Thinking About Politics: American Government in Associational
Perspective
By Paul F. deLespinasse
Copyright © 1981 by Paul F. deLespinasse. Permission is hereby granted to
make unlimited numbers of copies of this book, electronically or in
printing, for free or at-cost distribution, provided that this
copyright notice and my e-mail and snail-mail addresses are included
in all copies made. Translations into other languages are also
permitted, subject to the previously stated conditions, and also on
the condition that no additional copyright be claimed on the
translation. Links to the website for this book from other websites
are permitted and welcomed. E-mail: pdelespinass@adrian.edu. Snail-
mail: Paul F. deLespinasse, Political Science Dept.,Adrian College,
Adrian, Michigan 49221, USA.
Preface
Prologue: The Constitutional Convention of 1987
PART I: A RE-INTRODUCTION TO THINKING ABOUT POLITICS
Chapter 1: The American Political Scene--A Blooming,
Buzzing Confusion
Chapter 2: The Simplest Human Situation--Work and
Survival
Chapter 3: People Living Together--Coexistence
and Association
Chapter 4: Living In Society--Government as
Association
PART II: THINKING ABOUT ACTIONS
Chapter 5: The President and the Presidency
Chapter 6: Living With Government--Bureaucracy
and Politics
PART III: THINKING ABOUT RULES
Chapter 7: Congress--The Legislative Procedure
Chapter 8: The Judicial System--Public Policy Versus
The Rule of Law
Chapter 9: Economic Regulation--Rules, Corruption,
and Property
Chapter 10: The Ideas Behind Politics--Evaluating
Actions, Laws, and Constitutions
PART IV: THINKING ABOUT CONTEXTS
Chapter 11: Government and the People--A Look
At Public Opinion
Chapter 12: Political Middlemen--Parties, Interest
Groups, and Lobbyists
Chapter 13: Foreign Relations--Living in the
World
Chapter 14: Complexity Versus Constitutionalism
PART V: ON THINKING AND LIVING IN AN IMPERFECT WORLD
Chapter 15: Beyond Utopia--Thinking About What
Ought To Be
Chapter 16: Beyond Revolution--Thinking About
What To Do
Chapter 17: Beyond Politics--Thinking About The
Human Predicament
Appendix A: A Dialogue on Rational Action
Glossary