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American Government and Politics

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Chapter 3: Federalism 70 Why Would the States Favor the Status Quo? 96
Federalism Becomes a Partisan Issue 97
Three Systems of Government 73
The “New Federalism” 98
A Unitary System 73 New Judicial Federalism 98
A Confederal System 73 Federalism in the Twenty-First Century 99
A Federal System 73
Federalism and the Supreme Court Today 100
Why Federalism? 74
Reining in the Commerce Power 100
A Practical Constitutional Solution 74 State Sovereignty and the Eleventh Amendment 101
Benefits for the United States 75 Tenth Amendment Issues 102
Allowance for Many Political Subcultures 75 Federalism and State Immigration Policy 102
Arguments against Federalism 77 Other Federalism Cases 103
The Constitutional Basis for American Federalism 78
Powers of the National Government 78
PART II Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
The Necessary and Proper Clause 78
Inherent Powers 79 Chapter 4: Civil Liberties 107
Powers of the State Governments 79
Concurrent Powers 82
Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights 109
Prohibited Powers 82 Extending the Bill of Rights to State Governments 110
The Supremacy Clause 82 Incorporation of the Fourteenth Amendment 110
Vertical and Horizontal Checks and Balances 83 Freedom of Religion 111
Interstate Relations 83 The Separation of Church and State—The Establishment
The Full Faith and Credit Clause 83 Clause 111
Privileges and Immunities 84 Aid to Church-Related Schools 112
Interstate Extradition 84 A Change in the Court’s Position 113
Defining Constitutional Powers—The Early Years 86 School Vouchers 113
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) 86 The Issue of School Prayer—Engel v. Vitale 114
The Constitutional Questions 86 The Debate over School Prayer Continues 115
Marshall’s Decision 87 Prayer Outside the Classroom 115
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) 87 The Ten Commandments 116
The Background of the Case 88 Forbidding the Teaching of Evolution 116
Marshall’s Ruling 88 Religious Speech 116
Public Expression of Religion 117
States’ Rights and the Resort to Civil War 88
Blasphemy and Free Speech Rights 117
The Shift Back to States’ Rights 89
The Free Exercise Clause 118
War and the Growth of the National Government 89
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act 118
The War Effort 89
The Civil War Amendments 90
Freedom of Expression 120
No Prior Restraint 120
The Continuing Dispute over the Division of Power 90
WikiLeaks, Edward Snowden, and Classified Information
Dual Federalism and the Retreat of National Authority 90
on the Internet 120
A Return to Normal Conditions 91
The Protection of Symbolic Speech 121
The Role of the Supreme Court 91
The Protection of Commercial Speech 122
The New Deal and Cooperative Federalism 91
Permitted Restrictions on Expression 123
The “New Deal” 92
Clear and Present Danger 123
The End of Dual Federalism 92
Modifications to the Clear and Present Danger Rule 123
Cooperative Federalism 92
Unprotected Speech: Obscenity 126
Methods of Implementing Cooperative Federalism 93
Definitional Problems 126
Categorical Grants 93
Protecting Children 126
Feeling the Pressure—The Strings Attached to Federal
Pornography on the Internet 126
Grants 94
Should “Virtual” Pornography Be Deemed a Crime? 127
Block Grants 94
Unprotected Speech: Slander 127
Federal Mandates 95
Campus Speech 128
The Politics of Federalism 95 Student Activity Fees 128
What Has National Authority Accomplished? 96 Campus Speech and Behavior Codes 128
Civil Rights and the War on Poverty 96 Hate Speech on the Internet 130

  vii

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Freedom of the Press 130 The Escalation of the Civil Rights Movement 164
Defamation in Writing 130 Modern Civil Rights Legislation 165
A Free Press versus a Fair Trial: Gag Orders 131 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 165
Films, Radio, and TV 132 The Voting Rights Act of 1965 166
Urban Riots 166
The Right to Assemble and to Petition
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 and Other Housing-Reform
the Government 133
Legislation 166
Online Assembly 134
Consequences of Civil Rights Legislation 167
More Liberties under Scrutiny: Matters Political Representation by African Americans 169
of Privacy 134 The U.S. Census and Civil Rights 170
Information Privacy 135 Lingering Social and Economic Disparities 170
Privacy Rights and Abortion 137 Race-Conscious or Post-Racial Society? 171
Roe v. Wade 137 #BlackLivesMatter 172
The Controversy Continues 137 Race and Confederate Symbols 173
Privacy Rights and the “Right to Die” 139
Women’s Campaign for Equal Rights 174
What If No Living Will Exists? 139
Early Women’s Political Movements 174
Physician-Assisted Suicide 139
Women’s Suffrage Associations 175
Privacy Rights versus Security Issues 140
The Second Wave of the Women’s Movement 177
The USA PATRIOT Act 140
The Equal Rights Amendment 180
Civil Liberties Concerns 141
Three-State Strategy 180
The Great Balancing Act: The Rights of the Accused Challenging Gender Discrimination in the Courts
versus the Rights of Society 143 and Legislatures 180
Extending the Rights of the Accused 144 Women in Politics Today 182
Miranda v. Arizona 145
Gender-Based Discrimination in the
Exceptions to the Miranda Rule 145
Workplace 183
Video Recording of Interrogations 146
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 183
The Exclusionary Rule 146
Sexual Harassment 184
The Death Penalty 146 Wage Discrimination 184
Cruel and Unusual Punishment? 147 The Equal Pay Act of 1963 184
The Death Penalty Today 147 Voting Rights and the Young 187

Immigration, Latinos, and Civil Rights 188


Chapter 5: Civil Rights 152 Mexican American Civil Rights 188
African Americans and the Consequences The Continued Influx of Immigrants 189
of Slavery in the United States 154 Illegal Immigration 190
Ending Servitude 155 Citizenship 191
The Civil Rights Acts of 1865 to 1875 155 Accommodating Diversity with Bilingual Education 191
The Limitations of the Civil Rights Laws 156 Affirmative Action 192
The Civil Rights Cases 157 The Bakke Case 192
Plessy v. Ferguson: Separate but Equal 157 Further Limits on Affirmative Action 194
Voting Barriers 157 State Ballot Initiatives 195
Extralegal Methods of Enforcing White
Supremacy 158
Making Amends for Past Discrimination through
The End of the Separate-but-Equal Doctrine 159
Reparations 196
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka 159 Special Protection for Older Americans 197
“With All Deliberate Speed” 160 Securing Rights for Persons with Disabilities 198
Reactions to School Integration 160 The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 198
Integration Today 161 Limiting the Scope and Applicability of the ADA 199
The Resurgence of Minority Schools 161 The Rights and Status of Gays and Lesbians 199
The Civil Rights Movement 162 Progress in the Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement 200
King’s Philosophy of Nonviolence 163 State and Local Laws Targeting Gays and Lesbians 200
Nonviolent Demonstrations 163 Gays and Lesbians in the Military 201
Marches and Demonstrations 163 Same-Sex Marriage 201
Another Approach—Black Power 164 Defense of Marriage Act 202
viii  

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A Short History of State Recognition of Gay Marriages 203 Material Incentives 248
Shift in Public Opinion for Marriage Equality 203 Purposive Incentives 248
Types of Interest Groups 248
PART III People and Politics Economic Interest Groups 249
Business Interest Groups 249
Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Agricultural Interest Groups 250
Labor Interest Groups 250
Socialization 207
Public-Employee Unions 252
Defining Public Opinion 210 Interest Groups of Professionals 253
Public Opinion and Policymaking 210 The Unorganized Poor 253
How Public Opinion Is Formed: Political Environmental Groups 254
Socialization 212 Public-Interest Groups 255
Models of Political Socialization 212 Nader Organizations 255
The Family and the Social Environment 213 Other Public-Interest Groups 255
Education as a Source of Political Socialization 213 Other Interest Groups 257
Peers and Peer Group Influence 213 Foreign Governments 257
Opinion Leaders’ Influence 215 What Makes an Interest Group Powerful? 257
Political Change and Political Socialization 218 Size and Resources 258
The Impact of the Media 218 Leadership 259
The Influence of Political Events 220 Cohesiveness 261
Political Preferences and Voting Behavior 221 Interest Group Strategies 261
Demographic Influences 221 Direct Techniques 261
Education 222 Lobbying Techniques 261
The Influence of Economic Status 222 The Ratings Game 262
Religious Influence: Denomination 224 Building Alliances 263
Religious Influence: Religiosity and Evangelicals 224 Campaign Assistance 263
The Influence of Race and Ethnicity 224 Indirect Techniques 264
The Gender Gap 225 Generating Public Pressure 265
Reasons for the Gender Gap 226 Using Constituents as Lobbyists 265
Geographic Region 227 Unconventional Forms of Pressure 266
Measuring Public Opinion 228 Regulating Lobbyists 266
The History of Opinion Polls 228 The Results of the 1946 Act 267
Sampling Techniques 229 The Reforms of 1995 267
Representative Sampling 229 Lobbying Scandals 268
The Principle of Randomness 229 Interest Groups and Representative Democracy 268
Problems with Polls 231 Interest Group Influence 269
Sampling Errors 231
Poll Questions 232 Chapter 8: Political Parties 272
Push Polls 232
What Is a Political Party and What Do
Technology, Public Opinion, and the Political Parties Do? 275
Process 233 Getting Organized: The Three Components of a Party 276
Public Opinion and the Political Process 233 Party Organization 277
Political Culture and Public Opinion 234 The National Convention 277
Political Trust and Support for the Political System 234 The State Party Organization 278
Public Opinion about Government 236 Local Party Organizations 280
The Party-in-Government 280
Chapter 7: Interest Groups 241
Divided Government 280
Interest Groups: A Natural Phenomenon 243 The Limits of Party Unity 280
Interest Groups and Social Movements 244 Party Polarization 281
Why So Many? 246 A History of Political Parties in the United States 281
Why Do Americans Join Interest Groups? 246 The First-Party System: The Development of Parties,
Incentives 247 1789–1828 283
Solidary Incentives 247 The Era of Good Feelings 284
  ix

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The Second-Party System: Democrats and Whigs, The Strategy of Winning 318
1828–1860 284 Candidate Visibility and Appeal 318
The Third-Party System: Republicans’ Rise to Power and the Taking the Public Pulse 319
Civil War, 1860–1896 284 The Media and Political Campaigns 319
“Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion” 285
The Triumph of the Republicans 285
Financing the Campaign 319
The Fourth-Party System: The Progressive Interlude Regulating Campaign Financing 322
and Republican Dominance, 1896–1932 285 The Federal Election Campaign Act 322
The Fifth-Party System: The New Deal and Democratic Further Reforms in 1974 322
Dominance, 1932–1968 286 Buckley v. Valeo 323
A Post-Party System Era, 1968–Present? 287 Interest Groups and Campaign Finance: Reaction
Red State, Blue State 288 to New Rules 323
Partisan Trends in the Elections of 2012 and 2016 288 PACs and Political Campaigns 324
The Two Major U.S. Parties Today 289 Campaign Financing beyond the Limits 324
Who Belongs to Each Political Party? 290 Contributions to Political Parties 324
Differences in Party Policy Priorities 292 Independent Expenditures 326
The 2012 Elections—Shaping the Parties for 2014 and 2016 292 Issue Advocacy 326
The 2016 Primaries and the Rise of “Outsiders” 294 The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 326
Why Has the Two-Party System Endured? 297 Key Elements of the New Law 327
The Historical Foundations of the Two-Party System 297 The Rise of the 527s 327
Political Socialization and Practical Considerations 297 Citizens United, Freedom Now, and the Future of Campaign
The Winner-Take-All Electoral System 298 Finance Regulation 329
Proportional Representation 298 Running for President: The Longest Campaign 330
State and Federal Laws Favoring the Two Parties 299 Reforming the Primaries 330
The Role of Minor Parties in U.S. Politics 300 Front-Loading the Primaries 331
Ideological Third Parties 301 The Rush to Be First 331
Splinter Parties 301 The 2016 Primary Season 331
The Impact of Minor Parties 302
On to the National Convention 332
Influencing the Major Parties 302
Seating the Delegates 332
Affecting the Outcome of an Election 302
Convention Activities 332
Mechanisms of Political Change 303 On to the General Election 333
Realignment 303
Voting in the United States 334
Realignment: The Myth of Dominance 303
Turning Out to Vote 334
Realignment: The Myth of Predictability 303
The Effect of Low Voter Turnout 336
Is Realignment Still Possible? 305
Is Voter Turnout Declining? 337
Dealignment 306
Factors Influencing Who Votes 337
Independent Voters 306
Why People Do Not Vote 339
Not-So-Independent Voters 306
Uninformative Media Coverage and Negative
Tipping 307
Campaigning 339
Tipping in Massachusetts 307
The Rational Ignorance Effect 340
Tipping in California 307
Plans for Improving Voter Turnout 340
Political Parties of the Future 308
Legal Restrictions on Voting 341
Chapter 9: Campaigns, Voting, Historical Restrictions 341
and Elections 311 Property Requirements 341
Who Wants to Be a Candidate? 313 Further Extensions of the Franchise 341
Why They Run 313 Is the Franchise Still Too Restrictive? 342
The Nomination Process 313 Current Eligibility and Registration Requirements 342
Who Is Eligible? 314 Extension of the Voting Rights Act 343
Who Runs? 314 Primary Elections, General Elections,
Women as Candidates 315 and More 344
The Twenty-First-Century Campaign 316 Primary Elections 344
The Changing Campaign 316 Closed Primary 345
The Professional Campaign Staff 317 Open Primary 345
x  

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Blanket Primary 345 Bias in the Media 379
Runoff Primary 345 Do the Media Have a Partisan Bias? 380
General and Other Elections 345 A Racial Bias? 380
How Are Elections Conducted? 346 A Gender Bias? 381
Office-Block and Party-Column Ballots 346
Vote Fraud 347
The Danger of Fraud 347 PART IV Political Institutions
Mistakes by Voting Officials 347
The Importance of the Voting Machine 348 Chapter 11: The Congress 385
The Electoral College 348 The Functions of Congress 387
The Choice of Electors 348 The Lawmaking Function 388
The Electors’ Commitment 349 The Representation Function 388
Criticisms of the Electoral College 349 The Trustee View of Representation 388
The Instructed-Delegate View of Representation 389
Chapter 10: The Media and Politics 355 Service to Constituents 389
A Brief History of the Media’s Role in United States The Oversight Function 390
Politics 357 The Public-Education Function 391
The Rise of the Popular Press 357 The Conflict-Resolution Function 391
Mass-Readership Newspapers 358 The Powers of Congress 391
News Delivered over the Airwaves 358 Enumerated Powers 391
The Revolution in Electronic Media 359 Powers of the Senate 392
The Special Relationship between the Media Constitutional Amendments 392
and the Executive 360 The Necessary and Proper Clause 392
The Internet and Social Media 363 Checks on Congress 393
The Role of the Media in Our Society 365 House–Senate Differences 393
The Media’s Political Functions 365 Size and Rules 394
Provide Information 366 Debate and Filibustering 394
Identify Problems and Set the Public Agenda 366 Prestige 395
Investigate and Report on Wrongdoing 367
Socialize New Generations 368
Congresspersons and the Citizenry: A Comparison 395
Providing a Political Forum for Dialogue Congressional Elections 396
and Debate 368 Candidates for Congressional Elections 396
The Media’s Impact: Political Campaigns 369 Congressional Campaigns and Elections 397
Presidential Effects 397
Advertising 369
The Power of Incumbency 398
Management of News Coverage 370
Campaign Debates 371 Congressional Apportionment 399
The Internet and Social Media 372 Gerrymandering 400
Redistricting after the 2010 Census 401
The Media’s Impact: Voters 373 Nonpartisan Redistricting 402
The Government’s Regulatory Relationship “Minority-Majority” Districts 403
with Media 374 Constitutional Challenges 403
Government Regulation of the Media 374 Changing Directions 404
Controlling Ownership of the Media 374 Perks and Privileges 404
Increased Media Concentration 375 Permanent Professional Staffs 404
Government Control of Content 376 Privileges and Immunities under the Law 405
Control of Broadcasting 376 Congressional Caucuses: Another Source of Support 405
Government Control of the Media during the Second Gulf The Committee Structure 406
War 377 The Power of Committees 406
The Government’s Attempt to Control the Media after Types of Congressional Committees 407
the September 11, 2001, Attacks 377 Standing Committees 407
Net Neutrality 377 Select Committees 408
The Public’s Right to Media Access 379 Joint Committees 408
  xi

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Conference Committees 408 Special Uses of Presidential Power 442
The House Rules Committee 408 Emergency Powers 442
The Selection of Committee Members 408 Executive Orders 443
The Formal Leadership 409 Executive Privilege 444
Leadership in the House 409 Limiting Executive Privilege 444
The Speaker 409 Clinton’s Attempted Use of Executive Privilege 444
The Majority Leader 410 Abuses of Executive Power and Impeachment 445
The Minority Leader 410 The Executive Organization 445
Whips 410 The Cabinet 446
Leadership in the Senate 412 Members of the Cabinet 446
How Members of Congress Decide 413 Presidential Use of Cabinets 446
The Conservative Coalition 413 The Executive Office of the President 446
Polarization and Gridlock 413 The White House Office 448
“Crossing Over” 414 The Office of Management and Budget 449
Logrolling, Earmarks, and “Pork” 414 The National Security Council 449
How a Bill Becomes Law 414 “Policy Czars” 449

How Much Will the Government Spend? 416 The Vice Presidency 450
Preparing the Budget 416 The Vice President’s Job 450
Congress Faces the Budget 417 Strengthening the Ticket 450
Budget Resolutions 418 Supporting the President 451
Presidential Succession 452
Chapter 12: The President 422 The Twenty-fifth Amendment 452
When the Vice Presidency Becomes Vacant 453
Who Can Become President? 424
The Process of Becoming President 425
Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy 457
The Many Roles of the President 426
The Nature of Bureaucracy 459
Head of State 426
Public and Private Bureaucracies 459
Chief Executive 427
Models of Bureaucracy 460
The Powers of Appointment and Removal 428
Weberian Model 460
The Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons 428
Acquisitive Model 460
Commander in Chief 429
Monopolistic Model 460
Wartime Powers 429
Bureaucracies Compared 461
The War Powers Resolution 430
Chief Diplomat 430 The Size of the Bureaucracy 461
Diplomatic Recognition 430 The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy 462
Proposal and Ratification of Treaties 431 Cabinet Departments 463
Executive Agreements 432
Independent Executive Agencies 465
Chief Legislator 433
Independent Regulatory Agencies 466
Legislation Passed 435
The Purpose and Nature of Regulatory Agencies 466
Saying No to Legislation 435
Agency Capture 467
The Line-Item Veto 438
Deregulation and Reregulation 467
Congress’s Power to Override Presidential
Government Corporations 468
Vetoes 438
Other Presidential Powers 438 Challenges to the Bureaucracy 469
The President as Party Chief and Superpolitician 439 Reorganizing to Stop Terrorism 469
Dealing with Natural Disasters 470
The President as Chief of Party 439
The President’s Power to Persuade 439 Staffing the Bureaucracy 471
Constituencies and Public Approval 440 Political Appointees 471
Presidential Constituencies 440 The Aristocracy of the Federal Government 472
Public Approval 440 The Difficulty in Firing Civil Servants 472
George W. Bush and the Public Opinion Polls 441 History of the Federal Civil Service 472
Obama and Trump: Public Approval 441 To the Victor Belong the Spoils 473
“Going Public” 442 The Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 473

xii  

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The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 474 Decisions and Opinions 505
Federal Employees and Political Campaigns 474 When There Are Eight Justices 506
Modern Attempts at Bureaucratic Reform 475 The Selection of Federal Judges 507
Sunshine Laws before and after September 11 475 Judicial Appointments 507
Information Disclosure 475 Federal District Court Judgeship Nominations 508
Curbs on Information Disclosure 475 Federal Courts of Appeals Appointments 509
Sunset Laws 475 Supreme Court Appointments 509
Privatization 476 The Special Role of the Chief Justice 509
Incentives for Efficiency and Productivity 476 Partisanship and Judicial Appointments 510
Government Performance and Results Act 478
The Senate’s Role 511
Bureaucracy Has Changed Little 478
Saving Costs through E-Government 479
Policymaking and the Courts 512
Helping Out the Whistleblowers 479 Judicial Review 512
Laws Protecting Whistleblowers 479 Judicial Activism and Judicial Restraint 512
The Problem Continues 479 Strict versus Broad Construction 513
Ideology and the Rehnquist Court 514
Bureaucrats as Politicians and Policymakers 480
The Roberts Court 515
The Rule-Making Environment 481
Waiting Periods and Court Challenges 481
What Checks Our Courts? 516
Controversies 481 Executive Checks 516
Negotiated Rule Making 482 Legislative Checks 517
Bureaucrats Are Policymakers 482 Constitutional Amendments 517
Iron Triangles 483 Rewriting Laws 518
Issue Networks 484 Public Opinion 518
Judicial Traditions and Doctrines 519
Congressional Control of the Bureaucracy 484
Hypothetical and Political Questions 519
Ways Congress Does Control the Bureaucracy 484
The Impact of the Lower Courts 519
Reasons Why Congress Cannot Easily Oversee
the Bureaucracy 486
PART V Public Policy
Chapter 14: The Courts 490
Sources of American Law 492 Chapter 15: Domestic Policy 523
Constitutions 494 The Policymaking Process 525
Statutes and Administrative Regulations 494 Agenda Building 525
Case Law 494 Policy Formulation 526
Judicial Review 494 Policy Adoption 526
The Federal Court System 496 Policy Implementation 526
Policy Evaluation 527
Basic Judicial Requirements 497
Jurisdiction 497 Health Care 527
Standing to Sue 497 The Rising Cost of Health Care 528
Types of Federal Courts 498 Advanced Technology 528
U.S. District Courts 498 The Government’s Role in Financing Health Care 528
U.S. Courts of Appeals 498 Medicare 529
The U.S. Supreme Court 500 Medicaid 530
Specialized Federal Courts and the War on Terrorism 500 Why Has Medicaid Spending Exploded? 530
The FISA Court 500 Medicaid and the States 530
Alien “Removal Courts” 501 The Uninsured 531
Parties to Lawsuits 502 The 2010 Health-Care Reform Legislation 532
Procedural Rules 503 Environmental Policy 532
The Supreme Court at Work 503 The Environmental Movement 533
Which Cases Reach the Supreme Court? 504 Cleaning Up the Air and Water 534
Factors That Bear on the Decision 504 The National Environmental Policy Act 534
Granting Petitions for Review 505 Curbing Air Pollution 534
Deciding Cases 505 Water Pollution 535

  xiii

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The Endangered Species Act 535 What Will It Take to Salvage Social Security? 573
Sustainability 536 Raise Taxes 573
Global Climate Change 538 Consider Other Options 575
The Kyoto Protocol 538 Privatize Social Security 575
COP21: The New Agreement 538 Monetary Policy 575
The Global Warming Debate 540 Organization of the Federal Reserve System 575
Loose and Tight Monetary Policies 576
Energy Policy 540
Time Lags for Monetary Policy 576
Energy and the Environment 543 Monetary versus Fiscal Policy 576
Nuclear Power—An Unpopular Solution 544 Globalization and World Trade 578
Alternative Approaches to the Energy Crisis 545
Imports and Exports 579
Poverty and Welfare 546 The Impact of Import Restrictions on Exports 579
The Low-Income Population 546 Quotas and Tariffs 579
The Antipoverty Budget 547 Free-Trade Areas and Common Markets 579
Basic Welfare 548 The World Trade Organization 580
Welfare Controversies 548 What the WTO Does 580
Other Forms of Government Assistance 549 Sending Work Overseas 581
Homelessness—Still a Problem 549 Facing the Future 581
Immigration 550
The Continued Influx of Immigrants 550 Chapter 17: Foreign Policy and National
Minority Groups’ Importance on the Rise 550 Security 585
The Advantages of High Rates of Immigration 550
Facing the World: Foreign and Defense Policy 587
Attempts at Immigration Reform 550
National Security Policy 588
The Range of Federal Public Policies 552 Diplomacy 588
Who Makes Foreign Policy? 589
Chapter 16: Economic Policy 556
Constitutional Powers of the President 589
Prosperity Is the Goal 559 War Powers 590
Unemployment 560 Treaties and Executive Agreements 591
Unemployment Becomes an Issue 560 Other Constitutional Powers 592
Measuring Unemployment 561 Informal Techniques of Presidential Leadership 592
Inflation 562 Other Sources of Foreign Policymaking 593
The Business Cycle 562 The Department of State 593
The Economic Toolkit 562 The National Security Council 594
Economic Theory Guides Policy 563 The Intelligence Community 594
Covert Actions 594
Laissez-Faire Economics 563
Criticisms of the Intelligence Community 595
Keynesian Economic Theory 564
The Department of Defense (DOD) 595
Supply-Side Economics 564
Congress Balances the Presidency 596
Fiscal Policy 565
Domestic Sources of Foreign Policy 597
Discretionary Fiscal Policy 565
Elite and Mass Opinion 597
The Thorny Problem of Timing 566
Interest Group Politics in Global Affairs 597
Government Borrowing 566
The Public Debt in Perspective 567 The Major Themes of American Foreign Policy 598
The Formative Years: Avoiding Entanglements 598
The Politics of Taxes 569
The Monroe Doctrine 599
Federal Income Tax Rates 569
The Spanish–American War and World War I 599
Loopholes and Lowered Taxes 570
The Era of Internationalism 599
Progressive and Regressive Taxation 570
The Cold War 600
Who Pays? 571
Containment Policy 600
Entitlements: The Big Budget Item 572
Superpower Relations 601
Social Security and Medicare 573 The Cuban Missile Crisis 602
Social Security Is Not a Pension Fund 573 A Period of Détente 602

xiv  

90352_fm_hr_i-xxxii.indd 14 11/16/18 7:53 AM


The Reagan–Bush Years 602 The State Legislature 627
The Dissolution of the Soviet Union 603 Legislative Apportionment 629
The War on Terror 603 Minority Representation 629
The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars 604 Political Gerrymandering 629
The Persian Gulf—The First Gulf War 604 Term Limits for State Legislators 630
The Iraq War 605 Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform in the States 631
Occupied Iraq 605 Direct Democracy: The Initiative, Referendum, and
The Situation Worsens 605 Recall 633
The Bush Surge 605 The Initiative 633
The “Necessary” War 606 The Referendum 633
The Recall 633
Global Policy Challenges 607
The Emerging World Order 608 The State Judiciary 634
The Threat of Terrorism 609 Trial Courts 635
Terrorism and Regional Strife 609 Appellate Courts 635
Terrorist Attacks against Foreign Civilians 609 Judicial Elections and Appointments 635
London Bombings 609 How Local Government Operates 636
Nuclear Weapons 610 The Legal Existence of Local Government 636
The United States and the Soviet Union 610 Local Governmental Units 636
Nuclear Proliferation 611 Municipalities 636
The United States and Regional Conflicts 611 Counties 637
The Middle East 611 Towns and Townships 637
The Arab Spring 613 Special Districts and School Districts 639
Iranian Ambitions 615 Consolidation of Governments 639
Central and South America 615 How Municipalities Are Governed 640
War and HIV/AIDS in Africa 616 The Commission Plan 640
The Council-Manager Plan 641
The Mayor-Administrator Plan 641
The Mayor-Council Plan 641
PART VI State and Local Politics
Machine versus Reform in City Politics 643

Chapter 18: State and Local Government 621 Paying for State and Local Government 644
State and Local Government Expenditures 644
The U.S. Constitution and the State Governments 623
State and Local Government Revenues 644
Why Are State Constitutions So Long? 624
The Struggle to Balance State Budgets 646
The Constitutional Convention and the Constitutional
Getting into Trouble: Borrowing Too Much 647
Initiative 625
Getting into Trouble: Poor Productivity 647
The State Executive Branch 625 Getting into Trouble: Health-Care Costs 647
A Weak Executive 625 States Recover from the Recession 648
Increasing the Governor’s Power 626 States as Policy Pioneers 648
The Governor’s Veto Power 627

Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence 651

Appendix B: The Constitution of the United States 653

Appendix c: The Federalist Papers Nos. 10 and 51 669

Glossary 675

Index 686

  xv

90352_fm_hr_i-xxxii.indd 15 11/16/18 7:53 AM


A Letter to Instructors
Dear American Politics Instructor:

Americans are often cynical about our national political system. College
students in particular are at a loss to know what to do about the polarized
politics and policy gridlock occurring within the modern political system,
making American Politics a tough course to teach. This edition of American
Government and Politics Today is designed to help you move your students
from the sidelines of politics to full engagement by equipping them with the
knowledge and analytical skills needed to shape political decisions at the local,
state, and national levels. Based on review feedback, we include a strong
emphasis on the power of modern social media and its ability to engage
citizens with one another, as well as to connect citizens with political issues
and ideas. The solid content on institutions and the processes of government
included in previous editions remains. Features such as “Politics in Practice”
and “What if…?” will help you bring politics to life in your classroom, while
demonstrating to students why politics matters and how it surrounds them
each day—at times without their even knowing it. Each chapter has the most
up-to-date data and information and includes coverage of current issues and
controversies that we believe will engage students and hold their interest.
We believe that part of America’s cynicism stems from the growing reality
of “two Americas”: one with opportunity afforded by privilege and wealth and
another whose opportunities, rights, and privileges seem stunted by a lack of
wealth. Does the promise of America exist for both groups or only one? How
was this theme reflected in the outcome of the 2016 presidential election and
in the decision of the Trump administration? How do those who feel they have
been left behind as others have prospered regain the promise of the American
Dream? What role can political engagement play in doing so? Knowledge is
power, and in this edition we try to strike a balance between the content and
the skill building necessary for course success, while also presenting students
with current controversies in politics and opportunities to engage with those
issues. The new “Politics in Practice” feature found in each chapter highlights
the ways people engage in politics to make changes. Each chapter begins with
the popular feature “What if…?”, which presents students with an opportunity
to think through a political scenario that for now is a hypothetical, but could
actually happen.
These active learning opportunities bring alive the issues that students are
confronted with on a daily basis and give students the opportunity to apply
their knowledge and skills.

New to This Edition


●● This edition has been substantially revised and updated to include the 2016
national elections and recent data, issues, and engaging examples of poli-
tics, politicians, and policies. Following the 2016 presidential election, the

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text has been updated to include issues and examples from the new Trump
administration.
●● In response to our reviewers, we have substantially revised Chapter 10:
“The Media and Politics.” This chapter puts a strong emphasis on the
way social media connect us to one another and with ideas and political
leaders. President Trump’s use of Twitter to communicate directly with his
supporters and opponents is evaluated in this context.
●● Chapter 9 combines material on “Campaigns, Voting, and Elections” in
a format that will lead the student seamlessly through the electoral pro-
cess. The impact of the 2018 midterm elections on the composition of
Congress is included.
●● In response to reviewers, the features in this edition have been streamlined
and the number reduced to three. Each feature has been revised for this edi-
tion. “Politics in Practice” is new to this edition and focuses on making politics
and people taking political action visible to students by highlighting examples
from popular culture and current events. In Chapter 2, the feature highlights
the impact of the Broadway musical Hamilton, and in Chapter 5 it shows the
power of students to change the racial climate on their campus through pro-
test. The feature is designed to enhance student interest by identifying a per-
son or group of people who took on an issue and made a difference.
●● A new feature, “Election 2016,” has been added to every chapter in the text.
Within the context of each chapter’s focus, this feature guides students to
think about the ways an election can change American politics or reinforce
the status quo. Information from the new Trump administration has been
added where appropriate.
●● Greater attention has been paid to gender issues throughout the text as
suggested by reviewers. New material is included on the historic candidacy
of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Equal Pay Act, and the Lilly Ledbetter Act, in
addition to updated coverage of women’s rights and gender equality, gender
and racial discrimination, and the pay gap. The unprecedented number of
women running in the 2018 midterm elections is included.
●● Care has been taken to reflect the growing political power of Latino/a voters
and increasingly diverse communities in the examples used throughout the
book.
●● Tables and figures have been updated, and the results of the 2016 election
are included.
●● Recent court decisions on marriage equality and immigration, as well as
foreign policy issues like the violence in Syria and the refugee crisis, are
integrated into the appropriate chapters in order to ensure that the book
addresses the most timely political events and topics.

MindTap
As an instructor, MindTap is here to simplify your workload, organize and
immediately grade your students’ assignments, and allow you to customize
your course as you see fit. Through deep-seated integration with your Learning

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Management System, grades are easily exported and analytics are pulled with
just the click of a button. MindTap provides you with a platform to easily add in
current events videos and RSS feeds from national or local news sources.
Seeing students actively engage with the topics addressed in this book
and witnessing an eagerness to learn more about the issues currently facing
our nation are some of the most exciting experiences given to any faculty
member, particularly when many students will only take one undergraduate
course in political science. It is our hope that the revisions to this text will help
you reach many students and transform them into thoughtful and engaged
citizens for the rest of their lives.

Sincerely,
Lynne E. Ford (FordL@cofc.edu)
Barbara A. Bardes (BardesB@ucmail.uc.edu)
Steffen W. Schmidt
Mack C. Shelley, II

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A Letter to Students
Dear Student:

Whether you are a political science major, an international affairs major, or are
simply taking this course to fulfill a general requirement, we hope that you will
enjoy this book and all of its features. American Government and Politics Today
is meant to be enjoyed as well as studied. To ensure that the most relevant
topics are addressed, the book has been thoroughly revised to include the
results of the 2016 national elections, global events and foreign policy, and
Supreme Court decisions that affect your life. In every chapter, resources are
included to help you go online or use social media to investigate the issues
presented in the text that capture your interest. American politics is dynamic,
and it is our goal to provide you with clear discussions of the institutions of
national government and the political processes so that you can be informed
and understand the issues as you participate in our political system.
As a student, the federal government may seem remote from your daily
life, but that could not be further from the truth! The issues facing the nation
today are serious and require your attention, whether it seems that way upon
first glance or not. Decisions made in Washington, DC, and in your state capital
can determine, for example, the rate of interest that you will pay on student
loans, who must serve in the military, or the level of investment in higher edu-
cation relative to sustaining pensions and Medicare. You may have heard
people talking about the “1 percent” and the “99 percent”—this is a way of
capturing the gap between the very rich and everyone else. In what ways does
rising wealth inequality matter in America? Is it still possible for everyone to
achieve the American Dream? Is political equality possible in the face of eco-
nomic and social inequality? How did President Trump’s election as president
reflect a sense that some Americans have been left behind? How will politics
change as a result of new groups of political participants? These are just a few
of the questions raised by this text. The promise of America is very much alive,
but our future is far from certain. Understanding how politics works and know-
ing your rights as a citizen are critical to shaping the nation’s future. Political
questions rarely have simple answers. Political issues invite multiple perspec-
tives that can be shaped as much by gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orienta-
tion as by political party or ideology. Throughout this text, we will try to equip
you with what you need to develop your own political identity and perspective
so that you can fully engage in the national conversation about our shared
future.
This edition’s interactive features are intended to help you succeed in your
coursework as well as to understand the role of politics in the modern world.
●● Learning Objectives: These objectives begin each chapter and serve as your
“take-aways,” highlighting the most important content, concepts, and skills.
This will make it easy to check your own learning as you work through each
chapter.

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●● Margin Definitions: These make it easy to double-check your understanding
of key terms within the chapters.
●● What If: This chapter-opening feature is designed to get you thinking about
why politics and government matter to you and your community.
●● Politics in Practice: This new feature will help you see politics and popular
culture in a new way. In each chapter you will find examples of people using
politics to make a change. For example, in Chapter 2 the feature highlights
the impact of the Broadway musical Hamilton on the public’s interest in his-
tory, and in Chapter 5 it shows the power of students to change the racial
climate on their campus through protest.
●● Election 2016: This new feature, appearing in each chapter, will guide you to
think about the ways an election can change American politics or reinforce
the status quo. Examples from the new Trump administration have been
added.
●● Social Media Margin Questions: Most chapters include a social media screen
capture that poses a critical-thinking question. This feature will challenge
you to apply chapter content to the real world.
●● Chapter Summaries: Revised for this edition, the end-of-chapter summaries
link back to a Learning Objective to better test your understanding of the
topics at hand.
●● Print, Media, and Online Resources: Each chapter offers a brief list of
addi­tional resources that will allow you to explore further the topics that
inte­rest you.

The Benefits of Using MindTap as a Student


As a student, the benefits of using MindTap with this book are endless. With
automatically graded practice quizzes and activities, an easily navigated
learning path, and an interactive eBook, you will be able to test yourself in and
outside of the classroom with ease. The accessibility of current events coupled
with interactive media makes the content fun and engaging. On your computer,
phone, or tablet, MindTap is there when you need it, giving you easy access to
flashcards, quizzes, readings, and assignments.
Information is power: when you are well informed, you can participate in
discussion with your friends, family, and colleagues and debate ideas with
confidence. You can influence events rather than watch as a passive bystander.
The future of our republic depends on your full engagement. You are the next
generation of leaders, and we wish you well.

Sincerely,
Lynne E. Ford (FordL@cofc.edu)
Barbara A. Bardes (BardesB@ucmail.uc.edu)
Steffen W. Schmidt
Mack C. Shelley, II

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Fit your coursework
into your hectic life.
Make the most of your time by learning
your way. Access the resources you need to
succeed wherever, whenever.

Study with digital flashcards, listen to audio


textbooks, and take quizzes.

Review your current course grade and compare


your progress with your peers.

Get the free MindTap Mobile App and learn


wherever you are.

Break Limitations. Create your


own potential, and be unstoppable
with MindTap.

MINDTAP. POWERED BY YOU.


cengage.com/mindtap

90352_fm_hr_i-xxxii.indd 21 11/16/18 7:53 AM


Resources
Cengage Unlimited
The first-of-its-kind digital subscription designed specially to lower costs.
Students get total access to everything Cengage has to offer on demand—in
one place. That’s 20,000 eBooks, 2,300 digital learning products, and dozens
of study tools across 70 disciplines and over 675 courses. Currently available
in select markets. Details at www.cengage.com/unlimited

Students
If you purchased MindTap or CourseReader access with your book, enter your
access code and click “Register.” You can also purchase the book’s resources
here separately through the “Study Tools” tab.

Instructors
Access your American Government and Politics Today resources via
www.cengage.com/login.
Log in using your Cengage Learning single sign-on user name and password,
or create a new instructor account by clicking on “New Faculty User” and
following the instructions.

Text Only Edition


ISBN: 9781337790352
This copy of the book does not come bundled with MindTap.

MindTap for American Government and Politics Today,


Enhanced Eighteenth Edition
Printed Access Card ISBN: 9780357020524
Instant Access Code ISBN: 9780357020494
MindTap for American Government and Politics Today is a highly personalized,
fully online learning experience built upon Cengage Learning content and
correlating to a core set of learning outcomes. MindTap guides students through
the course curriculum via an innovative Learning Path Navigator where they will
complete reading assignments, challenge themselves with focus activities, and
engage with interactive quizzes. Through a variety of gradable activities, MindTap
provides students with opportunities to check themselves for where they need
extra help, and it allows faculty to measure and assess student progress.
Integration with programs like YouTube and Google Drive allows instructors to
add and remove content of their choosing with ease, keeping their course current
while tracking local and global events through RSS feeds. The product can be
used fully online with its interactive eBook for American Government and Politics
Today Enhanced Eighteenth Edition or in conjunction with the printed text.

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CourseReader, Cengage Learning’s Powerful,
Curated Database of Readings, Is Now Fully
Integrated in Every Political Science Mindtap!
Accessed directly from within each MindTap through a new feature called the
Instructor’s Resource Center, this new tool gives instructors access to readings
that were previously exclusively available in a separate digital product. The
readings contain primary and secondary sources, are curated by experts, and are
designed specifically for use in introductory courses. CourseReader in MindTap
is the latest Cengage Learning product to capitalize on the company’s unique
ability to bring Gale’s authoritative library reference content into the classroom.

Instructor Companion Website for Ford/Bardes/


Schmidt/Shelley, American Government and Politics
Today Enhanced Eighteenth Edition
ISBN: 9780357020487
This Instructor Companion Website is an all-in-one multimedia online resource
for class preparation, presentation, and testing. Accessible through Cengage
.com/login with your faculty account, you will find available for download:
book-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations; a Test Bank compatible
with multiple learning management systems; and an Instructor’s Manual.
The Test Bank, offered in Blackboard, Moodle, Desire2Learn, Canvas, and
Angel formats, contains learning objective–specific multiple-choice and essay
questions for each chapter. Import the test bank into your LMS to edit and
manage questions and to create tests.
The Instructor’s Manual contains chapter-specific learning objectives, an
outline, key terms with definitions, and a chapter summary. Additionally, the
Instructor’s Manual features a critical thinking question, a lecture launching
suggestion, and an in-class activity for each learning objective.
The Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations are ready-to-use, visual out-
lines of each chapter. These presentations are easily customized for your
lectures.

Cognero for Ford/Bardes/Schmidt/Shelley, American


Government and Politics Today Enhanced Eighteenth Edition
ISBN: 9780357020555
Cengage Learning Testing Powered by Cognero is a flexible, online system
that allows you to author, edit, and manage test bank content from multiple
Cengage Learning solutions, create multiple test versions in an instant, and
deliver tests from your LMS, your classroom, or wherever you want. The test
bank for American Government and Politics Today Enhanced Eighteenth Edition
contains learning objective–specific multiple-choice and essay questions for
each chapter.

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Acknowledgments
In preparing this edition of American Government and Politics Today, we have
received superb guidance and cooperation from a team of publishers and
editors at Cengage. We have greatly appreciated the collaboration and
encouragement given over the years by Carolyn Merrill, former product team
manager. Margaret McAndrew Beasley, our developmental editor, deserves
our thanks for keeping us moving toward deadlines and for her well-considered
suggestions for improvement. We are also indebted to Megan Garvey, content
development manager, and Corinna Dibble, content project manager, for their
contributions.
Any errors remain our own. We welcome comments and suggestions
from instructors and students alike who are using the book. Their suggestions
have helped to strengthen the book and make it more helpful to students and
faculty in the changing world of higher education.

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Reviewers
We would also like to thank the instructors who have contributed their valuable feedback through reviews of this text:
Brian Dille, Mesa Community College Fred Gordon, Columbus State University
Gerard P. Clock, Borough of Manhattan Community College Melissa Pivonka, Quabbin Regional High School
Katherine A. DeForge, Marcellus Senior High School Michael Vetti, Seton Catholic Preparatory
Anita Falvo, Watchung Hills Regional High School

From previous editions:


Krista Ackermann, Allan Hancock College David N. Hartman, Rancho Santiago College, Santa Ana, California
Martin J. Adamian, California State University, Los Angeles Robert M. Herman, Moorpark College, Moorpark, California
Hugh M. Arnold, Clayton College and State University, ­M orrow, J. C. Horton, San Antonio College, Texas
Georgia Alice Jackson, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland
William Arp III, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Robert Jackson, Washington State University, Pullman
Louis Battaglia, Erie Community College John D. Kay, Santa Barbara City College, California
David S. Bell, Eastern Washington University, Cheney Bruce L. Kessler, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg,
Teri Bengtson, Elmhurst College Pennsylvania
Dr. Curtis Berry, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania Samuel Krislov, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
John A. Braithwaite, Coastline Community College, F­ ountain Valley, Terence Lenio, McHenry County College
California Carl Lieberman, University of Akron, Ohio
Richard G. Buckner, Santa Fe Community College, New Mexico James J. Lopach, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
Kenyon D. Bunch, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado Jarol B. Manheim, George Washington University, District of Columbia
Ralph Bunch, Portland State University, Oregon Steve J. Mazurana, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley
Dewey Clayton, University of Louisville, Kentucky Jeanine Neher, Butte Glen Community College
Frank T. Colon, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Keith Nicholls, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
Frank J. Coppa, Union County College, Cranford, New Jersey Stephen Osofsky, Nassau Community College, Garden City, New York
Irasema Coronado, University of Texas at El Paso Neil A. Pinney, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo
Richard D. Davis, Brigham Young University, Salt Lake City, Utah Walter V. Powell, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock,
Ron Deaton, Prince George’s Community College, Largo, Maryland Pennsylvania
Marshall L. DeRosa, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Eleanor A. Schwab, South Dakota State University, Brookings
Jodi Empol, Montgomery County Community College, Pennsylvania Joseph L. Smith, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan
Robert S. Getz, SUNY–Brockport, New York Michael W. Sonnlietner, Portland Community College, Oregon
Kristina Gilbert, Riverside Community College, Riverside, California Mark J. Wattier, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky
William A. Giles, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi Stella Webster, Wayne County Community College—­Downtown,
Paul-Henri Gurian, University of Georgia Detroit, Michigan
Willie Hamilton, Mount San Jacinto College, San Jacinto, California Lance Widman, El Camino College, Torrance, California
Matthew Hansel, McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, Illinois Robert D. Wrinkle, Pan American University, Edinburg, Texas

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About the Authors
Lynne E. Ford is Associate Vice President for the Academic Experience and
professor of political science at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South
Carolina. She received her B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University and
her M.A. and Ph.D. in government and political behavior from the University of
Maryland–College Park. Ford’s teaching and research interests include women
and politics, elections and voting behavior, political psychology, and civic
engagement. She has written articles on women in state legislatures, the
underrepresentation of women in political office in the American South, and
work–family policy in the United States. She has also authored Women and
Politics: The Pursuit of Equality and The Encyclopedia of Women and American
Politics. Ford served as Associate Provost for Curriculum and Academic
Administration for five years, as department chair for eight years, and she has
led a number of campus-wide initiatives, including general education reform,
faculty compensation, and civic engagement.

Barbara A. Bardes is professor emerita of political science at the University


of Cincinnati. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Kent State University and
her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. She served as a faculty member in
political science and dean of Mundelein College at Loyola University of Chicago.
In 1993, she was appointed dean of the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash,
where she served until 2003. She returned to the Political Science Department,
where she held the position of graduate director before retiring. Bardes
has written articles on public and foreign policy, and women and politics. She
also has co-authored Declarations of Independence: Women and Political
Power in 19th Century American Novels, Thinking About Public Policy, Public
Opinion: Measuring The American Mind, and American Government and
Politics Today.

Steffen W. Schmidt is a professor of political science at Iowa State University.


He grew up in Colombia, South America, and has studied in Colombia,
Switzerland, the United States, and France. He has a B.A. from Rollins College
and obtained his Ph.D. from Columbia University, New York, in public law and
government. Dr. Schmidt has published 14 books and over 130 articles in
scholarly journals and major newspapers. He is the recipient of numerous
prestigious teaching prizes, including the Amoco Award for Lifetime Career
Achievement in Teaching and the Teacher of the Year award. He is a pioneer in
the use of web-based and real-time video courses and a founding member of
the American Political Science Association’s section on Computers and
Multimedia. He is known as “Dr. Politics” for his extensive commentary on
U.S. politics in both U.S. and international media. He comments on CNN en
Español and Univision, as well as CTV Canada Cable TV. Dr. Schmidt is a
founding member of the USSTRATCOM academic alliance. He’s on Facebook
(SteffenWSchmidt) and Twitter (DrPolitics).

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Mack C. Shelley, II is a professor of political science and statistics at Iowa
State University. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from American University
in Washington, DC, he went on to graduate studies at the University of
Wisconsin–Madison, where he received a master’s degree in economics and
a Ph.D. in political science. He arrived at Iowa State in 1979. From 1993 to
2002 he served as elected co-editor of the Policy Studies Journal. Shelley has
also published numerous articles, books, and monographs on public policy,
including The Permanent Majority: The Conservative Coalition in the United
States Congress, Biotechnology and the Research Enterprise: A Guide to the
Literature (with William F. Woodman and Brian J. Reichel), American Public
Policy: The Contemporary Agenda (with Steven G. Koven and Bert E. Swanson),
and Quality Research in Literacy and Science Education: International
Perspectives and Gold Standards (with Larry Yore and Brian Hand). He con-
ducts policy research in a number of areas funded by grants and contracts.

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Career Opportunites:
Political Science
Introduction
It is no secret that college graduates are facing one of the toughest job markets
in the past fifty years. Despite this challenge, those with a college degree have
done much better than those without since the 2008 recession. One of the
most important decisions a student has to make is the choice of a major; many
consider future job possibilities when making that call. A political science
degree is incredibly useful for a successful career in many different fields, from
lawyer to policy advocate, pollster to humanitarian worker. Employer surveys
reveal that the skills that most employers value in successful employees—
critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and clarity of verbal and written
communication—are precisely the tools that political science courses should
be helping you develop. This brief guide is intended to help spark ideas for
what kinds of careers you might pursue with a political science degree and the
types of activities you can engage in now to help you secure one of those
positions after graduation.

Careers in Political Science


Law and Criminal Justice
Do you find that your favorite parts of your political science classes are those
that deal with the Constitution, the legal system, and the courts? Then a career
in law and criminal justice might be right for you. Traditional jobs in the field
range from lawyer or judge to police or parole officer. Since 9/11, there has also
been tremendous growth in the area of homeland security, which includes
jobs in mission support, immigration, travel security, as well as prevention and
response.
Public Administration
The many offices of the federal government combined represent one of the
largest employers in the United States. Flip to the bureaucracy chapter of this
textbook and consider that each federal department, agency, and bureau you
see looks to political science majors for future employees. A partial list of such
agencies would include the Department of Education, the Department of
Health and Human Services, and the Federal Trade Commission. There are
also thousands of staffers who work for members of Congress or the
Congressional Budget Office, many of whom were political science majors in
college. This does not even begin to account for the multitude of similar jobs
in state and local governments that you might consider as well.
Campaigns, Elections, and Polling
Are campaigns and elections the most exciting part of political science for
you? Then you might consider a career in the growing industry based around

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political campaigns. From volunteering and interning to consulting, marketing,
and fundraising, there are many opportunities for those who enjoy the
competitive and high-stakes electoral arena. For those looking for careers that
combine political knowledge with statistical skills, there are careers in public
opinion polling. Pollsters work for independent national organizations such as
Gallup and YouGov, or as part of news operations and campaigns. For those
who are interested in survey methodology, there are also a wide variety of
non-political career opportunities in marketing and survey design.
Interest Groups, International, and Nongovernmental Organizations
Is there a cause that you are especially passionate about? If so, there is a good
chance that there are interest groups out there that are working hard to see
some progress made on similar issues. Many of the positions that one might
find in for-profit companies also exist in their nonprofit interest group and
nongovernmental organization counterparts, including lobbying and high-level
strategizing. Do not forget that there are also quite a few major international
organizations—such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and
the International Monetary Fund—where a degree in political science could be
put to good use. While competition for those jobs tends to be fierce, your
interest in and knowledge about politics and policy will give you an advantage.
Foreign Service
Does a career in diplomacy and foreign affairs, complete with the opportunity
to live and work abroad, sound exciting for you? Tens of thousands of people
work for the State Department, both in Washington, DC, and in consulates
throughout the world. They represent the diplomatic interests of the United
States abroad. Entrance into the Foreign Service follows a very specific
process, starting with the Foreign Service Officers Test (FSOT)—an exam
given three times a year that includes sections on American government,
history, economics, and world affairs. Being a political science major is a
significant help in taking the FSOT.
Graduate School
While not a career, graduate school may be the appropriate next step for you
after completing your undergraduate degree. Being awarded a Ph.D. or
master’s degree in political science could open additional doors to a career in
academia, as well as many of the professions mentioned earlier. If a career as
a researcher in political science interests you, you should speak with your
advisors about continuing your education.

Preparing While Still on Campus


Internships
One of the most useful steps you can take while still on campus is to visit your
college’s career center in regard to an internship in your field of interest. Not
only does it give you a chance to experience life in the political science realm,
it can lead to job opportunities later down the road and add experience to your
resume.

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Skills
In addition to your political science classes, the following skills will prove useful
as a complement to your degree:
Writing: Like anything else, writing improves with practice. Writing is one
of those skills that is applicable regardless of where your career might take
you. Virtually every occupation relies on an ability to write cleanly, concisely,
and persuasively.
Public Speaking: An oft-quoted 1977 survey showed that public speaking
was the most commonly cited fear among respondents. And yet oral com-
munication is a vital tool in the modern economy. You can practice this skill
in a formal class setting or through extracurricular activities that get you in
front of a group.
Quantitative Analysis: The Internet increases exponentially the amount of
data gathered, and the nation is facing a drastic shortage of people with
basic statistical skills to interpret and use this data. A political science degree
can go hand-in-hand with courses in introductory statistics.
Foreign Language: One skill that often helps a student or future employee
stand out in a crowded job market is the ability to communicate in a lan-
guage other than English. Solidify or set the foundation for your verbal and
written foreign language communication skills while in school.
Student Leadership
One attribute that many employers look for is “leadership potential,” which can
be tricky to indicate on a resume or cover letter. One way to do so is to include
on your resume and/or cover letter a demonstrated record of involvement in
clubs and organizations, preferably in a leadership role. Student government is
often listed as the primary source of leadership experience, but most student
clubs allow you the opportunity to demonstrate your leadership skills.

Conclusion
We hope that this discussion has sparked your ideas about potential future
careers. As a next step, visit your college’s career placement office, which is a
great place to further explore what you have read here. You might also visit
your college’s alumni office to connect with graduates who are working in your
field of interest. Political science opens the door to a lot of exciting careers.
Have fun exploring the possibilities!

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Enhanced Eighteenth Edition

American Government
and Politics Today

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One Republic—
Two Americas? 1

One World Trade Center, built at Ground Zero of


the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, was
designed to represent the resilience of the
American spirit. Including its mast, the build-
ing’s height is 1,776 feet, making it the tallest
building in New York City.
Cameron Davidson/Getty Images

Le a r n i n g O B J EC T I V ES
After reading this chapter, you will be able to:

■■ 1.1 Define the institution of government and the process ■■ 1.4 Compare and contrast types of government systems
of politics. and identify the source of power in each.
■■ 1.2 Identify the political philosophers associated with ■■ 1.5 Define political ideology and locate socialism,
the “social contract” and explain how this theory shapes liberalism, conservatism, and libertarianism along the
our understanding of the purpose of government and the ideological spectrum.
role for individuals and communities in the United States.
■■ 1.6 Apply understanding of the purpose of government
■■ 1.3 Describe the U.S. political culture and identify the set and the U.S. political culture to evaluate government’s
of ideas, values, and ways of thinking about government ability to meet new challenges over time.
and politics shared by all.

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What if... Taxes Never Increased and Local
Services Disappeared?
Background cost-savings measure in 2014, the state decided to temporarily
switch Flint’s water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River
The power to tax and spend is a defining function of government.
until a new supply line to Lake Huron was ready. Almost immedi­
Taxation is a concurrent power, meaning that the federal, state,
ately, residents began to complain about the color and taste of the
and local governments can all collect taxes. Taxes on property,
water. Testing found dangerously high levels of lead and other tox­
goods and services, and income provide revenue for government
ins caused when caustic Flint River water degraded lead water
to operate. Dating back to the earliest days of the republic, the
pipes. City residents were warned against using the water for drink­
government’s power to tax has provoked strong negative reac­
ing, cooking, or bathing. Thousands of children have tested positive
tions. The Boston Tea Party in 1773, the Whiskey Rebellion
for elevated lead levels, raising concerns about future health issues
in 1794, and California’s 1978 Proposition 13, known as the
and school performance. The National Guard was called in to dis­
“People’s Initiative to Limit Property Taxation,” are all examples
tribute bottled water to Flint residents. The cost of replacing
of popular rebellions. More recently, the Tea Party protests have
the damaged pipes is now estimated at more than $55 million.
brought attention to questions about the government’s power to
In New Jersey, Republican governor Chris Christie cut
tax and the appropriate size and role of government. Many fiscally
$3 billion from the state budget in his first two years in office.
conservative candidates promise to eliminate tax increases and
As a result, Trenton, New Jersey, fired one-third of the police
shrink the size of government. In reality, eliminating tax increases
force (103 officers). In a single year, gun-related assaults
means cutting state and local budgets and eliminating services
increased by 76 percent, robberies with a firearm increased by
that people have come to expect. How should communities
55 percent, car thefts more than doubled, and break-ins more
respond? What happens to schools, roads, police and fire protec­
than tripled. The domestic violence unit was eliminated.
tion, and other public services when local governments can no
In 27 states, municipalities have introduced accident res­
longer afford to pay for them?
ponse fees to collect revenue to fund rescue, fire, and ambulance
Taxes Pay for Local Services We Expect services. Drivers and/or their insurance companies are billed for
municipalities’ response to traffic accidents. The fees range from
The tax system allows government to redistribute revenue in a
about $300 to more than $2,000 per hour per vehicle and are
variety of ways. Intergovernmental transfers provide money
based on the piece of equipment used. Extrication devices, pop­
collected by state and federal governments to local govern­
ularly known as “Jaws of Life,” are among the most costly.
ments, accounting for roughly 40 percent of local operating
Responding to citizen complaints, many states are reviewing the
dollars. Cities and towns make up the rest of their budget
practice, and 13 states have banned the “crash tax.”
through property taxes, local sales taxes, and various user
fees. In a recession, people buy fewer goods and services.
This means that local governments collect less revenue from For Critical Analysis
sales taxes and need to make up the deficit by other means or
1. The U.S. tax system is designed to collect and
cut the budget. Local budget cuts often mean that services to redistribute revenue. Public goods and services paid
citizens are dramatically reduced or eliminated altogether. for by tax revenue are therefore available to all in
Local governments—counties and cities—usually take respon­ most cases (police protection, snow removal) or to
sibility for parks and recreation services, police and fire depart­ those in the community who qualify because of
ments, housing services, emergency medical services, municipal special needs (legal aid to the poor, Medicaid). Some
courts, transportation services, and public works (streets, sewers, services or facilities are financed with “user fees.” In
trash collection, water, snow removal, and signage). other words, you pay only for what you as an individual
use (toll roads, parking meters). Consider the local
No Taxes, No Services: Tough Choices government services just mentioned. In your view,
In conservative Colorado Springs, Colorado, home of the is it better to pay for each with tax revenue or user
“Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights,” voters rejected a tax increase to fees? What if the services rendered are in response
restore a budget deficit caused by declining sales tax revenues. to an accident? How does your answer relate to your
The city turned off one-third of its streetlights to save electricity perspective on the appropriate role for government?
costs. The city also locked public restrooms, reduced bus ser­
2. We all live in the same country, but will decisions
vice, and stopped maintaining the city parks.
about who has access to public goods and services
The city of Flint, Michigan, was placed in state receivership in
mean that we are creating two Americas? What kind
2011, and Governor Rick Snyder appointed an emergency man­ of country do you want to live in?
ager. At the time, the city was running a $20 million deficit. As a
2  PA R T I ● The A meRicAn sys T em

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fields, and in the professions? He is yet untried in the ranks of an
aggressive civilization, for he has been a slave. Can these dry bones
live?” These were the prayer-thoughts that were filling my mind and
heart. Our march was a trying one on account of the bad condition of
the roads, but we were going home. No one but the soldier who has
been honorably discharged after an issue has been settled, knows
the joys that well-up in the heart as he turns his face homeward. The
feeling is indescribable. There were several boys sick, but their
spirits were revived on account of home-going. We soon reached
Brazos where we spent the night. I was very glad to say goodbye to
my Texas friends and experience. They could live on the sandy
plains of Brownsville, as long as they pleased; they could eat the
strips of dried goat meat until they were satisfied; they could drink
and relish the muddy water of the Rio Grande considering it the best
water in the world; but as for me, I would choose other quarters. Now
that the Confederacy had surrendered, now that the Palmetto flag
had been lowered forever and Old Glory floated in its stead, now that
millions of people were made free and could live and think as real
men and women, I was more than happy to say goodbye to all these
things and begin life anew.
We embarked on the transport Alabama, for New Orleans. Our
voyage on the gulf was a rough one on account of a heavy storm.
We were forced to cast anchor. We passed Galveston and were
much pleased with the place. We found the citizens much more
sociable than we had expected, for we knew that they were
Secessionists and Rebels and that they had about as much use for
Negro soldiers as the Devil has for Holy Water. Nevertheless, we
went through the town and made the acquaintance of some of our
brethren. We met an old lady who had been a slave. When she saw
us and realized that the victorious end had come, she cried at the
top of her voice. “The Lord, the Mighty One has conquered and we
are all free! Glory to God!” We took on wood and I regulated my
rations for we were four hundred and fifty miles from New Orleans.
We were again on board the transport for New Orleans, but we were
unable to leave the harbor on account of a fearful gale that swept the
gulf. We made an attempt, but were forced back again into the
harbor. The soldiers became quite unruly owing to their impatience
and also, I suppose the feeling that they could do as they pleased.
After a hard voyage we landed safely in New Orleans. We found an
open lot in the south side of the city and put up our tents and made
ready for a good night’s sleep. We felt that we could sleep now. That
we had taken part in a mighty conflict and had shared in the victories
of the war, it was now our right to rest. It was the sleep of the just
man.
We had a quiet Sunday in New Orleans. Our chaplain preached
for us. Great crowds came out to visit us and to give us their most
hearty congratulations. They gave us coffee, sandwiches, fruits, etc.,
in token of the appreciation of our services in their behalf. We saw
strange things in New Orleans. We found the mixture of French and
Negro, called the Creole, speaking a dialect of the French. We found
the Octoroon and that some of these unions had from one to seven
children. We found that marriage among them was rather an
uncommon thing and that a man could establish almost any
relationship that pleased him and enter into the Creole life and be
received and welcomed as one of them. We found that they drank
more claret, champagne, whisky, beer, etc., than they did water.
They of course had no sense of their obligation to God and I
suppose that many of them really had no conception of the Real and
True God. Their lives gave no evidence of such a knowledge.
The first annual conference of the A. M. E. Church was being held
by Bishop J. P. Campbell. We enjoyed the services very much being
in the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. We were in New Orleans two
weeks. At the end of this time one of the men was shot. This created
quite an excitement among us. We broke camp soon and marched
through the streets to the wharf where we took ship. We were
enthusiastically greeted on every hand, receiving god-speeds and
congratulations and blessings. I shall never forget the musical voices
of the people as they sang. The music sounded like a thousand
silver harps, so soft and delicate and stirring it was! We went on
board the steamer Champion. We said goodbye to the old city of
New Orleans and to many of the new friends which we had made.
We had a heavy sea. The storms were terrific. Our clothes were
almost continuously wet owing to the rocking of the vessel, for days
it was impossible to find a place to sleep. The voyage was quite
rough all the way to New York. At last we arrived at New York City. It
was morning. We remained on board until about two p. m., when we
left the boat and marched through the principal streets, receiving
cheers and salutes. We had not forgotten our former experiences
here however. And we were inwardly revolving the thought that as
Black men we had done our part in bringing about a change of
sentiment that would make a new city out of New York and every
other city in the Union. And we felt that it was but just that we should
receive some of the plaudits of praise and reward. When we passed
down Broadway in front of the St. Nicholas Hotel, the flags of the
Nation and of the state were suddenly hoisted by a Colored man and
we gave three lusty cheers for the flag and country and home. At last
the orders came to fall into line for our final trip. We marched to pier
twenty eight East River where the steamer, Granite State, was
waiting to carry us to Hartford, Conn. The distance was about one
hundred and fifty miles. We were cheered by every town and village
that we passed. We arrived at Hartford and were escorted to the
camp grounds and tendered a fine reception by the citizens, a most
pleasing welcome.
At eight o’clock one morning we were paid off, all but one hundred
dollars bounty which was to be paid at some future date. Some went
to their homes, others remained in Hartford, until they had spent all
their money and were locked up in the prisons by the police officers.
After having cleared up my commissary department and turning over
my books and papers to the proper custodian, and having said
farewell to my comrades, I took a midnight train for my home in New
Haven.
The occasion of my sudden departure from Hartford is very
interesting. One of our soldiers was passing a Jew store. He was
begged to go in and buy a suit. He got the suit of clothes and walked
out without paying for it. The soldier came into camp and soon the
Jew followed. I would not allow him to enter camp and arrest the
soldier. Not long afterward, I went down town and the Jew had me
arrested and locked up. I was in jail until about midnight when some
of my friends liberated me. Immediately I made my way to the station
and left Hartford. I do not know that the Jew got his money and I was
not much concerned.
I arrived at home at seven o’clock in the morning and found my
wife and children, my father and mother, ready to give me the most
hearty welcome and greeting which I received with a glad heart. I
was not seen out of my house for about three weeks. I simply
wanted to rest and to drink in the joys that were awaiting me. Then I
went to Brooklyn, my wife’s home, and registered as a citizen of the
United States. I again thanked God that the war was over and that
slavery was dead. “Now unto Him that hath loved us and washed us
from our sins in His blood, to Him be glory and dominion and power,
now and forevermore. Amen!”
ALEXANDER H. NEWTON
A Young Pastor
My Ministerial Life and Labors
After I had returned from the war, I took the needed rest, enjoyed
the company of my family and got myself together for a new life. I
had the consciousness of having done my duty to my country, of
having contributed something to the liberation of my people from the
galling yoke of slavery, and now the time had come in my life for me
to determine upon what course I could enter that would contribute
most to the working out of the salvation of my people upon lines of
peace and prosperity. This was no little task. I decided that the best
way to find out what God wanted me to do, was to follow the leading
of His Providence in my life. I knew of no other way by which a man
can ascertain the will of God. God is in the life of every individual as
fully and really as He is in the life of a race or a nation. So I
surrendered myself to His leading, determined that I would follow
Him whatever might be the cost. I felt a double assurance now that
He had delivered me from death in many bloody struggles, that He
had something of importance for me to do. I was not content to take
up the old life that I had lived before the war, to remain in the fields of
manual labor, not that I considered myself above such a life, but I felt
that there was a course that would be vastly more valuable to my
brethren, to my race. And I did not consider it egotism to honestly
conclude that God had given me talents that warranted me in
seeking such a course. “To every man according to his ability,” is the
law of service. A man must find out what his ability is, God already
knows what talents He has already alloted to this or that man
according to his ability. In this way and this way only, can God and
man be brought together, in the work of life.
BISHOP JABEZ P. CAMPBELL, D. D., LL. D.
Who gave me my first appointment
On the evening of May sixth, I was received on probation, into the
Fleet Street A. M. E. Church, of which Elder Gould was then pastor. I
served as assistant superintendent and Secretary, Elder Cope being
superintendent of the Sunday School; Robert Turpin, one of the
preachers, was a close friend. I was engaged while in this church
together with others in a Social Betterment work. This work was
conducted in a house to house canvass, or visit. Great work was
done during this year at the Bridge Street A. M. E. Church the Rev.
Wm. Winder being pastor. There were about one hundred and fifty
young people added to the church on profession of their faith in
Christ. The Revs. Williams, Boyer, and Turpin, were the ministers
who assisted in this revival.
I preached my trial sermon at the Fleet Street Church on the
evening of September the 18th, 1871, and received Exhorters’
license from Elder Theodore Gould. On the following Sunday, I went
with Rev. Matthews and others to Paterson, N. J., where we
organized the A. M. E. Church. The people of Paterson seemed to
have been greatly lifted up and great good was done in their city for
the A. M. E. Church. Later on Bishop J. P. Campbell told Elder Gould
that he wanted a young man to take charge of a church where a
school was located. Brother Gould was kind enough to tell him of my
desire for work and doubtless recommended me. Bishop Campbell
took hold of me and gave me my first appointment at Pennington, N.
J., where I took charge of the church and attended the school,
Pennington Seminary. The leaders of the new church, Brothers
Allen, Ely and Amanias Johnson looked at the new preacher very
inquiringly and doubtless were laughing up their sleeves for I had not
gotten the flimsy, panhandle, look off me as yet, and they were a
little slow in taking hold of me and I did not know how to take hold of
them. However, I managed to get on the good side of Bro. Allen. I
told him the troubles of my heart and got his sympathy. One of these
troubles was that I did not know much. He said that he would help
me all he could and that I must stay close to the cross of Christ. So
with the assistance of God’s grace and the help of Brother Allen, I
was able to surmount all obstacles. I organized a church in the
house of Lewis Schenks, at Lawrenceville.
I organized the church at Birmingham, having been assisted by
Brothers Jos. Long and Maxwell Frost of Trenton. This church was
afterwards reorganized and moved to Langhorne by Dr. John W.
Stevenson. I attended the Pennington Seminary under the
presidency of Dr. Hanlon. Rev. Mr. Marshall and the sister of Dr.
Hanlon were of great service to me in my preparatory course. One
day I was walking through the campass when I met Dr. Hanlon. He
stopped and fixing his eyes on me said: “Young man you should
walk upright before God and remember that all your strength comes
from Him.” I shall never forget the deep impression that his advice
made on me. It deepened my conviction of the Divine life in man and
of the necessity of living that life daily. I felt no doubt like Naaman
that I had need to go to the Jordan, the river of Israel and be washed
from my leprosy of sin. This was the first time that I had charge of a
church and I felt the keen responsibility. And I do not doubt that
those who heard me preach had the feeling that instead of my
having charge of them that they should have charge of me. But such
things are of the ordering of the Lord who chooses babes to
confound the wise and the weak things of the world to confound the
mighty. There is a time when a man feels that the best thing that he
can do is to get out of self into Christ. Self is one of the greatest
blessings if Christ is its center, but if man himself constitutes the
center of life it is the stronghold of every sin.
REV. THEODORE GOULD, D.D.,
Who gave me my first license to preach.
While engaged in this work I frequently had to walk ten miles to
Sorel Mountain, one of my appointments, which was a part of this
circuit. My salary was indeed very small, but they fed me and cared
for me the best they could, and God did the rest. I closed my work
here with twenty-three converts added to the church. As I write these
lines, I look back to see the ravages of time and what they have
wrought. Those who were received into the church by me at that
time, with very few exceptions, have finished their battle of life and
completed their labors, long since, and have gone home to render a
better service than they could have rendered here.
I made improvements on the Church buildings of the circuit and
was able to make a good report to the Conference which met at
Philadelphia. At this conference I was received into membership by
Bishop Paul Quinn. It was here that I made for the first time, my
acquaintance with Dr. B. T. Tanner, Rev. T. G. Stewart, Rev. Frisby
Cooper and others. Rev. Joshua Woodland was my presiding elder. I
was permitted to attend the Lincoln University, in Chester County,
Pennsylvania. I was supported by Mr. Amos Clark Junion of
Elizabeth, N. J., and preached on Sundays in the Siloam
Presbyterian church. Here I made the acquaintance of a local
preacher, Rev. David Croshon, of the A. M. E. Church and Brother
Scisco from whom I learned a great deal about church work. Being
wholly inexperienced and poorly educated, I felt the curse of the
regime of slavery, although I had never been a slave. I longed for the
equipment that comes from a thorough education and realized that if
in some way I did not educate myself, I could never amount to much.
So it is hard for me at my time of life although a closer student than
ever, to understand or to be in sympathy with any preacher who in
his ignorance, is satisfied to remain so. There is something sadly
lacking in such a man and I greatly fear those qualities without which
no man is either acceptable to God or to the church, as a minister of
the Gospel.
BISHOP WILLIAM PAUL QUINN
Who received me into the Conference
I realized also that in addition to my own weakness that this world
was no friend to grace to help me on to God. I had many foes within
and without me to overcome.
In June, 1870, I was requested by Bishop J. P. Campbell to report
at the Philadelphia Conference, he having, in the interval, taken me
up and sent me to the Pennington circuit. I reported at the
conference and was transferred to the South under the care of
Bishop John M. Brown. I was sent to Pulaski, Tenn. This was about
the time that the Ku Klux Klan was having its sway in the south.
These men were engaged in every kind of intimidation and cruelty in
order to keep the Negroes from voting the Republican ticket. They
would kill, torture, or do anything that came into mind in order that
their purpose might be realized. At this time there were many
Colored people holding office in the South. The unrest and the
mental suffering of these times were as severe a strain almost as the
period of the war itself. When I arrived at Pulaski, Tenn. I was
introduced to what I might expect in the South. I presented my check
to the baggage master for my trunk. He refused to take the trunk off
the car, but threw it upon the platform in the roughest manner. A
White man standing near, saw that I was very much surprised at
such treatment and approaching me, asked if I did not like that kind
of treatment and that if I did not he would proceed to give me some
more of it. I told him that I had made no complaints at all. He asked
me where I was going and what I was doing, and I was glad to slip
away and find the steward of the church. I related these things to him
and he told me that I had acted wisely in being calm and making no
fuss over the matter. He told me that the White folks were Ku Kluxing
the Colored people without mercy and going out of their way to find
provocations for such devilish work. The steward told me that I would
have to be very careful as a minister in and out of the pulpit, that the
Klu Klux Klan was especially after the preachers to force them to use
their influence to make the Negroes vote the Democratic ticket in
elections.
They found me a boarding place with a Mrs. Batts. I found that the
Colored men of this community were doing good business. One was
a cotton merchant, a Mr. Harris, I remember. I was greatly assisted in
this charge by my local preachers. They were more experienced
than I in the work of the pastorate and I felt them to be my superiors
in everything. The meetings were good. Souls were converted and
many were added to the church. There was not much money in
circulation and the salary was small. They used cards to trade with,
postage stamps, and whatever of value would be accepted or
exchanged for what you wanted. I remember one night the Klu Klux
Klan came to the house of one of my members, a Mr. Pleasant
Rector, called him to the door and shot him down as if he had been a
dog. His wife and children were frightened almost to death. One of
his daughters asked me what she must do. I could tell her that
nothing would help such dreadful matters, so we all went to the
church and prayed over the matter, and I consoled them as best I
could. These were dreadful times. The hatred and the revenge of the
Southern White man who had been whipped by his Northern White
Brother, were now visited upon the still helpless race. We had to
receive the very wounds which the Southerners would loved to have
visited upon his White brothers, and which they tried to visit upon
them in war, but failed. We did a good work here along temperance
and missionary lines.
In September, 1873, the Conference convened at Memphis, Tenn.
This was the annual conference of the A. M. E. Church and it
convened at the St. Andrews Chapel of that city. Rev. B. L. Brooks,
preached the opening sermon. The Bishop, John M. Brown, was
belated, so the conference proceeded with business, having made
Elder Page Tyler chairman, and Elder Brooks, secretary. The regular
routine of business was purposed. Bishop Brown arrived on the
fourth day, having gotten his dates mixed, then he was afraid that at
that time it was unwise to hold any public meetings owing to the
presence of yellow fever in the city. The Conference remained in
session until it had completed its business. Yellow fever at this time
was raging in Memphis. A friend told me that he stood at a street
corner and counted seventy-four funerals as they passed. In the
house where I was stopping, there was a yellow fever case in the
room next to mine. The meeting of the Conference in Memphis was
a very successful one considering the obstacles contended against.
The following Conference held a year later, was in Nashville, Tenn.
This Conference was presided over by Bishop Brown. At this
conference several were ordained as deacons, among them myself.
While at Nashville, the Conference visited Fisk University and also
the Tennessee college.
During this time I remained at Campbell Chapel, Pulaski, Tenn.
We bought ground and made brick and quarried stone, for the
basement of a church. There were about fifty members added to the
church.
I cannot refrain from speaking frequently of the great injustice
done the Colored man in the South at this time. Prejudice was rife. It
showed its hydra-head in every possible way and was a serpent with
a venomed sting. I remember an incident which illustrates how
fearful this prejudice was. I saw a White man bring his horse up to a
public watering place, and about the same time a Colored man drove
his horse up to the same trough. He said to the Colored man, “A
Nigger’s horse can’t drink with my horse,” and ordered him away.
Immediately a mob gathered and beat the man to death for this
“crime.” I preached the funeral of the poor fellow, but was not
allowed to refer to the circumstances, or I suppose there would have
been another funeral in a day or so. My report at the end of this year
was a reasonably good one, the number who had joined the church
was about one hundred and ten and for all purposes we raised about
$2,518.00. I was indeed very well satisfied with the work of the year.
The next Conference met in Chattanooga. This conference was
presided over by Bishop Brown, assisted by Bishop Ward. The
various reports showed the church to be in a growing and
prosperous condition. The Conference report showed 9527
members of the A. M. E. Church in this Conference, 1122
probationers, 210 local preachers, 120 exhorters, 114 churches,
valued at $106,101.00. This was a good showing so soon after the
war. At this Conference I was appointed to a charge in Chattanooga,
Tenn., with Elder R. French Harley as my presiding elder. We had a
fearful flood during this year in Chattanooga. There was great
suffering and loss of property. I did not do well in this charge,
however I completed, the church and added 86 to the membership of
the Church. I found that it was necessary to turn two men out of the
church, for their misconduct. They gained the confidence and bias of
the presiding elder, and he moved me from this place. Thus it is that
a man must suffer for the right that he does, while many go
unpunished for the evil doings. But that should afford no reason for
not always doing the right. We, as ministers of the Gospel, must take
our stand for the uprightness of character and the righteousness of
conduct, without any consideration of the price which this stand will
cost us. Bishop Brown transferred me to the Arkansas Conference,
which met at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. At this conference I was ordained
Elder by Bishop Brown and sent to the Bethel A. M. E. Church at
Little Rock, Arkansas.
I found in this city the prejudice against the Colored people rife
and that they had to contend against very great odds on every hand.
But in spite of this, many of the Colored people were in a flourishing
condition. There were men prominent in the ministry who had gone
out from this place, such as Revs. H. H. Pettigrew, Reuben Johnson,
A. A. Williams, J. F. A. Sission, J. T. Jennifer, Andrew J. Chambers,
and others. The Hon. Judge Gibbs, William Rector, and Elias Rector
who was fulfilling a prominent place in the post office were leading
business men. The church here was built by Brother J. T. Jennifer,
D.D. My daughter Ada was with me at this time, my son William
Alexander, having remained in Tennessee. There were many noble
workers in this church, viz: Joseph Stone, Jerome Lewis, Nelson
Warren, Sam White, Willie Oliver, and others whose names are too
numerous to mention.
My wife, Olivia Newton having died in 1868, and being a widower,
while here I became acquainted with a young lady, Miss Lulu L.
Campbell, secretary of the Sunday School. I found her to be a noble
Christian woman and felt that the Lord had brought us into contact
for a great purpose. After having considered the matter and having
consulted my daughter and finding that she approved, we were
married June 1, 1876.
After paying off a little more of the debt on the church and adding
about ninety souls to the membership of the church, I finished my
first year’s work. The Conference met the following year at the
Bethel Church, Little Rock. At this Conference I was transferred by
Bishop Ward to the Louisiana Conference and was to have been
stationed at the St. James Church, New Orleans, but owing to some
miscarriage in the appointments, I was given the station at Algiers,
La. There as in other places, I was not long in arranging and drilling
my forces for active work. We succeeded in repairing the church, but
were greatly hindered by the ragings of smallpox and yellow fever in
this section. I remember a fearful example of the work of the K. K. K.
in this section. A woman had been taken by this devilish clan and
they had cut off her breasts. She showed her bosom to a few and
they had done their work well, for her bosom was as flat as a man’s.
These were some of the outrages that were continually committed
on the Colored people. It is sometimes wondered at, that the Colored
people are so slow to place confidence in the White Race, that they
too, have a deep seated prejudice which now and then crops out in
some vile offense against the White Race, if our White friends only
understood that these fearful atrocities committed then and even
now, against my people, are not easily forgotten, they would the
better understand. Human nature is the same and it will require a
great deal of the grace of God to smother out all the horrible
memories that have passed from individual hearts into the heart of
the Race to which I belong. But the time will doubtless come and
then we will see a different state of affairs.
I remember another incident at this place. As I have said, the
smallpox was raging. I was invited to conduct the funeral of a small
boy who had died of this disease. When I went to the house and was
seen by the mother, she rushed to me and threw her arms about me
and wept. Of course she had been nursing the child. I was greatly
annoyed by this foolish act which threatened the health of my own
family, but as the good Lord willed, nothing came of it. After doing my
best here, I decided that I would not stay longer. I consulted Bishop
Ward and others. They told me that I was making a very unwise
step, but I got a transfer and went to Bishop Brown in the North
Carolina Conference. The Conference met November 14th. at the
Gaston Chapel, Morgantown, N. C., presided over by Bishop Brown.
The regular routine of business was taken up and the reports
showed a growing condition of the church. Dr. H. M. Turner, manager
of the Publication Department and J. H. W. Burley, financial
secretary, appeared and made their reports. The number of
members in the Conference as reported were, 5131; probationers
877; churches 58; support of pastors $4749.51. I was received into
this Conference and appointed to the station, Raleigh, N. C.
I had instructions to go to Mr. Norfleet Dunson, but he was away
and I was sent to Mr. Stewart Ellisons.
When I went to Raleigh, I had a very discouraging experience. I
drove up to a Brother Ellisons’, rapped on the door. A lady came to
the door. I told her that I was the preacher who had been sent to the
St. Paul’s A. M. E. Church. She informed me that all her family had
gone to the funeral, so I had my trunk brought upon the porch and
sat down upon it. She had evidently expected me to come in when
the trunk was safely on the porch. But I remained in the porch, being
worn out and out of patience.
Presently she came out and invited me in. I told her that no one
was at home but herself and that I would remain outside until the
folks came home. She said, “Now I don’t want any foolishness
around here, if you have been sent here to be pastor of our church,
you come right in.” Well, that was hearty enough a reception, a
positive command, of course I obeyed orders, I had learned this in
the army. Soon the family returned. They were delighted to see me,
built a fine fire, made ready a fine supper, and after a social time I
was sent to a good bed. After I retired I felt very much ashamed of
myself for the ugly feeling I had harbored and repented of my sins. It
never pays to allow one’s bad feelings to get the better of their good
feelings, for they always pay a big price for the victory. My official
board was made up of John O’Kelley, Stewart Ellison, Norfleet
Dunson, Seth Nowell, and Henry Hunter. They were a very fine set
of men. We went to work in earnest, bought a lot and paid off a great
many debts. There were over 230 accessions to the church, of
whom I baptized about 150 by immersion. I received a salary of
$1000.00 which was very large at that time in our Connection. They
gave me $75.00 that I might bring my wife and daughter from
Algiers, La. The Colored people at this place were very successful in
business and of good reputation and character. The White people,
that is those especially interested in us, were very kind indeed. A
Mrs. Dorr, (white) was principal of the school for Colored children.
She did a great deal for the uplifting of the Race. Mr. Tupper, (white)
was the president of Shaw University, a Baptist school of the Colored
people. My daughter, Ada, taught rhetoric, in the Shaw University.
I concluded my work at this place and was able to carry to the
Conference fine reports. This was largely due to the fact that the
church was very spiritual. It was on the Lord’s side on all those
questions which affect the religion of a community. Sometimes a
minister is looked upon as the cause of the failures of a church, in its
work, as a rule he is blamed, but this is a mistake. The general
cause is to be found in the church. A good church with a poor pastor
will succeed, but a bad church with a good pastor is liable to fail.
Christ could do no mighty works in a certain place because of their
unbelief. There are many good preachers who are unable to do good
work because of the unbelief of the people and the consequence of
this unbelief. It acts as a kind of paralysis, and indeed it is, a
paralysis of the church.
I left this church for the station of Newberne, N. C. This was my
birthplace. I was really glad to get back to the place where I first saw
the light. I had been absent for twenty years. I saw that great
changes had taken place during this time. There were no slave
gangs, no whipping posts, no slave pen, no auction block. One of the
first things that I did was to go to see a tree opposite the house of
Bob Walker, in an old field, the spot where Tom Lewis had been
whipped nearly to death for attacking a White man. After they had
nearly killed him they took him down to the boat and put him on it
and told him that he was never to put the prints of his feet on that
part of the country again.
I was received very cordially by the church members. Many of
them I remembered as my friends twenty years ago and longer. I had
charge of Rue’s Chapel. My first year was a very successful one. I
was returned again the second year.
Newberne has quite a history. It is situated on the banks of two
rivers, the Neuse and Trent rivers. The elm trees are magnificent.
Here lived the Stevenses, Jenkinses, Bryans, Webbs, and others, all
old slave owners. They were of course deeply interested in the traffic
and did all in their power to keep the regime from passing away.

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