American Exceptionalism Revisited [electronic resource] : US Political Development in Comparative Perspective /
Hadenius, A.author.
American Exceptionalism Revisited provides a broad overview of the various features that signify American politics. These include the upholding of an exceptional political stability, involving a particular balance between legislative, executive and judicial powers, and the permanence of a unique party system. Furthermore, special traits in the electoral realm?e.g., voter turnout, the inflow of money, and the application of primaries?are targets of analysis. Through comparisons with conditions applying abroad, particularly in Europe and Latin America, Axel Hadenius reveals a number of new insights on American political life, both today and over time.
Description based upon print version of record.
Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; Acknowledgments; Chapter 1: Introduction; The Lipset Argument; Argument of This Book; Chapter 2: The United States of America: A Special Newcomer among States; A New Kind of Republic; Distant Roots-in New Soil; The New Constitution; Chapter 3: A State Out of Sight-Which Became Increasingly Visible; A Federal State of Low Energy and Unclear Authority; More Responsibilities-But No Major Change; From New Deal to Great Society; The United States Becomes a Superpower; First Slowdown-Then Higher Speed: From Reagan to Obama; Comparative Perspectives
Size and Composition of the Public SectorFederal Structure; Background Factors; Chapter 4: Congress, President, and Parties: Shifting Roles; Congress Takes Political Leadership; The Emergence of Parties; A Pervasive Conflict and Changing  Power Relations; Shifting Conditions-To and Fro; Growing Presidential Power; Congress's New Role; Two Wars, a Burglary, and a Shaken Presidency; Congress Retakes Ground and Changes Its Way of Working; Strengthened Party Cohesion; Drivers of Change; Safe Constituencies; Primary Elections; Centralization in Congress
Reagan to Obama: From Divided to Unified Government-and BackComparative Analysis; Executive Power; Legislative Power; Party System; Origins?; Chapter 5: The Political Power of Courts: Judicial Supremacy, with Restrictions; The Establishment of Judicial Review; The Court as Policy Maker; The Court as Institutional Regulator; Who Have Been Appointed Supreme Court Judges?; Why the Judges Can Play the Role That They Do; Alexander Hamilton and the Election of 2000; A Comparison; Trends in Latin America; European Trends; Other Examples; General Dynamics
Chapter 6: Three (Less-Observed) Things about ElectionsElectoral Participation; Incumbency Advantage; The Impact of Money; Chapter 7: Direct-Democratic Elements; A New Democratic Wave; Primary Elections; Consequences of Primary Elections; An Outlook; Referenda; Primaries; Comparative Patterns; Chapter 8: Special American Attributes; Particular Institutional Traits; Unparalleled Stability; Notes; References; Index
Includes bibliographical references and index.
American Exceptionalism Revisited provides a broad overview of the various features that signify American politics. These include the upholding of an exceptional political stability, involving a particular balance between legislative, executive and judicial powers, and the permanence of a unique party system. Furthermore, special traits in the electoral realm?e.g., voter turnout, the inflow of money, and the application of primaries?are targets of analysis. Through comparisons with conditions applying abroad, particularly in Europe and Latin America, Axel Hadenius reveals a number of new insights on American political life, both today and over time.
Europe—Politics and government.
Comparative politics.
Political science.
United States—Politics and government.
European Politics.
Comparative Politics.
Political Science.
US Politics.