Government in America: People, Politcs, and Policy

Framing its content within a resonant “politics matters” theme and emphasizing public policy throughout, this accessible text illustrates the impact that government has on the daily lives of each and every American, particularly its effect on students. 

 

Through engaging and interactive boxed features and a focus on the issues that matter to most, this practical text motivates readers to become active participants in our political system, and helps overcome apathy toward government.  The brief edition of this bestselling text includes the streamlined content of the comprehensive version. 

Features:

• "Why It Matters" marginal boxes encourage students to think critically about an aspect of government, politics, or policy and ask them to consider the impact–usually on themselves–if things worked differently.
• “Young People and Politics” boxes illustrate how politics specifically impact young adults, how their political behavior patterns are unique and important, and how their particular political desires are being met or ignored by public officials. 
• “You Are the Policymaker” boxes throughout the text put students in the role of policymaker, asking them to analyze two sides of an issue and reach a policy decision.
• “A Generation of Change” compares current aspects of politics, government, and public policy to that of a generation ago.  An 18-year old student in 2009 was born in 1991, when the first President Bush took office.  Because students have little idea of just how much things have changed between then and now, this feature provides students with some historical perspective on how politics and public policy has changed, made all the more engaging because it is framed around their lifetime.
• “How You Can Make a Difference” boxes provide students with information on how they can get involved with issues in order to influence how government works or help decide what policies are established.
• "America in Perspective" features examine how the United States compares to other countries in areas such as tax rates, voter turnout, and the delivery of public services.
• “Issues of the Times” appendix features articles on the issues of the day pulled directly from the New York Times.  These articles at the back of the book are accompanied by a short introduction and overlaying pedagogy that asks students to think critically about the news and how it affects them.  In essence, students get a New York Times reader in every copy of their book!
• “Get Connected” chapter-ending boxes underscore the “politics matters” theme by asking students to get involved, investigate current political issues on the web, and then answer critical thinking questions about what they've seen. The exercises demonstrate key points in each chapter and are designed to work well as homework assignments.
• “Tools for Understanding Government in America.” This primer at the start of the text provides helpful guidance on how to get the most information from newspapers, study charts and graphs (especially in this book), and the Internet.
• MyPoliSciLab access comes at no additional charge when an access card is packaged with the book.

 

New to this Edition:

• “My State.”  Making politics personal, “My State” presents information, data, and maps showing where each of the fifty states falls on topics like education spending, unemployment rates, voter turnout, abortion laws, and immigrant populations. Questions for Discussion ask students to consider the reasons for their state’s policies and political culture and how it might change in the future.

• Chapter Tests.   To ensure student’s are making progress in the course, this edition offers even more assessment opportunities, including a test at the end of every chapter to check students’ understanding of key points before they move on to the next topic.

• Engaging New Design.  To better appeal to students, the design has been completely re-envisioned with more effective graphics, bigger and more frequent visuals, and a more seamless, connective feel amongst the elements of the book.  To enhance the book’s coverage, photos have been reexamined with an eye toward including images that are more journalistic or conceptual in nature.   

• Updated throughout.  The Fourteenth Edition includes comprehensive coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign and election results, the latest Supreme Court decisions on federalism, civil liberties, and civil rights, and the most recent available data in its charts, tables, and graphs. 

• New topics in “A Generation of Change”  the shrinking gender wage gap, changing regulation trends, immigration reforms, and the rising trade balance deficit.

• "America in Perspective" sections include new comparisons of the US and other nations on issues like minority rights, free speech and religious extremists, China’s booming economy, and immigration policy in Europe. 

• New “Issues ofthe Times” readings.  This bonus collection of thought-provoking articles pulled directly from The New York Times covers such hot new topics as how the internet is changing politics, how political parties are collecting your personal data, the efforts of non-citizen residents to secure the right to vote in local elections, whether municipal governments should hire lobbyists, and the legal and ethical implications of genetic discrimination.

A Generation of Change

Functions of Federal Grants (Chapter 3)

The Shrinking Gap Between Men’s and Women’s Wages (Chapter 5)

Trends in Regulation (Chapter 15)

 

My State

The Length of State Constitutions (Chapter 2)

State and Local Spending on Public Education (Chapter 3)

Laws on Abortions for Minors (Chapter 4)

A Nation of Minorities (Chapter 5)

Immigrants as a Percentage of State Population (Chapter 6)

How Candidates Visited Some States Far More Than Others During the 2008 Nomination Campaign (Chapter 9)

Turnout of Adult Citizens in 2004 (Chapter 10)

Labor Union Membership as a Percentage of State Workforces (Chapter 11)

Federal Civilian Employees (Chapter 15)

The Federal Judicial Circuits (Chapter 16)

Unemployment Rates by State, 2008 (Chapter 17)

 

Americain Perspective

The Unusual Rigidity of the U.S. Constitution (Chapter 2)

Tolerance for Free Speech Rights of Religious Extremists (Chapter 4)

Respect for Minority Rights (Chapter 5)

Membership in Environmental Groups (Chapter 11)

Malapportionment in the Upper House (Chapter 12)

The Tenure of Supreme Court Judges (Chapter 16)

The Roar of the Dragon:  China’s Economy (Chapter 17)

 

You Are the Policymaker

Should PACs Be Eliminated?  (Chapter 11)