ABSTRACT
This chapter reexamines the themes of conflict and compromise. Conflict is natural in any society, but the ability and desire to seek compromise is not. The chapter presents three questions confronting the nation as it enters the new century: What is America? Who has power? and What is the role of the United States in the world? The United States always has been a nation of immigrants, and each major wave of newcomers has changed the society in important ways. The chapter presents financing public schools, flag desecration, disposing of low-level radioactive waste, funding for student groups, welfare reform, health care, and regulating dietary supplements. It discusses current concerns about the vitality of American democracy, particularly the role of the citizen in participating in democratic processes. The health of American democracy is a topic of debate among political scientists and others. The American political system is a framework of processes and institutions designed to make living in a society possible.
