The Basics of American Government

The Basics of American Government

Revised and Updated

Edited By Carl D. Cavalli Contributors: Maria J. Albo (with assistance from Courtney Mitchell), Ross C. Alexander, Carl D. Cavalli, Barry D. Friedman, Craig B. Greathouse, Jonathan S. Miner, Brian M. Murphy, K. Michael Reese, and Charles H. "Trey" Wilson

Updated August 2013

University Press of North Georgia University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA

Copyright 2011, 2013 University Press of North Georgia

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher, except by reviewers who may quote brief excerpts in connections with a review in newspaper, magazine, or electronic publications; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other, without the written permission from the publisher.

Published by: The University Press of North Georgia Dahlonega, Georgia

Publishing Support by: Booklogix Publishing Services, Inc. Alpharetta, Georgia

Cover Photograph "U.S. Mint at Dahlonega" Courtesy of Hancock & Harwell, Atlanta, GA

Cover Design by Lee-Anne Elliott Book Design by April Loebick & Matt Pardue

ISBN: 978-0-9792324-6-6

Printed in the United States of America, 2013 For more information, please visit: Or e-mail: upng@ung.edu

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Table of Contents

Chapter One: Theories of Democracy & Types of Government

1

Ross C. Alexander

Chapter Two: The U.S. Constitution

11

Ross C. Alexander

Chapter Three: Federalism

27

Charles H. "Trey" Wilson III

Chapter Four: Political Socialization and the Media

49

Maria J. Albo and Barry D. Friedman

Chapter Five: Interest Groups

79

Carl D. Cavalli and Barry D. Friedman

Chapter Six: Political Parties, Voting, and Elections

109

Carl D. Cavalli

Chapter Seven: Congress

145

Carl D. Cavalli

Chapter Eight: The Presidency

175

Carl D. Cavalli

Chapter Nine: Executive Agencies

199

Barry D. Friedman

Chapter Ten: The Federal Judiciary

219

Brian M. Murphy

Chapter Eleven: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

247

K. Michael Reese

Chapter Twelve: Public Policy

271

Barry D. Friedman

Chapter Thirteen: State and Local Government

289

Ross C. Alexander

Supplement: Georgia Public Policy

313

Maria J. Albo and Courtney Mitchell

Chapter Fourteen: U.S. Foreign Policy

325

Jonathan S. Miner and Craig B. Greathouse

Chapter Fifteen: Civic Engagement

351

Maria J. Albo

Preface to the Revised Text

The dynamic and cyclical world of politics demands constant attention. There are predictable electoral, policy, and international cycles; and there are unpredictable events. Even the predictable things often produce unpredictable and unanticipated consequences. With this in mind, we offer a revised edition of our book (and hope to offer future editions as well). We endeavor to bring you the latest developments in foreign and domestic events relevant to American politics. We also add a new supplemental section on Georgia public policies that we hope serves to complement both our Public Policy and State and Local Government chapters. With it, we welcome a new contributor, Courtney Mitchell, who recently earned her bachelor's degree in political science. While we offer no guarantees that college graduates can immediately become published authors, we hope she serves as a role model and inspiration that, yes, you do learn something in college, and there is something you can do with that degree! Lastly, we attempted to correct and clarify what we wrote in the first edition. There are second chances in life!

The book is still the concise, no-nonsense text we originally envisioned. No change there. Enjoy and learn.

Carl D. Cavalli, editor May 2013

Preface to the Original Text

This book is a collaborative effort among eight current and one retired University of North Georgia faculty members in the Political Science and Criminal Justice departments, all of whom have extensive experience teaching and conducting academic research in the field of American politics. All of these professors were concerned with both the rising cost and lack of academic rigor among American government texts on the market. So, they decided to write their own.

The purpose of this book is twofold. First, it provides a thorough, nofrills overview and analysis of the American political system. Second, most chapters include a work of original academic scholarship that demonstrates or highlights the chapter content. In addition, all chapters provide questions for discussion and several feature a "civic engagement

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