congress II: Functions and Powers – The Broken Branch? 183 10 The Presidency I: Powers and Selection 212 11 The Presidency II: The President as Chief Executive 232 12 Bureaucratic Power: Federal Departments and Agencies 256 13 The Security State 278 14 Organized Interests: The Real Power? 291 15 The Supreme Court and Judicial Politics 315 16 Regulating Morality: Civil Rights, Liberties and the Conscience Issues 345 17 Social Policy in America: Self–Reliance and State Dependence 364 18 Managing Economic Change 377 19 Environmental Politics 397 20 The American World Role 411 21 The American Political System in an Uncertain World 425 Websites 433 Glossary 437 Appendix: The Constitution of the United States 449 Index 469

David McKay is Professor of Government at the University of Essex. He is the author of numerous books and articles on American and comparative politics, including Designing Europe: Comparative Lessons from the Federal Experience (2001), which won the Political Studies Association W. J. M. MacKenzie prize, 2001. He is also co–author of The New British Politics (2007).

“American Politics and Society gets better with each edition. The breadth of its coverage and the depth of its analysis make it an unsurpassed introduction to the U.S. political system. This new version brings the text and the statistical data right up to date and provides the essential context to understanding the current crisis of American government and its political institutions.”  ( Expofairs , 12 May 2014)