American Government: Constitutional Democracy Under Pressure

by Cal Jillson

Overview

American Government: Constitutional Democracy Under Pressure highlights the dangerous tension between our constitutional principles and institutions and the populist heat that sometimes roils our national politics, including at the current political moment. Our constitutional democracy has been under pressure for some time, but few would deny that fears for its fate have deepened in just the past few years. We assume that our political institutions will limit and contain contemporary populism, just as the Founders intended and as they have in the past, but will they? An increasingly polarized electorate, urging their representatives to fight and never to compromise, may be stressing Constitutional limits. This new edition offers to help American government teachers lead their students to a nuanced theoretical and practical understanding of what is happening in the politics of their Constitutional democracy today.

New to the Third Edition

• Further develops and highlights the distinguishing theme of the book, "Constitutional Democracy Under Pressure," in light of the Trump  and Biden administrations.
• Expands coverage of all media aspects including fake news, social media, responsible journalism, and related topics including foreign manipulation of the news.
•   Describes numerous ways in which the American political system has been affected by the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, and  security concerns.
•   Evaluates the evidence for increasing polarization in public opinion, voting behavior, and legislative politics.
•   Explores the implications of recent Supreme Court decisions including controversial rulings on reproductive health, the separation of church and state, the environment, and presidential powers.
• Includes the most recent election results.
• Updates in all tables, figures, suggested readings plus photo updates throughout.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032899305
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/13/2025
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	446
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Cal Jillson earned a PhD from the University of Maryland and has taught at Louisiana State University and the University of Colorado, where he chaired the Department of Political Science from 1989 to 1993. He joined the faculty of Southern Methodist University in 1995 as professor and chair of the Department of Political Science (1995–2001). He is a member of the American Political Science Association and several regional political science associations. Professor Jillson has written a number of books dealing with the origins of the American political culture and the health and performance of contemporary American politics and political institutions. His recent books were American Government: Political Development and Institutional Change, 13th ed., 2025; Texas Politics: Governing the Lone Star State, 7th ed., 2023; and Race, Ethnicity, and American Decline, 2024.

Table of Contents

1. The Revolution and The Constitution

2. Federalism and The American Constitutional Order

3. Civil Liberties: Democracy and The Expansion of Liberty’s Realm 

4. Civil Rights: Where Liberty and Equality Collide

5. Shaping Americans: Political Socialization, Public Opinion, And the Media

6. Factions Today: Interest Groups and Political Parties

7. Democracy’s Challenge: Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

8. Congress: Partisanship, Polarization, and Gridlock

 9. The Executive Branch: The President, The Bureaucracy, and Executive Power

 10. The Federal Courts: Bulwark of the Constitution  

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Previous Editions

In American Government: Constitutional Democracy Under Pressure, Cal Jillson provides an accessible and engaging treatment of the U.S. federal government. Understanding the formal and practical features of the Republic has arguably never been more important than in the midst of these challenging times. Constitutionally designed to lean into the winds of change, the structure and flows of the Republic are wonderfully elucidated and explained by Jillson in this text.

John W. Patty, University of Chicago

This brief textbook highlights the tension between constitutional democracy and populism in American government, focusing on questions of constitutionalism. In this well-written book, Cal Jillson gets students to ask key questions regarding the dynamic, complicated relationship between contemporary populism and government institutions in an interesting and well-executed departure from his usual American political development focus.

Mark C. Miller, Clark University

This timely text is a fantastic resource for students and professors, focusing on the most pressing issue facing America today: the functioning of our constitutional democracy amid increasing partisanship, polarization, and populism. The book is well-written, well-organized, and well-focused on the concepts, theories, and history that will allow students to engage the big questions of the modern day.

Morgan Hazelton, Saint Louis University

From the Publisher