Steady encouragement

After each new topic is presented, students answer a few questions about the main ideas. This helps them stay focused, actively process the information, and construct new knowledge.

Presentation and exploration

Fifteen chapters offer clear application to current events to show students both how government has an impact on their daily lives and how they can make a difference in what that government does.

Study questions

With more than 800 study questions, the webtext’s format encourages close reading and guides students to key information.

Everything you need

Living Democracy provides everything you need for an online course—including lecture slides, a test bank, and an analytics dashboard. Plus, we can tailor the webtext to match your program’s emphasis, term length, organization, and student expectations.

1. American Government: Democracy in Action
   1. Introduction
   2. Government: It’s All Around Us
   3. Our Unique Political System
   4. Theme One: Civic Participation in Democratic Government
   5. Theme Two: Pathways of Action
   6. The Five Steps for Choosing a Pathway
      
   7. The Election Pathway
   8. The Lobbying Pathway
   9. The Court Pathway
   10. The Grassroots Mobilization Pathway
   11. Pathways of Action: Grassroots Mobilization | New Student Activism
       
   12. The Cultural Change Pathway
   13. Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Pathway
   14. Theme Three: Diversity in American Society
   15. Pathways of Action: Timeline | The Immigration Debate: A Growing Wedge Issue
       
   16. Civic Participation and Pathways: The Example of Abortion
   17. Analyzing the Forces of Political Stability
   18. Source of Stability: A Broadly Accepted Framework
   19. Source of Stability: The “American Creed”
   20. Conclusion
   21. Chapter Review
2. Early Governance and Constitutional Framework
   1. Introduction
   2. The Nature of Government and Politics
   3. Types of Governments
   4. Early Governance in America
   5. Pathways of Action: Court | The Trial of John Peter Zenger
      
   6. The American Revolution
   7. The Declaration of Independence
   8. Pathways of Action: Timeline | Thinking About a “Government by the People”
      
   9. A Revolutionary Cause
   10. The Colonial Experience and Pathways of Change
   11. The Articles of Confederation
   12. Shays’ Rebellion: An Alternative Look
   13. The Constitutional Convention
   14. The Great Compromise
   15. The Three-Fifths Compromise
   16. The Sectional Compromise
   17. The U.S. Constitution
   18. Core Principles of the Constitution
   19. How the Constitution Can Be Amended
   20. The Struggle over Ratification
   21. The Federalist Papers
   22. The Anti-Federalists’ Response
   23. A Second Revolution?
   24. Conclusion
   25. Chapter Review
       
3. Federalism
   1. Introduction
   2. Dividing Governmental Authority
   3. National Government: Reasons for Federalism
   4. State and Local Governments
   5. State Legislatures
   6. State Executive Branches
   7. State Courts
   8. Local Governments
   9. Dual Federalism
   10. Federalism Before the Civil War
   11. Doctrines of Federalism and the Civil War
   12. Pathways of Action: The Absence of a Pathway | The Civil War
       
   13. Federalism After the Civil War
   14. Post-Civil War Decisions
   15. The New Deal: Cooperative Federalism
   16. The Great Society: Creative Federalism and Federal Grants
   17. Recent Trends in Federalism
   18. Devolution
   19. A Return to Creative Federalism?
   20. Increasing Tensions Between the States and Federal Government
   21. The Supreme Court’s Shift in Perspective
   22. Pathways of Action: Timeline | A Complex Drug Policy
       
   23. Current Challenges Facing State and Local Governments
   24. Conclusion
   25. Chapter Review
4. Civil Liberties
   1. Introduction
   2. The Bill of Rights in History
   3. The Incorporation Process
   4. Pathways of Action: Court | The Right to Bear Arms
      
   5. Key Decisions on Civil Liberties
   6. First Amendment Rights
   7. The First Amendment: Establishment of Religion
   8. The First Amendment: Free Exercise of Religion
   9. The First Amendment: Freedom of Speech
   10. The First Amendment: Symbolic Speech
   11. The First Amendment: Freedom of the Press
   12. Limiting Freedom of Expression: Obscenity
   13. Civil Liberties and Criminal Justice
   14. The Fourth Amendment
   15. The Fifth Amendment
   16. The Sixth Amendment
   17. The Eighth Amendment
   18. Pathways of Action: Timeline | Capital Punishment and the Courts
       
   19. The Right to Privacy
   20. Abortion Rights
   21. The Right to Private Sexual Conduct
   22. Conclusion
   23. Chapter Review
5. Civil Rights
   1. Introduction
   2. The Ideal of Equality
   3. Advancing Equality of Opportunity
   4. Equal Protection of the Law
   5. The 14th Amendment and Reconstruction
   6. The Rise and Persistence of Racial Oppression
   7. Litigation Strategies
   8. Clarifying the Coverage of the Equal Protection Clause
   9. Three Tests for the Equal Protection Clause
   10. Pathways of Action: Court | Emerging Claims for Equal Treatment Under the Law
       
   11. Grassroots Mobilization and Civil Rights
   12. Countering Force with Nonviolent Action
   13. Civil Rights Legislation
   14. Women and Civil Rights
   15. Latinos and Civil Rights
   16. Native Americans and Civil Rights
   17. Contemporary Civil Rights Issues
   18. Complexity of Issues
   19. Rights for Emerging Groups
   20. Pathways of Action: Timeline | The Struggle over Marriage Equality
   21. Conclusion
   22. Chapter Review
6. Congress
   1. Introduction
   2. The Nature and Style of Representation
   3. Congress and the Constitution
   4. Who Can Serve in Congress?
   5. The Congressional Election Process
   6. Constitutional Powers of Congress
   7. Issues of Gerrymandering
   8. Redistricting Decisions
   9. Reapportionment Controversies
   10. Organizing Congress
   11. Organizing Congress: What Committees Do
   12. Pathways of Action: Election | Bipartisanship During a Pandemic?
       
   13. Organizing Congress: Political Parties and Leadership
   14. Legislative Parties and Change
   15. Legislative Leadership
   16. Leadership Powers
   17. Organizing Congress: Rules and Norms
   18. The Unwritten Rules of Congress
   19. How a Bill Becomes a Law
   20. Unorthodox Lawmaking
   21. Emergency Legislation
   22. Who Sits in Congress?
   23. The Lack of Diversity in Congress
   24. Pathways of Action: Timeline | Voting Rights Act of 1965
   25. Are Americans Losing Faith in the People’s Branch?
   26. Conclusion
   27. Chapter Review
7. The Presidency
   1. Introduction
   2. The President and the Constitution
   3. Historical Debates over the Presidency
   4. The Evolution of the Presidency
   5. The Modern Presidency
   6. The President’s Cabinet
   7. The Executive Office of the President
   8. Pathways of Action: Election | FDR Takes Charge!
   9. The Transformation of the Vice Presidency
   10. The Informal Powers of the President
   11. The Evolution of Presidential Powers
   12. First Ladies: A Source of Presidential Power
   13. The Roles of Modern Presidents
   14. The President as Chief Legislator
   15. Legislative Tools
   16. The President as Chief Diplomat
   17. Treaties and Executive Agreements
   18. The President as Commander in Chief
   19. The President as Chief Executive
   20. The President’s Other Roles
   21. Pathways of Action: Timeline | The Battle over Healthcare Reform
   22. Presidential Greatness
   23. Measuring Presidential Greatness
   24. Conclusion
   25. Chapter Review
8. Bureaucracy
   1. Introduction
   2. The Federal Bureaucracy
   3. The Development of the Federal Bureaucracy
   4. The New Deal and Its Aftermath
   5. The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
   6. Changes Since the 1960s
   7. Pathways of Action: Lobbying | The Clean Power Plan
   8. Executive Departments
   9. Political Appointees in the Bureaucracy
   10. Independent Organizations
   11. The Nature of Bureaucracy
   12. The Image of Bureaucracy
   13. The Advantages of Bureaucracy
   14. The Problems with Bureaucracy
   15. Reform of the Bureaucracy
   16. The Lobbying Pathway and Policymaking
   17. The Bureaucracy and Legislation
   18. The Bureaucracy and Information
   19. Regulations
   20. Pathways of Action: Timeline | The Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency
   21. Quasi-Judicial Processes
   22. Oversight and Accountability
   23. Conclusion
   24. Chapter Review
9. The Judiciary
   1. Introduction
   2. How Much Power Should Judges Have?
   3. How American Court Systems Are Organized
   4. Trial Courts
   5. Appellate Courts
   6. The U.S. Supreme Court
   7. The Power of U.S. Judges
   8. Constitutional and Statutory Interpretation
   9. Judicial Review
   10. Marbury v. Madison
   11. Protected Tenure of Federal Judges
   12. Judicial Selection
   13. Judicial Selection in the States
   14. How Justices Reach Their Decisions
   15. Judicial Activism and Flexible Interpretation
   16. Political Science and Judicial Decision Making
   17. Using the Court Pathway
   18. Pathways of Action: Timeline | The Battle over Affirmative Action
   19. Elements of Strategy
   20. Pathways of Action: Court | Challenging Affirmative Action
   21. The Implementation and Impact of Court Decisions
   22. Judicial Policymaking and Democracy
   23. Conclusion
   24. Chapter Review
       
10. Political Socialization and Public Opinion
    1. Introduction
    2. Understanding Public Opinion
    3. The Relationship Between Public Opinion and Public Policy
    4. Contemporary Views of Public Opinion
    5. Connecting Public Opinion and Fundamental Values
    6. The Stability of Political Beliefs
    7. Shifts in Public Opinion
    8. Popular Culture and Public Opinion
    9. Public Opinion on the Status of Women
    10. Pathways of Action: Timeline | Bullying in the United States
    11. Political Ideology
    12. Political Socialization and Family
    13. Agents of Socialization: School
    14. Agents of Socialization: Peers, Community, and Religion
    15. Agents of Socialization: The Media
    16. Agents of Socialization: Social Media
    17. Pathways of Action: Cultural Change | Celebrities and Global Activism
    18. Agents of Socialization: Events
    19. Social Groups and Political Values
    20. The Economic Bases of Partisanship
    21. Education and Understanding Political Issues
    22. How Religion Shapes Public Opinion
    23. Race, Ethnicity, and Public Opinion
    24. Gender and Public Opinion Differences
    25. Measuring Public Opinion
    26. Modern Polling Techniques
    27. Understanding Survey Research
    28. Controversies Surrounding Polling
    29. The Use of Exit Polls in Recent Elections
    30. Conclusion
    31. Chapter Review
        
11. The Politics of the Media
    1. Introduction
    2. The Mass Media
    3. Media as a Mirror
    4. Print Media
    5. Newspapers for the Masses
    6. Electronic Media
    7. Television
    8. The Internet
    9. Trust, Political Knowledge, and Social Media
    10. The Functions of the Media
    11. The Surveillance Function
    12. The Interpretation Function
    13. The Socialization Function
    14. The Political Uses of the Media
    15. How Journalists Report the News
    16. Pathways of Action: Timeline | Women’s Reproductive and Sexual Rights
    17. Covering the President
    18. Pathways of Action: Election | The Strategic Use of Leaks
    19. Covering Congress
    20. Covering the Courts
    21. How Groups Use the Media
    22. Citizen Journalism
    23. Covering Elections
    24. Negative Coverage
    25. The Media and Campaigns
    26. Examining Bias in the Media
    27. The Partisanship of Fake News
    28. Media and Government: A Tense Relationship
    29. Media as a Watchdog
    30. Narrowcasting
    31. Regulating the Media
    32. The Concentration of Media Ownership
    33. The Role of Profits
    34. Conclusion
    35. Chapter Review
12. Interest Groups and Civil and Political Engagement
    1. Introduction
    2. Activism and Protest in the United States
    3. The Constitution and Civic Participation
    4. Influencing Government Through Mobilization and Participation
    5. Pathways of Action: Grassroots Mobilization | The League of United Latin American Citizens
    6. Types of Interest Groups
    7. The Interest Group Explosion
    8. Organizational Barriers
    9. Overcoming Organizational Barriers
    10. The Role of Interest Group Leaders
    11. Inside Lobbying
    12. Pathways of Action: Timeline | The Gun Control Debate
    13. Outside Lobbying
    14. Grassroots Lobbying Tactics
    15. Newer Tools of Indirect Lobbying
    16. Campaign Activities
    17. The Influence of Interest Groups
    18. Bias in Representation: Who Participates?
    19. Online Activism
    20. Final Verdict?
    21. Conclusion
    22. Chapter Review
        
13. Elections and Political Parties in America
    1. Introduction
    2. Expansion of the Electorate and Other Legal Issues
    3. Voting and Legislative Acts
    4. The Controversy over Voter ID Laws
    5. Individual Participation in Elections
    6. Pathways of Action: Timeline | A Brief History of Your Most Basic Right: The Right to Vote
    7. Explaining Turnout
    8. Voting and Demographic Characteristics
    9. Political Parties in America
    10. Party Elements
    11. The Party in the Electorate
    12. The Debate over Party Polarization
    13. Party Eras in American History
    14. Party Decline
    15. Minor Parties in U.S. Politics
    16. History of Minor Parties
    17. Parties and the Nomination Process
    18. Presidential Nominations
    19. Reforming the Nomination Process
    20. Pathways of Action: Election | Coming Together After the 2020 Election?
    21. The Electoral College
    22. Electoral College Controversies
    23. How the Electoral College Shapes Campaign Activities
    24. The Role of Money in Elections
    25. Campaign Finance Reform
    26. The Incumbent Fundraising Advantage
    27. Reforming the Reforms: BCRA
    28. Super PACs, Too!
    29. Conclusion
    30. Chapter Review
14. The Policy Process and Economic Policy
    1. Introduction
    2. Making Public Policy
    3. The Steps of Policymaking
    4. Identifying the Problem
    5. Pathways of Action: Timeline | The Environmental Movement
    6. Setting an Agenda
    7. Formulating and Legitimizing Policy
    8. Implementing Policy
    9. Evaluating Policy
    10. Categorizing Policies by Basic Functions of Government
    11. Categorizing Policies by Tangible or Symbolic Benefits
    12. Measuring Economic Performance
    13. The Budget Deficit
    14. The Key Players in Economic Policy
    15. Federal Revenue
    16. The Tax Burden
    17. Tax Analysis
    18. Tax Reform Initiatives
    19. Federal Expenditures
    20. Social Security
    21. Defense
    22. Income Security and Medical Care
    23. Interest and Other Spending
    24. Monetary Policy
    25. Pathways of Action: Lobbying | The AARP
    26. The Fed in Action
    27. Monetary Policies vs. Fiscal Policies
    28. Conclusion
    29. Chapter Review
        
15. Foreign and National Security Policy
    1. Introduction
    2. Competing Approaches to Foreign Policy
    3. The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
    4. Conflicting Evaluations of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
    5. Echoes from the Past
    6. Links Between Foreign and Domestic Policy
    7. How International Factors Influence U.S. Politics
    8. Globalization and Foreign Policy
    9. Weighing International Gains and Losses
    10. The Domestic Context of U.S. Foreign Policy
    11. Foreign Policy and the Elections Pathway
    12. Foreign Policy and the Lobbying Pathway
    13. Foreign Policy and the Grassroots Mobilization Pathway
    14. Pathways of Action: Grassroots Mobilization | Bono and ONE
    15. Political Institutions and Foreign Policy
    16. The Executive Branch
    17. Executive Departments and Foreign Policy
        
    18. The Central Intelligence Agency
    19. The Legislative Branch
    20. A Disengaged Congress
    21. The Supreme Court
    22. Foreign Policy and National Security Issues
    23. Combating Terrorism
    24. Weapons of Mass Destruction
    25. Preemption and Deterrence
    26. Pathways of Action: Timeline | The Use of U.S. Military Forces in the War on Terror
    27. Economic and Foreign Trade Issues
    28. Human Welfare Issues
    29. Climate Change
    30. Conclusion
    31. Chapter Review

Interactive content

Study questions

Multiple-choice study questions on each page guide students to critical information by providing immediate feedback. These low-risk opportunities allow students to reset answers so they can try again or study for tests.

Response boards

Students engage each other through discussion boards that allow them to see the responses of their peers after they’ve posted their own comment.

Polls

Polls allow students to share their opinions and then view a live pie chart displaying the responses of all class members.

Study tools

Webtext Reader app

Students can access materials and complete assignments offline with our mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android.

Reading tools

Reading tools allow students to click on vocabulary terms for definitions and mark up their own webtext by highlighting and adding notes in the margins.

Read to Me

Our text-to-speech feature instantly creates an audio version of the webtext page to extend the reach of online content.

My Progress

Students can keep track of their own work inside My Progress, which records their scores, time spent, and completion.

The following materials are available for this course:

• test bank
• lecture slides

Authors

Daniel M. Shea (Colby College)
Joanne Connor Green (Texas Christian University)
Christopher E. Smith (Michigan State University)

Advisors

Deanne Repetto, Folsom Lake College
J. Cherie Strachan, PhD, Central Michigan University
Tressa Tabares, American River College

Peer Reviewers

Kacem Ayachi, PhD, Dallas College
David Edlefsen, PhD, Mt. San Jacinto Community College District
Anne Egelston, PhD, Tarleton State University
Adam McGlynn, PhD, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Tina “Sophia” Mrouri, Lone Star College System
Michael Rabi, Mt. San Jacinto Community College District

Publisher

Mary Jane Lindrum

Executive Editor

Jenny Westrick

Creative Director

Zara Elizabeth Crockett

Content Editor

Alexandra Tanner

Project Manager

Autumn McGimsey

Learning Designers

Laura Aitcheson
Jonathan Campbell

Assessment Writer

Keely Sarr

Production Coordinator

Georgia Mason

Production Editors

John Alfieri
Stephen Clark
Rachel Garzarelli
Marquita Jones
Natalie Welch

Photo Research & Permissions

Zara Elizabeth Crockett

Illustrations

Macks Lazo

User Interface Design

Sam Korthof
Clint McFarlin