
You Decide! 2005 Edition
John T. Rourke(Author)
Pearson (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 2. March 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
312 pages
978-0-321-33343-8 (ISBN)
Description
This best selling reader has been revised due to popular demand. This debate-style reader edited by John Rourkeexamines provocative issues in American politics today. The second edition includes new topics on gay marriage, pornography, immigration and more.
The topics featured in You Decide! have been selected for their currency, importance, and student interest, and the pieces arguing various sides of a given issue come from recent journals, congressional hearings, think tanks, and periodicals. Sure to get students engaged and thinking critically about our political system, You Decide! is FREE when ordered packaged with any Longman American government textbook.
The topics featured in You Decide! have been selected for their currency, importance, and student interest, and the pieces arguing various sides of a given issue come from recent journals, congressional hearings, think tanks, and periodicals. Sure to get students engaged and thinking critically about our political system, You Decide! is FREE when ordered packaged with any Longman American government textbook.
More details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Weight
408 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-321-33343-8 (9780321333438)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition

John T. Rourke
You Decide! Current Debates in American Politics
Book
04/2004
Pearson
€21.03
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Content
1. CONSTITUTON.
GUNS, SAFETY, AND THE CONSTITUTION'S MEANING: INDIVDUAL RIGHT OR SUBJECT TO REGULATION.
Guns, Safety, and the Constitution: Individual Right
Advocate: Joyce Malcolm, Professor, Department of History, Bentley College and Senior Fellow, MIT Security Studies Program.
Guns, Safety, and the Constitution: Subject to Regulation
Advocate: Daniel A. Farber, Henry J. Fletcher Profess of Law and Associate Dean of Faculty and Research, University of Minnesota.
2. FEDERALISM.
DECIDING ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE: MAKE IT A FEDERAL ISSUE OR LEAVE IT TO THE STATES?
Deciding about Gay Marriage: Make it a Federal Issue?
Advocate: Orin Hatch, U.S. Senator (R-UT)
New Deciding About Gay Marriage: Leave It to the States?
Advocate: Patrick Leahy, U.S. Senator (D-VT)
3. CIVIL RIGHTS.
BANNING DILATION AND EXTRACTION (PARTIAL-BIRTH) ABORTIONS: VIOLATING WOMEN'S RIGHTS OR PROTECTING FETAL RIGHTS?
Banning Dilation and Extraction (Partial-Birth) Abortions: Violating Women's Rights
Advocate: Center for Reproductive Rights.
Banning Dilation and Extraction (Partial-Birth) Abortions: Protecting Fetal Rights
Advocate: Kathi A. Aultman, MD, board certified obstetrician gynecologist, and Fellow,
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
4. CIVIL LIBERTIES.
REQUIRING REGISTRATION TO ACCESS INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY: ABRIDGING FREE SPEECH OR SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN?
Requiring Registration To Access Internet Pornography: Abridging Free Speech.
Advocate: Anthony M. Kennedy, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court.
Requiring Registration To Access Internet Pornography: Safeguarding Children.
Advocate: Stephen G. Breyer, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court.
5. AMERICAN PEOPLE/POLITICAL CULTURE.
IMMIGRATON AS A THREAT TO "WHO WE ARE": VALID CONCERN OR UNFOUNDED FEAR?
Immigraton as a Threat to "Who We Are": Valid Concern
Advocate: John O'Sulllivan, Editor-in-chief of the National Interest.
Immigraton as a Threat to "Who We Are": Unfounded Fear?
Advocate: Jim Sleeper, Lecturer in Political Science at Yale University.
6. PUBLIC OPINION/PARTICIPATION.
POST-9/11 CRITICISM OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY: UNAMERICAN OR PATRIOTIC.
Post-9/11 Criticism of U.S. Foreign Policy: Unamerican.
Advocate: Victor Davis Hanson, Shifrin Visiting Professor of Military History, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis.
Post-9/11 Criticism of U.S. Foreign Policy: Patriotic.
Advocate: Gore Vidal, novelist, playwright, and essayist.
7. MEDIA.
USE OF POLLS IN THE MEDIA: OUT OF CONTROL OR VALID REPORTING.
Use of Polls by the Media: Out of Control
Advocate: Lori Robertson, Managing Editor, American Journalism Review.
Use of Polls by the Media: Valid Reporting.
Advocate: Bill McInturff and Lori Weigel, partners, Public Opinion Strategies, a national survey research firm.
8. INTEREST GROUPS.
ETHNIC FOREIGN POLICY LOBBYING: MISPLACED ALLEGIENCE OR ALL-AMERICAN TRADITION?
Ethnic Foreign Policy Lobbying: Misplaced Allegiance.
Advocate: Geoffrey Wheatcroft, a British journalist.
Ethnic Foreign Policy Lobbying: All-American Traditions
Advocate: Yossi Shain, Aaron and Cecile Goldman Visiting Professor, Georgetown University; Professor of Political Science, Tel Aviv University.
9. POLITICAL PARTIES.
THE ODDS-ON FAVORITE IN THE FUTURE: DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS?
The Odds-On Favorite in the Future: Democrats.
Advocates: John B. Judis, senior editor, The New Republic, and Ruy Teixeira, Senior Fellow, the Century Foundation.
The Odds-On Favorite in the Future: Republicans.
Advocate: Daniel Casse, Senior Director, White House Writers Group.
10. VOTING/CAMPAIGNS/ELECTIONS.
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE: ABOLISH OR PRESERVE?
The Electoral College: Abolish.
Advocate: Becky Cain, President, League of Women Voters.
The Electoral College: Preserve.
Advocate: Judith A. Best, Professor of Political Science, State University of New York at Cortland.
11. CONGRESS.
CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS: PROMOTING CHOICE OR RESTRICTING CHOICE?
Congressional Term Limits: Promoting Choice.
Advocate: Paul Jacob, Executive Director, U.S. Term Limits.
Congressional Term Limits: Restricting Choice.
Advocate: John R. Hibbing, Professor of Political Science, University of Nebraska.
12. PRESIDENCY.
PRESIDENTIAL WAR POWER AND TERRORISM: UNILATERAL AUTHORITY OR CONSITUTIONAL CONTRAINTS?
President War Power and Terrorism: Unilateral Authority.
Advocate: Douglas Kmiec , Dean of the Columbus School of Law , The Catholic University of America.
Presidential War Power and Terrorism: Constitutional Constraints.
Advocate: Jane Stromseth, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center.
13. BUREAUCRACY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TITLE IX: CHAMPION OF EQUALITY OR OVERZEALOUS CRUSADER?
Champion of Equality.
Advocate: Judith Sweet, Vice-President for Championships and Senior Women Administrator, National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Overzealous Crusader.
Advocate: Amanda Ross-Edwards, Visiting Professor of Political Science, Fairfield University.
14. JUDICIARY.
LEGAL PHILOSOPHY AS A QUALIFICATION FOR THE BENCH: JUDICIOUS STANDARD OR OBSTRUCTIONIST BARRIER?
Legal Philosophy As A Qualification For The Bench: Judicious Standard.
Advocate: Laurence H. Tribe, Professor, Harvard Law School.
Legal Philosophy As A Qualification For The Bench: Obstructionist Barrier.
Advocate: Todd F. Gaziano, Senior Fellow In Legal Studies and Director, Center For Legal and Judicial Studies, The Heritage Foundation.
15. ECONOMIC POLICY.
CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRE A BALANCED BUDGET: FISCAL SANITY OR IRRESPONSIBILITY?
Constitutionally Require A Balanced Budget: Fiscal Sanity.
Advocate: William Beach, Director, Center for Data Analysis, Heritage Foundation.
Constitutionally Require A Balanced Budget: Fiscal Irresponsibility.
Advocate: Richard Kogan, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
16. CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY.
THE DEATH PENALTY: RACIALLY BIASED OR JUSTICE SERVED?
Racially Biased.
Advocate: Julian Bond, Professor of History, University of Virginia and Distinguished Professor-in-Residence, American University.
Justice Served.
Advocate: Andrew G. McBride, former U.S. Associate Deputy Attorney General.
17. EDUCATION POLICY.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ADMISSIONS: PROMOTING EQUALITY OR UNFAIR ADVANTAGE?
Promoting Equality
Advocate: 41 College Students and 3 Student Coalitions.
Unfair Advantage
Advocate: 21 Law Professors.
18. FOREIGN POLICY.
TORTURING TERRORISTS: SOMETIMES JUSTIFIED OR ALWAYS ABHORENT?
Torturing Terrorists: Sometimes Justified.
Advocate: Robert G Kennedy, Professor of Management, University of St. Thomas.
Torturing Terrorists: Always Abhorrent.
Advocate: Lisa Hajjar, Professor of Sociology, Law and Society Program, University of California-Santa Barbara.
(EXTENDED TABLE OF CONTENTS: WEB ISSUES)
The following topics are available on the Web at: http://www.ablongman.com/YouDecide/
19. DECIDING POLICY: ADOPT DIRECT DEMOCRACY OR REMAIN A REPUBLIC?
Deciding Policy: Adopt Direct Democracy.
Advocate: Harlan Hahn, Professor of Political Science, University of Southern California.
Deciding Policy: Remain a Republic.
Advocate: Peter G. Fish, Professor of Political Science, Duke University.
20. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS: LET STATES INITIATE OR KEEP THE CURRENT PROCESS?
Constitutional Amendments: Let States Initiate.
Advocate: Nelson Lund, Professor of Law, George Mason University School of Law.
Constitutional Amendments: Keep the Current Process.
Advocate: Representative Mickey Edwards (R-MA) and Louis Michael Seidman, Professor, Georgetown University Law Center, on behalf of Citizens for the Constitution, nonpartisan organization devoted to fostering public discussion concerning amendments to the Constitution.
21. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION: ADVANCE OF DEMOCRACY OR DESTABILIZING IDEA?
Proportional Representation: Advance of Democracy
Advocate: Theodore S. Arrington, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Proportional Representation: Destabilizing Idea.
Advocate: Abigail Thernstrom., Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute
22. CIVIL LIBERTIES.
ANTI-TERRORIST LEGISLATION: THREAT TO CIVIL LIBERTIES OR CONSTITUTIONAL SHIELD?
Anti-Terrorist Legislation: Threat to Civil Liberties.
Advocate: Bob Barr, former member of the U.S House of Representatives (R-GA).
Anti-Terrorist Legislation: Constitutional Shield.
Advocate: James B. Comey, Deputy Attorney General Of The United States.
23. REGULATING THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE ACTIVITY OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: NECESSARY REFORM, NEEDED REFORM OR OPPRESIVE RESTRICTION?
Regulating Campaign Finance Activity by Nonprofit Organizations: Needed Reform.
Advocate: Donald B. Tobin, Professor, Moritz College of Law, Ohio State University.
Regulating Campaign Finance Activity by Nonprofit Organizations: Oppressive Restriction.
Advocate: Richard Thomas, Attorney representing the Alliance for Justice, Leadership. Conference for Civil Rights, League of Conservation Voters, NAACP National Voter Fund, NARA: Pro-Choice America, Planed Parenthood Federation of America, People for the American Way Foundation, and Sierra Club.
24. BECOMING PRESIDENT: NATURAL-BORN CITIZENS ONLY OR ALL CITIZENS?
Becoming President: Natural-Born Citizens Only.
Advocate: Forrest McDonald, Distinguished University Research Professor of History at the University of Alabama.
Becoming President: All Citizens.
Advocate: Prepared Statement by John Yinger, Professor of Economics and Public Administration, The Maxwell School, Syracuse University.
GUNS, SAFETY, AND THE CONSTITUTION'S MEANING: INDIVDUAL RIGHT OR SUBJECT TO REGULATION.
Guns, Safety, and the Constitution: Individual Right
Advocate: Joyce Malcolm, Professor, Department of History, Bentley College and Senior Fellow, MIT Security Studies Program.
Guns, Safety, and the Constitution: Subject to Regulation
Advocate: Daniel A. Farber, Henry J. Fletcher Profess of Law and Associate Dean of Faculty and Research, University of Minnesota.
2. FEDERALISM.
DECIDING ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE: MAKE IT A FEDERAL ISSUE OR LEAVE IT TO THE STATES?
Deciding about Gay Marriage: Make it a Federal Issue?
Advocate: Orin Hatch, U.S. Senator (R-UT)
New Deciding About Gay Marriage: Leave It to the States?
Advocate: Patrick Leahy, U.S. Senator (D-VT)
3. CIVIL RIGHTS.
BANNING DILATION AND EXTRACTION (PARTIAL-BIRTH) ABORTIONS: VIOLATING WOMEN'S RIGHTS OR PROTECTING FETAL RIGHTS?
Banning Dilation and Extraction (Partial-Birth) Abortions: Violating Women's Rights
Advocate: Center for Reproductive Rights.
Banning Dilation and Extraction (Partial-Birth) Abortions: Protecting Fetal Rights
Advocate: Kathi A. Aultman, MD, board certified obstetrician gynecologist, and Fellow,
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
4. CIVIL LIBERTIES.
REQUIRING REGISTRATION TO ACCESS INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY: ABRIDGING FREE SPEECH OR SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN?
Requiring Registration To Access Internet Pornography: Abridging Free Speech.
Advocate: Anthony M. Kennedy, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court.
Requiring Registration To Access Internet Pornography: Safeguarding Children.
Advocate: Stephen G. Breyer, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court.
5. AMERICAN PEOPLE/POLITICAL CULTURE.
IMMIGRATON AS A THREAT TO "WHO WE ARE": VALID CONCERN OR UNFOUNDED FEAR?
Immigraton as a Threat to "Who We Are": Valid Concern
Advocate: John O'Sulllivan, Editor-in-chief of the National Interest.
Immigraton as a Threat to "Who We Are": Unfounded Fear?
Advocate: Jim Sleeper, Lecturer in Political Science at Yale University.
6. PUBLIC OPINION/PARTICIPATION.
POST-9/11 CRITICISM OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY: UNAMERICAN OR PATRIOTIC.
Post-9/11 Criticism of U.S. Foreign Policy: Unamerican.
Advocate: Victor Davis Hanson, Shifrin Visiting Professor of Military History, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis.
Post-9/11 Criticism of U.S. Foreign Policy: Patriotic.
Advocate: Gore Vidal, novelist, playwright, and essayist.
7. MEDIA.
USE OF POLLS IN THE MEDIA: OUT OF CONTROL OR VALID REPORTING.
Use of Polls by the Media: Out of Control
Advocate: Lori Robertson, Managing Editor, American Journalism Review.
Use of Polls by the Media: Valid Reporting.
Advocate: Bill McInturff and Lori Weigel, partners, Public Opinion Strategies, a national survey research firm.
8. INTEREST GROUPS.
ETHNIC FOREIGN POLICY LOBBYING: MISPLACED ALLEGIENCE OR ALL-AMERICAN TRADITION?
Ethnic Foreign Policy Lobbying: Misplaced Allegiance.
Advocate: Geoffrey Wheatcroft, a British journalist.
Ethnic Foreign Policy Lobbying: All-American Traditions
Advocate: Yossi Shain, Aaron and Cecile Goldman Visiting Professor, Georgetown University; Professor of Political Science, Tel Aviv University.
9. POLITICAL PARTIES.
THE ODDS-ON FAVORITE IN THE FUTURE: DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS?
The Odds-On Favorite in the Future: Democrats.
Advocates: John B. Judis, senior editor, The New Republic, and Ruy Teixeira, Senior Fellow, the Century Foundation.
The Odds-On Favorite in the Future: Republicans.
Advocate: Daniel Casse, Senior Director, White House Writers Group.
10. VOTING/CAMPAIGNS/ELECTIONS.
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE: ABOLISH OR PRESERVE?
The Electoral College: Abolish.
Advocate: Becky Cain, President, League of Women Voters.
The Electoral College: Preserve.
Advocate: Judith A. Best, Professor of Political Science, State University of New York at Cortland.
11. CONGRESS.
CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS: PROMOTING CHOICE OR RESTRICTING CHOICE?
Congressional Term Limits: Promoting Choice.
Advocate: Paul Jacob, Executive Director, U.S. Term Limits.
Congressional Term Limits: Restricting Choice.
Advocate: John R. Hibbing, Professor of Political Science, University of Nebraska.
12. PRESIDENCY.
PRESIDENTIAL WAR POWER AND TERRORISM: UNILATERAL AUTHORITY OR CONSITUTIONAL CONTRAINTS?
President War Power and Terrorism: Unilateral Authority.
Advocate: Douglas Kmiec , Dean of the Columbus School of Law , The Catholic University of America.
Presidential War Power and Terrorism: Constitutional Constraints.
Advocate: Jane Stromseth, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center.
13. BUREAUCRACY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TITLE IX: CHAMPION OF EQUALITY OR OVERZEALOUS CRUSADER?
Champion of Equality.
Advocate: Judith Sweet, Vice-President for Championships and Senior Women Administrator, National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Overzealous Crusader.
Advocate: Amanda Ross-Edwards, Visiting Professor of Political Science, Fairfield University.
14. JUDICIARY.
LEGAL PHILOSOPHY AS A QUALIFICATION FOR THE BENCH: JUDICIOUS STANDARD OR OBSTRUCTIONIST BARRIER?
Legal Philosophy As A Qualification For The Bench: Judicious Standard.
Advocate: Laurence H. Tribe, Professor, Harvard Law School.
Legal Philosophy As A Qualification For The Bench: Obstructionist Barrier.
Advocate: Todd F. Gaziano, Senior Fellow In Legal Studies and Director, Center For Legal and Judicial Studies, The Heritage Foundation.
15. ECONOMIC POLICY.
CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRE A BALANCED BUDGET: FISCAL SANITY OR IRRESPONSIBILITY?
Constitutionally Require A Balanced Budget: Fiscal Sanity.
Advocate: William Beach, Director, Center for Data Analysis, Heritage Foundation.
Constitutionally Require A Balanced Budget: Fiscal Irresponsibility.
Advocate: Richard Kogan, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
16. CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY.
THE DEATH PENALTY: RACIALLY BIASED OR JUSTICE SERVED?
Racially Biased.
Advocate: Julian Bond, Professor of History, University of Virginia and Distinguished Professor-in-Residence, American University.
Justice Served.
Advocate: Andrew G. McBride, former U.S. Associate Deputy Attorney General.
17. EDUCATION POLICY.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ADMISSIONS: PROMOTING EQUALITY OR UNFAIR ADVANTAGE?
Promoting Equality
Advocate: 41 College Students and 3 Student Coalitions.
Unfair Advantage
Advocate: 21 Law Professors.
18. FOREIGN POLICY.
TORTURING TERRORISTS: SOMETIMES JUSTIFIED OR ALWAYS ABHORENT?
Torturing Terrorists: Sometimes Justified.
Advocate: Robert G Kennedy, Professor of Management, University of St. Thomas.
Torturing Terrorists: Always Abhorrent.
Advocate: Lisa Hajjar, Professor of Sociology, Law and Society Program, University of California-Santa Barbara.
(EXTENDED TABLE OF CONTENTS: WEB ISSUES)
The following topics are available on the Web at: http://www.ablongman.com/YouDecide/
19. DECIDING POLICY: ADOPT DIRECT DEMOCRACY OR REMAIN A REPUBLIC?
Deciding Policy: Adopt Direct Democracy.
Advocate: Harlan Hahn, Professor of Political Science, University of Southern California.
Deciding Policy: Remain a Republic.
Advocate: Peter G. Fish, Professor of Political Science, Duke University.
20. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS: LET STATES INITIATE OR KEEP THE CURRENT PROCESS?
Constitutional Amendments: Let States Initiate.
Advocate: Nelson Lund, Professor of Law, George Mason University School of Law.
Constitutional Amendments: Keep the Current Process.
Advocate: Representative Mickey Edwards (R-MA) and Louis Michael Seidman, Professor, Georgetown University Law Center, on behalf of Citizens for the Constitution, nonpartisan organization devoted to fostering public discussion concerning amendments to the Constitution.
21. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION: ADVANCE OF DEMOCRACY OR DESTABILIZING IDEA?
Proportional Representation: Advance of Democracy
Advocate: Theodore S. Arrington, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Proportional Representation: Destabilizing Idea.
Advocate: Abigail Thernstrom., Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute
22. CIVIL LIBERTIES.
ANTI-TERRORIST LEGISLATION: THREAT TO CIVIL LIBERTIES OR CONSTITUTIONAL SHIELD?
Anti-Terrorist Legislation: Threat to Civil Liberties.
Advocate: Bob Barr, former member of the U.S House of Representatives (R-GA).
Anti-Terrorist Legislation: Constitutional Shield.
Advocate: James B. Comey, Deputy Attorney General Of The United States.
23. REGULATING THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE ACTIVITY OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: NECESSARY REFORM, NEEDED REFORM OR OPPRESIVE RESTRICTION?
Regulating Campaign Finance Activity by Nonprofit Organizations: Needed Reform.
Advocate: Donald B. Tobin, Professor, Moritz College of Law, Ohio State University.
Regulating Campaign Finance Activity by Nonprofit Organizations: Oppressive Restriction.
Advocate: Richard Thomas, Attorney representing the Alliance for Justice, Leadership. Conference for Civil Rights, League of Conservation Voters, NAACP National Voter Fund, NARA: Pro-Choice America, Planed Parenthood Federation of America, People for the American Way Foundation, and Sierra Club.
24. BECOMING PRESIDENT: NATURAL-BORN CITIZENS ONLY OR ALL CITIZENS?
Becoming President: Natural-Born Citizens Only.
Advocate: Forrest McDonald, Distinguished University Research Professor of History at the University of Alabama.
Becoming President: All Citizens.
Advocate: Prepared Statement by John Yinger, Professor of Economics and Public Administration, The Maxwell School, Syracuse University.