The political science toolbox: a research companion to American government

List of Skill Boxes

Preface

Introduction: Thinking Like a Political Scientist

1. The Science of Political Analysis

A. What Makes Political Science a "Science"?

B. Count It, Interpret It, and Feel It

C. Thinking in Terms of Variables and Causal Relationships

D. Standing on the Shoulders of Others: The Literature Review

E. Thinking in Terms of Hypotheses

2. Types of Academic Assignments

3. Writing a Major Research Paper

4. Making Use of Summary Tables

5. Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

A. Types of Plagiarism

B. The Case against Plagiarism

6. Sources That Will Help You Understand the Research Process

7. Resources for Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism

Chapter 1. The Founding Era

1. The Structure of the U.S. Constitution and the Intentions of the Founders

A. The Basic Structure of the U.S. Constitution

B. The Constitutional Amendment Process

C. Composition of the National Government

D. Key Governing Principles Embodied in the U.S. Constitution

E. Basic Goals of the Constitution

F. Key Constitutional Compromises

G. Comparative Perspective

H. Enduring Structural Questions and How to Research Them

I. Idea Generator: A Sample of Structural Questions Related to the Constitution

2. Participants

A. Who Were the Framers of the U.S. Constitution?

B. Comparative Perspective: Federalists versus Anti-Federalists

C. The Federalist Papers

D. Enduring Questions about the Framers and How to Research Them

E. Idea Generator: A Sample of Additional Questions Related to the Framers

3. Context and Performance

A. Important Antecedents to the U.S. Constitution

B. Historical Development of the Constitution

C. Enduring Contextual Questions and How to Research Them

D. Idea Generator: A Sample of Contextual Questions Related to the Constitution

4. Secondary Sources That Will Help You Get Started

5. Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor

6. In Their Own Words: Primary Sources

7. Where to Find It

Chapter 2. Congress

1. The Structure and Intention of Congress

A. Constitutional Basis

B. Goals and Intentions

C. Congress in Comparative Perspective

D. Enduring Structural Questions and How to Research Them

E. Idea Generator: Understanding Congress's Structure

2. Participants in Congress

A. Who Are the Participants and How Were They Elected?

B. Congressional Demographics in Comparative Perspective

C. Enduring Questions about Participants and How to Research Them

D. Idea Generator: The Causes and Consequences of Congress's Demographic Mix

3. Congressional Context and Performance

A. Historical Development

B. Public Support and Expectations-What Does the Public Want Congress to Do?

C. Congress at Work

D. Enduring Contextual and Performance Questions and How to Research Them

E. Idea Generator: Congress at Work

4. Major Data Sources on Congress

5. Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor

6. Where to Find It

7. Taking Action-Contacting and Influencing Congress

Chapter 3. The Presidency and the Bureaucracy

1. The Structure and Intention of the Presidency and the Bureaucracy

A. Constitutional Basis and Extraconstitutional Roles

B. Goals and Intentions

C. Comparative Perspective: Presidents versus Prime Ministers

D. Enduring Structural Questions and How to Research Them

E. Idea Generator: Presidential Power and Roles

2. Participants

A. Who Are the Presidential and Bureaucratic Participants and Why Are They There?

B. Comparative Perspective

C. Enduring Questions about the Personnel of the Presidency and the Bureaucracy

D. Idea Generator: Presidents and Bureaucrats?

3. Context and Performance of the Presidency and the Bureaucracy

A. Historical Development

B. Public Support and Expectations

C. The President and Bureaucracy at Work

D. Enduring Questions about the Context and Performance of the Presidency and How to Research Them

E. Idea Generator: Evaluating Presidential and Bureaucratic Performance

4. Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor

5. In Their Own Words: Primary Sources

6. Where to Find It

7. Taking Action-Contacting and Influencing the President and the Bureaucracy

Chapter 4. The Federal Judiciary

1. The Structure and Function of the Federal Judiciary

A. Constitutional Basis

B. Goals and Intentions

C. Comparative Perspective

D. Enduring Structural Questions and How to Research Them

E. Idea Generator: How the Courts Are Structured

2. Participants in the Judicial Process

A. Who Are the Participants and Why Are They There?

B. Comparative Perspective

C. Enduring Questions about the Participants and How to Research Them

D. Idea Generator: Who Serves on the Courts and How Do They Get There?

3. Context and Performance of the Courts

A. Historical Development

B. Public Support

C. The Judiciary at Work

D. Enduring Questions on the Context and Performance of the Courts and How to Research Them

E. Idea Generator: Judging the Performance of Judges

4. Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor

5. Where to Find It

6. Taking Action-Contacting and Influencing the Courts

Chapter 5. State and Local Government

1. The Structure of American Federalism

A. The Constitutional Relationship between State and Federal Governments

B. The Relationship between State and Local Governments

C. Types of State Governments

D. Types of Local Governments

E. American Federalism: Goals and Intentions of the Founders

F. Comparative Perspective

G. Enduring Structural and Institutional Questions and How to Research Them

H. Idea Generator: Structural and Institutional Questions Related to Federalism

2. Participants

A. Governors

B. Legislatures

C. Judges

D. Enduring Questions about the Participants

E. Idea Generator: Additional Questions Related to State-Level Participants

3. Context and Performance

A. Historical Development of American Federalism

B. The Historical Development of Home Rule

C. The Decline of Political Machines and Party Bosses

D. State and Local Governments at Work

E. Enduring Contextual Questions and How to Research Them

F. Idea Generator: A Sample of Additional Contextual Questions Related to State and Local Politics

4. Secondary Sources That Will Help You Get Started

5. Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor

6. Where to Find It

Chapter 6. The Media

1. The Structure and Function of the Media

A. Constitutional and Legal Basis

B. Goals and Intentions of the Media

C. Comparative Perspective

D. Enduring Structural Questions about the Media and How to Research Them

E. Idea Generator: The Role of the Media in Society

2. Participants

A. The Media Players

B. Enduring Questions about the Participants and How to Research Them

C. Idea Generator: Who Are the Media Players?

3. Context and Performance of the Media

A. Historical Development

B. Public Support and Expectations

C. The Media at Work

D. Enduring Questions on the Context and Performance of the Media and How to Research Them

E. Idea Generator: How Well Does the Media Mediate?

4. Secondary Sources That Will Help You Get You Started

5. Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor

6. Where to Find It

7. Taking Action-Contacting and Influencing the Media

8. Presenting Your Findings

Chapter 7. Political Parties and Interest Groups

1. The Structure and Intention of Political Parties and Interest Groups

A. Constitutional and Legal Basis

B. Goals and Intentions

C. Recent Changes in Campaign Laws That Influence Parties and Interest Groups

D. Comparative Perspective

E. Enduring Structural and Institutional Questions and How to Research Them

F. Idea Generator: Structural Questions Related to Political Parties and Interest Groups

2. Participants

A. Who Are the Political Party and Interest Group Participants and Why Are They There?

B. Comparative Perspective

C. Enduring Questions about Political-Party and Interest-Group Participants and How to Research Them

D. Idea Generator: Additional Questions Related to Political-Party and Interest-Group Participants

3. Context and Performance

A. Historical Development of Political Parties and Interest Groups

B. Parties and Interest Groups at Work

C. Red States versus Blue States Reconsidered

D. Enduring Contextual Questions about Interest Groups and Political Parties and How to Research Them

E. Idea Generator: Additional Contextual Questions Related to Interest Groups and Political Parties

4. Secondary Sources That Will Help You Get Started

5. Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor

6. Where to Find It

Chapter 8. Elections and Voting Behavior

1. The Structure and Intention of Elections

A. Constitutional and Legal Basis

B. Goals and Intentions

C. Rules Governing the Funding of Political Campaigns

D. Comparative Perspective

E. Enduring Structural Questions and How to Research Them

F. Idea Generator: A Sample of Additional Structural Questions Related to Elections

2. Participants

A. Who Are the Participants and Why Are They There?

B. Comparative Perspective

C. Enduring Questions about the Participants and How to Research Them

D. Idea Generator: A Sample of Additional Questions Related to Electoral Participants

3. Context and Performance

A. Historical Development of Campaign Coverage and Polling

B. Elections at Work: Contextual Factors That Matter

C. Enduring Contextual Questions and How to Research Them

D. Idea Generator: A Sample of Additional Contextual Questions Related to Elections

4. Secondary Sources That Will Help You Get Started

5. Original Research That Will Impress Your Professor

6. Where to Find It

7. Taking Action-Acting and Influencing

Glossary

Index

About the Authors