Princeton Readings in American Politics

Published by Princeton University Press 2009

Princeton Readings in American Politics

Edited by: Richard M. Valelly

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400833818

Overview
Contents

About this book

Princeton Readings in American Politics offers an exciting and challenging new way to learn about American politics. It brings together political science that has stood the test of time and recent cutting-edge analyses to acquaint undergraduate and graduate students with the substantive, conceptual, and methodological foundations they need to make sense of American politics today.

Princeton Readings in American Politics features writings by such eminent scholars as Larry M. Bartels, Robert Dahl, Martha Derthick, Howard Gillman, Jacob Hacker, Kay L. Schlozman, Deborah Stone, Marta Tienda, and Kent Weaver, among others. The book is organized in sections that cover the major American political institutions--the presidency, Congress, the courts--as well as core topics such as political parties, macroeconomic management, voting and elections, policymaking, public opinion, and federalism. Richard Valelly provides an insightful general introduction to political science as a vibrant form of inquiry, as well as a succinct, informative introduction to each reading.

Rigorous yet accessible, Princeton Readings in American Politics can serve as a primary textbook or as a supplement to standard introductory texts.

Offers an exciting new way to learn about American politics
Features accessible scholarship by leading political scientists
Covers all the major topics
Serves as a primary textbook or supplementary reader for undergraduate and graduate students

Author / Editor information

Richard M. Valelly is the Claude C. Smith '14 Professor of Political Science at Swarthmore College. He is the author of the prizewinning The Two Reconstructions: The Struggle for Black Enfranchisement.

Reviews

"A superb introduction to American politics, and to the discipline of political science, both rigorous and accessible."—H. N. Hirsch, Oberlin College

"This is a distinctive collection of readings, a genuine intellectual departure from the usual American politics reader. Those looking for a fresh vision in this venerable field will find it here."—Christopher H. Achen, Princeton University

"Typically, introductory textbooks leave students adrift in a sea of facts and colorful graphics. Valelly has higher ambitions: he wants to help students think rigorously and deeply about American politics. This volume, based on the work of prominent social scientists, will give readers the ability, and desire, to learn more. It seems fitting that a book about power should be so empowering."—Christopher Howard, College of William and Mary

"An excellent resource for journalists and others who are interested in a one-stop 'Everything You Want to Know About Americanist Political Science but Were Afraid to Ask' collection. . . . Recommended."---Henry Farrell, Monkey Cage

"Princeton Readings in American Politics embeds the basics in a searching inquiry of who rules America and how the exercise of power satisfies or disappoints our concern for justice. Sophisticated yet accessible, this volume masterfully draws students into a critical examination of self-government."—Sidney M. Milkis, University of Virginia

"This reader is a terrific idea. By showcasing political scientists at work and in conversation with each other, and by aiming consistently at the big questions of power—how it's organized and to what ends—this compilation draws student' interest to the normative tensions, the real dissonances, and thus the serious challenges of American politics."—Nicole Mellow, Williams College

"The selection of articles in this reader is simply superb. The readings correspond with the breadth of topics covered in major introductory textbooks, and will generate much discussion and insight. This book offers a wonderfully fulfilling opportunity to think about the richer implications of our system of government."—Andrea Campbell, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"An extremely useful American Politics 101 (or maybe more like 201) that in a decent world would be read by the large number of political junkies and political professionals who don't have much exposure to the formal study of US politics."---Matthew Yglesias, Yglesias blog

"This book brings together political science that has stood the test of time and recent cutting-edge analyses to acquaint students with what they need to make sense of American politics today."

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
A New Kind of Introduction to American Politics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Section 1 Who Governs?
1. A Critique of the Ruling Elite Model Robert A. Dahl Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	15
2. Symbolism in Politics Murray Edelman Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	24
3 Causal Stories and the Formation of Policy Agendas Deborah A. Stone Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	34
4 WHEN EFFECT BECOMES CAUSE Policy Feedback and Political Change Paul Pierson Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	51
Section 2 Constitutionalism and the Separation of Powers
5 What’s So Great About Constitutionalism? Michael J. Klarman Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	79
6 An Overlooked Theory on Presidential Politics Rick Valelly Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	124
7 The Curse of the Vice-Presidency Michael Nelson Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	129
8. Legislation David R. Mayhew Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	136
9 Is Congress Really for Sale? Paul Burstein Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	164
10. Judicial Independence Through the Lens of Bush v. Gore: Four Lessons from Political Science Howard Gillman Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	172
11 Judicial Independence and the Reality of Political Power Gerald N. Rosenberg Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	186
12 The Enduring Features of American Federalism Martha Derthick Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	206
13 The Diffusion of Innovations among the American States Jack L. Walker Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	212
Section 3 Governance and Public Policy
14 Central Banking in a Democratic Society Joseph Stiglitz Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	241
15 The Politics of Blame Avoidance R. Kent Weaver Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	268
16 Privatizing Risk without Privatizing the Welfare State: The Hidden Politics of Social Policy Retrenchment in the United States Jacob S. Hacker Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	291
Section 4 Public Opinion and Its Roles
17 The Impact of Public Opinion on Public Policy: A Review and an Agenda Paul Burstein Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	323
18 The Citizen as Respondent: Sample Surveys and American Democracy Sidney Verba Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	346
19 Democratic Discussion Donald R. Kinder and Don Herzog Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	358
20 Monica Lewinsky’s Contribution to Political Science John R. Zaller Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	380
Section 5 Forming Groups
21 The Political Economy of Group Membership John Mark Hansen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	393
Section 6 Elections
22 Electoral Continuity and Change, 1868–1996 Larry M. Bartels Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	419
23 The Turnout Rate among Eligible Voters in the States, 1980–2000 Michael P. McDonald Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	447
24 The Evolution of the Gender Gap Barbara Norrander Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	460
25 The American Process of Selecting a President: A Comparative Perspective Matthew Soberg Shugart Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	468
26 Sending Them a Message—Getting a Reply: Presidential Elections and Democratic Accountability Kay Lehman Schlozman and Sidney Verba Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	492
Section 7 Political Parties and the Party System
27 Who Needs Political Parties? Rick Valelly Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	511
28 Toward a One-Party South? Danny Hayes and Seth C. McKee Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	519
29 The Legal Status of Political Parties: A Reassessment of Competing Paradigms Nathaniel Persily and Bruce E. Cain Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	542
Section 8 Challenges to American Democracy
30 The Partisan Political Economy Larry M. Bartels Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	575
31 Demography and the Social Contract Marta Tienda Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	607