CQ Press

Change and continuity in the 2004 and 2006 elections.

Continuing a series which began with Change and Continuity in the 1980 Elections, Abramson (political science, Michigan State U.), Aldrich (political science, Duke U.), and Rohde (political science, Duke U.) provide analysis of the 2004 US presidential elections and the 2004 and 2006 congressional elections. In terms of the presidential campaign, they examine the nomination system of the Democrats and how John Kerry won the nomination; provide analysis of debates and other aspects of the general election campaign; explore patterns of voting behavior in terms of regions, social forces, and issues; explore issues of candidate and policy evaluations and choices; and look at relationships between party loyalties, policy preferences, and the vote. The congressional elections receive somewhat less than a third as much as attention and are discussed in much the same terms, although other issues such as incumbency and the impact of presidential "coattails" are also considered. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Congressional procedures and the policy process, 7th ed.

In this straight-talking book, Oleszek provides an overview of how the US Congress makes laws and explains how its rules and procedures shape domestic and foreign policy. Topics include (for example) the budget authorization-appropriations process; the role of the committee chair; the Senate's flexible scheduling system; and Presidential approval or veto. The volume concludes with a glossary of terms and a list of Internet resources. Oleszek is a senior specialist in the legislative process at the Congressional Research Service. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

News, improved; how America's newsrooms are learning to change.

Daily newspapers are an endangered life form. Although they continue to employ nearly half of all professional US journalists, they are increasingly challenged by other media, first radio and television and then the web. The authors, both practicing journalists, warn that to survive the dailies must reassess and realign the four components of the news, namely the journalist, the message, the medium and the audience. They describe news leadership and the gap between what was and what should be, reasons for identifying the most important goals and maintaining focus on them, the importance of making learning an integral part of news room culture from the foundations to group work and individual achievement, the significance of front-line editors as guardians of a learning culture, the business imperatives, and the possibilities inherent in investing in the news. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A novel approach to politics; introducing political science through books, movies, and popular culture.

Van Belle (political science and media studies, Victoria U. of Wellington, New Zealand) and Mash (political science, U. of Pennsylvania) intend this introductory textbook for political science instructors who use (or would like to use) fiction to illustrate concepts and promote discussion. Through references to popular literature, television, and film, as well as lively — and at times subjective — language, they entreat students to understand and contemplate themes such as: utopias and the imperfections of reality, the necessities for government, government and economy, structures and institutions (and their imperfections), courts and law, the democratic ideal, international politics, and political culture, among others. The "fiction appendix" describes the teaching potential of the approximately 100 pop culture titles mentioned in the chapters. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Political behavior of the American electorate, 11th ed.

Flanigan (political science, U. of Minnesota) and Zingale (political science, U. of St. Thomas in Minnesota) present the 11th edition of their book analyzing the electoral behavior of the American populace. Relying heavily on data from surveys conducted by the National Election Study, the text explores trends in suffrage and turnout, partisanship and partisan change, social characteristics of voters, public opinion, the influence of political communication and the mass media, and vote choice and electoral decisions. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Reconstructing the classics; political theory from Plato to Weber, 3d ed.

For students, Portis (Texas A&M U.) provides a text that aims to highlight the importance of the classics to political science. Each chapter presents a political theory derived from the work of a classical political thinker, organized in the same way with sections on historical context, human nature and rational motivation, the motivational basis of social solidarity, the function and organization of authority, general theory of political change and stability, the theorist's political motivation, and a brief guide to their literature. Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Marx, and Weber (new to this edition) are the theorists discussed. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The Supreme Court, 9th ed.

Baum (political science, Ohio State U.) provides an introductory text on the Supreme Court for students. Meant to serve as a short but comprehensive guide, it focuses on the present-day, including some historical context. Following an introduction to the Court, the book describes justices' selection, background, and careers; how cases reach the Court or are selected for hearing; decision making and influences on it; major issues, policies, and the effects of activism; how other government policymakers respond to its decisions; and its impact on American society. This edition has been updated to reflect recent developments, such as new appointments and recent scholarship. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Unorthodox lawmaking; new legislative processes in the U.S. congress, 3d ed.

A little over 50 years ago we witnessed about one filibuster per Congress. In the past 20 we have sat through between 25 and 32 of them each session. There is a different dynamic in the houses of legislative power now than there was when representatives went to work in knee breeches. Sinclair (American politics, U. of California at Los Angeles) continues to analyze the what and also the why, closely examining changes in the way the elected make law. She examines changes, analyzes the behaviors in both House and Senate (especially those supposed to resolve differences), and takes apart mega-bills and budgets. She works through a number of new and classic case studies, including energy bills, changes in Medicare, medical malpractice caps, manipulation of budget processes, tax-cutting agendas, and the rule of the majority party. She closes with commentary on the consequences of new, unorthodox lawmaking. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)