In theSecondEdition ofAmericanGovernment, author Scott F. Abernathy tunes in to the voices of all Americans, showing how our diverse ideas shape the way we participate and behave, the laws we live by, and the challenges we face. From the Constitutional Convention to Ferguson, Missouri, each chapter features rich, personal narratives that illustrate how the American political system is the product of strategies, calculations, and miscalculations of countless individuals. It focuses on real people, the actions they take, the struggles they face, and how their choices influence outcomes. The key concepts are memorable because they are tied to real politics, where students see political action and political choices shaping how institutions advance or impede the fulfillment of fundamental ideas. Participation is at the heart of this groundbreaking new text, with ample background on how and why to participate. Not only will all students see themselves reflected in the pages, but they will come to understand that they, too, are strategic players in American politics, with voices that matter. 

Also available as a digital option (courseware). Contact your rep to learn more about American Government, Second Edition - Vantage Digital Option.

"The main strength of this book is that it presents a ‘human’ side to American Government that challenges students to think critically while still presenting the ‘teaching’ side with objectives, self-tests, and chapter reviews." 
—Kathleen BarrettUniversity of West Georgia

In theSecondEdition ofAmericanGovernment, author Scott F. Abernathy tunes in to the voices ofall Americans, showing how our diverse ideas shape the way we participate and behave, the laws we live by, and the challenges we face. From the Constitutional Convention to Ferguson, Missouri, each chapter features rich, personal narratives that illustrate how the American political system is the product of strategies, calculations, and miscalculations of countless individuals. It focuses on real people, the actions they take, the struggles they face, and how their choices influence outcomes. The key concepts are memorable because they are tied to real politics, where students see political action and political choices shaping how institutions advance or impede the fulfillment of fundamental ideas. Participation is at the heart of this groundbreaking new text, with ample background on how and why to participate. Not only will all students see themselves reflected in the pages, but they will come to understand that they, too, are strategic players in American politics, with voices that matter. 

A Complete Teaching and Learning Package

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Outlined in your text and mapped to chapter learning objectives, SAGE course outcomes are crafted with specific course outcomes in mind and vetted by advisors in the field. See how SAGE course outcomes tie in with this book’s chapter-level objectives atedge.sagepub.com/abernathy2e.

CQ Press Lecture Spark
Designed to save you time and ignite student engagement, these free weekly lecture launchers focus on current event topics tied to key concepts in American government.Access this week’s topic. 

Free poster: What can you do with a Political Science degree? 
Download a poster that you can print to hang in your classroom, email to colleagues, or share on social media. 

PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PART I: FOUNDATIONS
CHAPTER 1. AMERICAN POLITICAL STORIES: CLAIMING RIGHTS, DEMANDING TO BE HEARD
AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE IS BUILT ON A SET OF SHARED IDEAS
POLITICS AND POLITICAL ACTION SET THE STAGE FOR REVOLUTION
THE STRUCTURE OF INSTITUTIONS AFFECTS HOW CITIZENS PARTICIPATE
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S “LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL” LINKS THE CHALLENGE AGAINST RACIAL SEGREGATION TO CORE AMERICAN IDEALS
CONCLUSION: THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT CONTINUES, AND YOU ARE PART OF IT
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 2. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES: A NEW VISION OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
JAMES MADISON PLANS FOR A REPUBLIC THAT WILL LAST
THE CONFEDERAL SYSTEM MADE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE STATES DIFFICULT
DELEGATES REACH A COMPROMISE AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
DELEGATES WORK OUT DETAILS OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT
FEDERALISTS AND ANTI-FEDERALISTS FIGHT OVER RATIFICATION
CONCLUSION: THE MOTIVES OF THE FRAMERS AND THE EFFECTS OF THE CONSTITUTION ARE STILL BEING DEBATED
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 3. FEDERALISM: THE CHANGING BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE NATION AND THE STATES
THE FIGHT FOR ACCESS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA REVEALS TENSIONS BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL LAW
THE CONSTITUTION DIVIDES POWER BETWEEN THE NATION AND THE STATES
FOR MUCH OF AMERICAN HISTORY, THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE NATION AND THE STATES WERE SHARPER THAN THEY ARE TODAY
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT’S RESPONSE TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION RESHAPES AMERICAN FEDERALISM
MODERN AMERICAN FEDERALISM REMAINS COOPERATIVE BUT FACES CHALLENGES
CONCLUSION: THE EVOLUTION OF FEDERALISM CONTINUES
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 4. CIVIL LIBERTIES: BUILDING AND DEFENDING FENCES
STANDING ROCK: WATER PROTECTORS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN NORTH DAKOTA
THE BILL OF RIGHTS ESTABLISHES PROTECTIONS FOR AMERICANS’ CIVIL LIBERTIES
THE FIRST AMENDMENT’S FIRST TWO PROTECTIONS BOTH INVOLVE RELIGION
THE FIRST AMENDMENT ALSO PROTECTS EXPRESSION: SPEECH, PRESS, ASSEMBLY, AND PETITIONING THE GOVERNMENT
THE CONSTITUTION ALSO PROTECTS INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
THE NINTH AND TENTH AMENDMENTS HELP SHAPE FREEDOMS IN THE NATION AND ACROSS THE STATES
CONCLUSION: CIVIL LIBERTIES INVOLVE FENCES STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 5. CIVIL RIGHTS: HOW EQUAL IS EQUAL?
PROTESTERS ACT TO SECURE RIGHTS FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
CIVIL RIGHTS AMENDMENTS EMERGE FROM THE CIVIL WAR—BUT PROVIDE ONLY IMPERFECT PROTECTION
CHALLENGES TO LEGAL SEGREGATION FACE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES
AMERICAN WOMEN WORK TO SECURE THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS
AMERICANS CONFRONT OVERLAPPING FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION
CONCLUSION: HAVE AMERICANS’ CIVIL RIGHTS BEEN SECURED?
CHAPTER REVIEW
PART II: POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND MASS POLITICS
CHAPTER 6. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: CARRY THAT WEIGHT
TWO PERSPECTIVES ON CAMPUS CARRY OF FIREARMS IN RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION CAN TAKE MANY FORMS
THE DECISION TO VOTE OR NOT VOTE INVOLVES MANY FACTORS
ANOTHER RESPONSE TO CAMPUS SEXUAL VIOLENCE HIGHLIGHTS THE FLUIDITY OF PARTICIPATION
ARE YOUNG ADULT AMERICANS REALLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE POLITICAL PROCESS?
CONCLUSION: CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF SELF-GOVERNANCE
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 7. PUBLIC OPINION: HOW ARE AMERICANS’ VOICES MEASURED, AND DO THEY MATTER?
PUBLIC OPINION MAY BE MOVED BY IMPORTANT EVENTS LIKE FERGUSON
PUBLIC OPINION IS THE SUM TOTAL OF INDIVIDUAL BELIEFS AND ATTITUDES
PUBLIC OPINION IS TRANSMITTED AND MEASURED IN SEVERAL WAYS
POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION AND POLITICAL IDEOLOGY SHAPE PUBLIC OPINION
FERGUSON AND THE EFFECTS OF PUBLIC OPINION ON DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION
CONCLUSION: HOW MEANINGFUL IS PUBLIC OPINION?
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 8. THE MEDIA: TRUTH, POWER, AND AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
CAN A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT CHANGE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION? HOW POWERFUL ARE THE MEDIA?
THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN MEDIA SHOWS THAT ISSUES OF POWER AND TRUSTWORTHINESS ARE NOT NEW
QUESTIONS OF BIAS CHALLENGE AMERICANS’ TRUST IN THE MEDIA’S OBJECTIVITY
MEDIA OWNERSHIP AND CONTENT ARE SUBJECT TO REGULATION
THE POWER OF THE MEDIA TO AFFECT THE PUBLIC IS TESTED
CONCLUSION: DEBATES ABOUT THE POWER OF THE MEDIA CONTINUE
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 9. POLITICAL PARTIES: THE INSURGENTS VERSUS THE ESTABLISHMENT
TWO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SHAKE UP THE FIELD . . . AND CONVENTIONAL WISDOM ABOUT THE POWER AND COHESION OF THEIR PARTIES
PARTIES ACT TO IDENTIFY, SUPPORT, AND NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR ELECTED OFFICE
PARTIES PROVIDE LABELS TO CANDIDATES TO ASSIST VOTERS IN MAKING THEIR CHOICES
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2016 THROWS CONVENTIONAL WISDOM OUT THE WINDOW
POLITICAL POLARIZATION, GRIDLOCK, AND TWO-PARTY DOMINANCE ARE THE DEFINING FEATURES OF PARTIES IN GOVERNMENT TODAY
CONCLUSION: HOW WILL THE PARTIES RESPOND?
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 10. CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS: CANDIDATES AND VOTERS IN AN ERA OF DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ADDRESS LATINO VOTERS IN 2016
NATIONAL ELECTIONS SERVE TO HOLD OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE, BUT REGULATING THEM IS NOT ALWAYS EASY
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS HAVE MANY STAGES AND MOVING PARTS
A FIRST-TIMER RUNS FOR CONGRESS, WINS, AND THEN TURNS TOWARD REELECTION
THE DETAILS OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS DIFFER BY STATE, BUT MANY OF THE RULES ARE THE SAME
CONCLUSION: POLITICS AND AMERICA’S CHANGING LANDSCAPE
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 11. INTEREST GROUPS AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: COLLECTIVE ACTION, POWER, AND REPRESENTATION
A HOUSING BUBBLE BURSTS, AND INTEREST GROUPS POP OUT
AMERICANS FACE CHALLENGES IN ACTING COLLECTIVELY IN A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
INTEREST GROUPS VARY BY TYPE AND TACTIC
OCCUPY WALL STREET ILLUSTRATES THE STRUGGLES, SUCCESSES, AND FAILURES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS EMPLOY DIFFERENT TACTICS FROM INTEREST GROUPS TO MAKE CHANGE AND EDUCATE
CONCLUSION: ORGANIZING IN AMERICAN POLITICAL LIFE
CHAPTER REVIEW
PART III: INSTITUTIONS
CHAPTER 12. CONGRESS: REPRESENTATION, ORGANIZATION, AND LEGISLATION
THE ELECTIONS OF 2018 HIGHLIGHT THE CONNECTIONS AMONG PARTISANSHIP, INSTITUTIONS, AND IDENTITIES IN CONGRESS
THE CONSTITUTION DEFINES CONGRESS’S SHAPE AND POWERS
CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED AROUND FORMAL AND INFORMAL RULES
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS COMPLEX BY DESIGN
GETTING TO CONGRESS INVOLVES PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, ELECTORAL, AND FINANCIAL FACTORS
MEMBERS REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS BY HOW THEY ACT AND WHO THEY ARE
CONCLUSION: REPRESENTATION REMAINS COMPLEX, BUT THE LANDSCAPE CONTINUES TO CHANGE
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 13. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY: INSTITUTIONS, INDIVIDUALS, AND POWER
ONE PRESIDENT’S WARS: A WEEK IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF DONALD TRUMP
THE CONSTITUTION OUTLINES THE POWERS OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY AND PLACES LIMITS ON THOSE POWERS
INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER INFORMAL SOURCES OF POWER SHAPE THE MODERN EXECUTIVE BRANCH
PRESIDENTS HAVE PUSHED THE LIMITS OF THEIR POWER TO PRESERVE NATIONAL SECURITY
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEVERAL TOOLS FOR UNILATERAL ACTION
CONCLUSION: THE PARADOXES OF THE PRESIDENCY CONTINUE
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 14. THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY: PUTTING THE NATION’S LAWS INTO EFFECT
FEDERAL BUREAUCRATIC ACTION CONSISTS OF MANY ACTORS AND EVOLVES OVER TIME
THEORIES OF BUREAUCRATIC ORGANIZATION FOCUS ON RULES, PEOPLE, AND TASKS
THE BUREAUCRACY HAS DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO DEMANDS AND CRISES
A FUNCTIONING BUREAUCRACY DEPENDS UPON EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION
THE BUREAUCRACY IS CONSTRAINED BY OVERSIGHT AND REFORM
CONCLUSION: WHAT DOES A “GOOD” BUREAUCRACY LOOK LIKE?
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 15. THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY: POLITICS, POWER, AND THE “LEAST DANGEROUS” BRANCH
THE POLITICS OF SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATIONS PLACE NOMINEES ON “TRIAL”
THE CONSTITUTION CASTS THE JUDICIARY AS THE WEAKEST BRANCH
THE “TRIAL” OF JOHN MARSHALL ESTABLISHES THE PRINCIPLE OF JUDICIAL REVIEW
THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM IS DEFINED BY FEDERALISM
JUDICIAL REVIEW RAISES QUESTIONS OF CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATION AND JUDICIAL DECISION MAKING
CONCLUSION: THE TRIAL OF THE SUPREME COURT CONTINUES
CHAPTER REVIEW
PART IV: POLICY
CHAPTER 16. DOMESTIC PUBLIC POLICY: THE POLITICS OF PROMOTING THE GENERAL WELFARE
AMERICAN EDUCATION POLICY ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE INVOLVES BOTH POLITICS AND MARKETS
THERE IS NOTHING TIDY ABOUT THE DOMESTIC POLICYMAKING PROCESS
EDUCATIONAL REFORM TODAY TAKES A VARIETY OF TYPES
HEALTH CARE POLICY HAS EVOLVED SINCE THE GREAT SOCIETY
EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE ARE ONLY TWO OF MANY AREAS OF DOMESTIC POLICY
CONCLUSION: DOMESTIC POLICY IS ABOUT DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 17. ECONOMIC POLICY: REPRESENTING AMERICANS’ FINANCIAL INTERESTS
THE PROBLEM OF STUDENT DEBT THREATENS THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF STUDENT BORROWERS AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
FISCAL POLICY GUIDES THE ECONOMY THROUGH DECISIONS ON SPENDING AND TAXATION
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS COME FROM A RANGE OF SOURCES
MONETARY POLICY IS GOVERNED BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
CONCLUSION: CAN ECONOMIC POLICY SOLVE THE STUDENT DEBT PROBLEM?
CHAPTER REVIEW
CHAPTER 18. FOREIGN POLICY: ADVANCING AMERICAN INTERESTS IN AN UNCERTAIN AND CHANGING WORLD
THE COLD WAR AND ITS END HAVE POWERFULLY SHAPED FOREIGN POLICY
U.S. FOREIGN POLICY HAS CHANGED OVER TIME
CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE EARLY TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SPREADS WORLDWIDE
AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY IS FORMULATED BY MANY ACTORS AND ORGANIZATIONS
CONCLUSION: THE STORY OF AMERICAN POLITICS CONTINUES
CHAPTER REVIEW
APPENDIX 1: ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
APPENDIX 2: DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
APPENDIX 3: CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
APPENDIX 4: FEDERALIST NO. 10
APPENDIX 5: FEDERALIST NO. 51
APPENDIX 6: POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATIONS IN CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENCY, 1789–2017
APPENDIX 7: SUMMARY OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, 1789–2016
GLOSSARY
NOTES
INDEX