American Government: Institutions and Policies: The Essentials, 13th Edition

"Who Governs?" and "To What Ends?" are the two thematic questions posed at the opening of each chapter and then revisited at chapter's end. Emphasis is placed on their complexity by examining different possible answers.
"How Things Work" boxes summarize key concepts and important facts that facilitate students' comprehension of the political process. "Landmark Cases" provide brief descriptions of important Supreme Court cases.
"Research Frontiers" boxes examine cutting-edge research and the implications of technology in the world of politics. Each case study closes with questions to the students, encouraging them to create their own experiments and get involved in their political surroundings.
Updated "What Would You Do?" features place students in the role of a decision maker, presenting them with a realistic domestic or foreign policy issue that they can explore in a class discussion or assignment. These have been revamped to be more current-events based and give the students more background information with which to make their decisions. Acclaimed for the scholarship of its prominent authors and the clarity of its narrative, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: THE ESSENTIALS preserves the structure of the main text but replaces the policy chapters with one brief chapter on the policymaking process while maintaining focus on three fundamental topics: the importance of institutions of American government; the historical development of More »