Ragone - The Everything American Government Book : From the Constitution to Present-Day Elections, All You Need to Understand Our Democratic System

THE
EVERYTHING
American Government Book

Dear Reader:

Ever since grade school, Ive had a passion for American government. I admired politicians and elected officials the way some people admire rock stars and athletes. I fiendishly pored over book after book on the subject in search of the nuances and subtleties that help define our system of government. I sought out teachers and mentors who added special insight into the process. I even watched C-Span ever y day to view it up close. I continue to do so today.

While the exuberance of my youth may have worn off, I hope some of the excitement and passion come through in the writing, and that readers experience the same sense of wonderment and exploration that I have along the way.

Nowhere does it say that histor y, government, and politics must be boring and tedious. More than anything, my goal is to make American government understandable, relatable, and fun. I would love nothing more than for readers to take away a greater appreciation for American government, and to share it with family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. If I had a marketing slogan, it would simply be Government Fever: Catch It!

The EVERYTHING Series

Editorial

Production

Visit the entire EverythingSeries at www.everything.com

THE
EVERYTHING
AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT
BOOK

From the Constitution to present-day
elections, all you need to understand
our democratic system

by Nick Ragone

Copyright 2004, F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions
are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

An Everything Series Book.
Everything and everything.com are registered trademarks of F+W Media, Inc.

Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.

57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-59337-055-5
ISBN 13: 978-1-59337-055-8
eISBN: 978-1-4405-2297-0
Printed in the United States of America.

J I H G F E D C B A

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ragone, Nick.
The everything American government book : from the Constitution to
present-day elections, all you need to understand our democratic system /
by Nick Ragone.
p. cm.
(An everything series book)
ISBN 1-59337-055-5
1. United StatesPolitics and government.
2. DemocracyUnited States.
I. Title. II. Series: Everything series.

JK31.R34 2004
320.473dc22

2003026250

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the
American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, call 1-800-289-0963.

To my beautiful wife, Tyan, without whom
this could not have been possible

Contents

A cknowledgments

Like every endeavor of my life, this book was the result of many helping hands. A million thanks to Barb Doyen, a wonderful agent and even better friend. Her enthusiasm for this project was infectious. Same for editor Eric Hall, whose encouragement, insight, and guidance made for an infinitely better book. I hope this will be the first of many collaborations. Robert Lakind, a wonderful writer in his own right, had a special eye for detail, poring over each draft as though grading a term paper. I look forward to returning the favor someday. Sharon Nieuwenhuis and Shannon Webb provided valuable feedback. The Rutgers University library staff made research enjoyable and easy. And a special thanks to my father, Frank T. Ragone, for being there every step of the way. Its been that way for as long as I can remember.

Top Ten Things You Should Know
About American Government

1. Only Congress can declare war.

2. The Bill of Rights is composed of the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

3. The Senate confirms presidential appointments.

4. The number of members of the House of Representatives is fixed at 435.

5. Only one presidentJames Garfieldwas elected directly from the House of Representatives.

6. The vice president casts the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

7. The Speaker of the House is the highest-ranking Congressional officer specified in the Constitution.

8. Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote.

9. The attorney general is the highest-ranking law enforcement official in the United States.

10. The Supreme Court begins a new term on the first Monday in October.

Introduction

FOR SOME OF US, learning about American government in grade school and high school was an enthralling experience. For most, however, it was just one more subject to be dreaded. Fortunately, The EverythingAmerican Government Book can make the experience easy and enjoyableas simple as watching the History Channel or reading a newspaper. Youll be amazed at how American government comes to life in the pages ahead. And it might even get your youngsters to turn off the television and turn on to reading.

Understanding how our system of government works is a critical part of being a responsible citizen. Knowing the hows and whys of American government carries more importance than just being able to improve your score on the game show Jeopardy! Its about being an informed participant in the worlds oldest constitutional democracy a noble experiment brought to life by our Founding Fathers more than two centuries ago.

In many respects, it has been a remarkable privilege for Americans to bear witness to one of the most successful endeavors of all mankind. It is easy to forget or overlook the genius and inspiration that breathed life into the American experiment. Sometimes it helps to be reminded.