The question at the center of the seventeenth edition of THE IRONY OF DEMOCRACY is “How democratic is American society?” While most American government textbooks address politics from a pluralist perspective, this text approaches the subject using an elitist perspective, thus exposing the irony between it and democratic theory and modern pluralist theory. As a result, this text helps students understand why the U.S. government works as it does.

1. The Irony of Democracy.
2. The Elite Consensus of the Founding Fathers: U.S. Political Principles.
3. Elites in America.
4. Masses in the United States.
5. The Media: Elite-Mass Communication.
6. Elections, Parties, and Democracy.
7. Elites and Organized Interests.
8. Congress: The Legislative Elite.
9. The Presidency.
10. Courts: Elites in Black Robes.
11. The Federal Bureaucracy.
12. Federalism: State and Community Elites.
13. Civil Rights: Diversifying the Elite.
14. The United States as Global Elite.
Epilogue: What Can Students Do?
Appendix: The Constitution of the United States of America.
Glossary.

The question at the center of the seventeenth edition of THE IRONY OF DEMOCRACY is “How democratic is American society?” While most American government textbooks address politics from a pluralist perspective, this text approaches the subject using an elitist perspective, thus exposing the irony between it and democratic theory and modern pluralist theory. As a result, this text helps students understand why the U.S. government works as it does. Chapter 5, “The Media: Elite-Mass Communication,” includes a new section that discusses today's technology elites, presents coverage of the integration of social media into politics, and provides information on the relationship between the Obama Administration and freedom of the press. A new “Focus” box in Chapter 7, “Elites and Organized Interests,” discusses billionaire activists Styer and Koch. Chapter 9 on the presidency presents a new perspective on Obama's first five years in office-in both domestic and foreign policy-as well as new material on Obama and executive power. The core chapters on political institutions have been updated to reflect a divided Congress, the Obama Administration, and the new Supreme Court rulings. The sections on lawmaking focus more on the “Kill Bill” reality to reflect that Congress appears to be better at preventing laws than making them. The continuing diversification of the Congress is also covered. Chapter 11, “The Federal Bureaucracy,” includes new coverage of ObamaCare and the Internal Revenue Service scandal. Chapter 14, “The United States as Global Elite,” covers the reassessment of the U.S. role in the world political system in the post Iraq War period, as well as current security threats and a resurgent Al Qaeda. “For Further Thought” boxes provide opportunities for students to use their critical-thinking skills in light of the chapter content. End-of-chapter questions also promote development of students' critical-thinking skills. “In Brief” boxes provide students with clear and concise summaries of important arguments and theories throughout the text. Chapter summaries provide “An Elitist Interpretation” that has been enhanced and emphasized to encourage reflection on and discussion of the chapter's topics.