Updated in its 14th edition, American Government provides a concise overview of the American political system and its institutions using the... Constitution as a backdrop and touchstone in every chapter. Concentrating on the most significant issues necessary to understanding American government, this book is specifically structured to engage today's readers through a concise, stimulating style that is free of ideological and political bias.

Guided by the belief that students must first understand how American government developed to fully understand the issues facing the United States in... the 21st century, O'Connor/Sabato offers the strongest coverage of both history and current events of any college textbook devoted to American politics. This best-selling book provides the historical context students need to understand our government and the most crucial and controversial issues affecting the nation. American Government: Continuity and Change, has been extensively revised to provide the most in-depth and current coverage of the 2006 midterm elections, the second George W. Bush administration, the Iraq War, and increasing controversies related to the conduct of the war on terrorism, including renewed calls for additional congressional oversight of the Executive Branch. The new edition also emphasizes the extent to which shared American values shape and affect policy and influence key political conflicts.

Perspectives on American Government offers an accessible and coherent selection of readings to students of American politics. Grounded in foundational... debates, classic political science scholarship, and the best contemporary analysis of developmental trends, this reader invites students to probe the historical dynamics that brought the United States to where it is today and how those dynamics are likely to affect its future course. Even a full-length textbook can do no more than hit the high points of broad and complicated topics like federalism, the role of government, labor, race, gender, parties and interest groups, polarization, the presidency, and America’s place in the world. This well-designed reader is an invitation to instructors to draw your students into a deeper conversation on the key themes and topics in each section of your course. Jillson and Robertson have carefully edited each selection to ensure readability and fidelity to the original arguments. Their insightful editorial introductions frame the context in which these topics are studied and understood. Several key pedagogical tools help students along the way: An introductory essay providing an overview of American political development Chapter introductions to provide necessary context situating the readings in broader debates Head notes at the start of each reading to contextualize that selection Questions for Discussion at the end of each chapter, prompting students to draw out the implications and connections across readings Further Reading lists at the end of each chapter to guide student research The broad readings in this volume take seriously the effort to present materials that help students make sense of the historical changes and institutional developments that are essential for understanding American government and politics today.

Seymour Martin Lipset pronounced over a decade ago, "Those who know only one country know no country." It is well established that students learn the... intricacies of American politics better when they are presented in a comparative context. In today’s globalized society and workforce, it is all the more important for students to understand that the American political system is in many ways the exception and not the rule. Introductory textbooks on American government, however, rarely emphasize in sufficient depth how the United States compares to other political systems. And introductions to comparative politics infrequently situate the United States in their analysis. The American Anomaly systematically analyzes the U.S. political system by way of comparison with other countries, especially other industrialized democracies. It is organized into four sections, respectively covering the constitutional order, governmental institutions, political participation, and public policy. Extended case studies in each chapter draw on all the major regions of the world. Thoroughly revised throughout, the second edition also includes: a new chapter on domestic public policy, including civil rights and liberties; a new chapter on foreign policy; updates throughout to reflect the 2008 elections and the beginning of the Obama administration; a reorganized section on political participation; over a dozen new figures and tables. A companion website also offers overview slides, links, and other supporting features.

Approaching the politics of the Lone Star State from historical, developmental, and analytical perspectives, Cal Jillson's text avoids partisanship,... ideology, and gimmicks to provide the most comprehensive, readable, and accurate brief description of Texas politics available today. Throughout the book students are encouraged to connect the origins and development of government and politics in Texas—from the Texas Constitution, to party competition, to the role and powers of the Governor—to its current day practice and the alternatives possible through change and reform. This text will allow teachers to share with their students the evolution of Texas politics, where we stand today, and where we are headed. Texas Politics is one of the briefest and most affordable texts on the market, yet it offers instructors and students an unmatched range of pedagogical aids and tools. Each chapter opens with a number of focus questions to orient readers to the learning objectives and concludes with a Chapter Summary, a list of Key Terms, Suggested Readings, and Web Resources. Key Terms are bolded in the text, listed at the end of the chapter, and included in a Glossary at the end of the book. Each chapter presents several photos and numerous tables and figures to highlight the major ideas, issues, individuals, and institutions discussed. Each chapter also contains a Let’s Compare feature, comparing selected states to Texas on various dimensions.

A young widow raising two boys, Sarah Laden is struggling to keep her family together. But when a shocking revelation rips apart the family of her... closest friend, Sarah finds herself welcoming yet another troubled young boy into her already tumultuous life. Jordan, a quiet, reclusive elementary school classmate of Sarah's son Danny, has survived a terrible ordeal. By agreeing to become Jordan's foster mother, Sarah will be forced to question the things she has long believed. And as the delicate threads that bind their family begin to unravel, all the Ladens will have to face difficult truths about themselves and one another—and discover the power of love necessary to forgive and to heal.

American Government and Politics is a completely new introductory textbook designed and written for all students of politics coming to the subject for... the first time. It provides a lively and accessible introduction and guide to all the main features and characteristics of one of the most distinctive and complex contemporary political systems in the world. From the impeachment of Bill Clinton, to the controversy surrounding the 2000 presidential election, and the Bush administration's responses to September 11, students will gain a balanced and critical understanding of all the key issues and debates in contemporary American government and politics today. A number of key underlying themes include: - the nature of American values and identity - the influence of the constitution on political development - the ways in which key governing institutions function to produce domestic and foreign policy. Key features include: - comprehensive glossary of key terms - discussion and summary boxes - web links and guides to further reading Robert Singh is a lecturer in politics at Birkbeck College, London. American Government and Politics: A Concise Introduction is the foundation companion text to Contemporary American Politics: Issues and Controversies also published by SAGE. `Rob Singh has written a finely organized and informative textbook that combines to an unusually high degree analytical clarity, accessibility of style and form, and an enlightened scepticism about received wisdom. This is an admirable book' - Nigel Bowles, St Anne's College, Oxford `Full of topical information and written with sparkling clarity, this book is a short-cut to excellence for the discriminating student' - Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, Professor of American History, University of Edinburgh `In American Government and Politics Robert Singh provides an excellent introduction to the subject. His approach is wide ranging, his examples well selected and his style is accessible. It will make an ideal book for introductory and more advanced university courses on US government. I strongly recommend the book to teachers and students' - Desmond King, Mellon Professor of American Government, University of Oxford `This is a well written and lively book that is an important addition to the ranks of textbooks on American politics. One of its many virtues is its recognition that the textbook today is useful to a student only if it links to the world of web-based resources. Highly recommended' - Alan Ware, Worcester College, Oxford

American Government and Politics, Texas Edition asks students to consider what U.S. citizenship really means. Unique chapters on citizenship and civic... culture focus on the issues of civic participation and the implications of good citizenship. Combined with 7 chapters on Texas Politics, this textbook will fulfill the two semester sequence of American Government/Texas Politics by providing thorough coverage of the importance of the founding of our country and on the meaning of citizenship.

This "Election Update" edition of Bessette/Pitney's AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: DELIBERATION, DEMOCRACY AND CITIZENSHIP, is complete with 2010... election information. Like its previous edition, the text has three underlying principles: Citizenship, History and Democracy. Via two unique chapters -- Chapter 4: American Citizenship and Chapter 5: Civic Culture -- authors Joseph Bessette and John Pitney, Jr. examine the way that civic culture shapes the country and take a close look at civic responsibility. "Deliberative democracy" -- the concept that political systems work best when informed citizens and public officials deliberate to identify and promote the common good -- is considered throughout the text.

Bessette/Pitney's AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: DELIBERATION, DEMOCRACY AND CITIZENSHIP, First Edition, is based on the idea of "deliberative... democracy": political systems work best when informed citizens and public officials deliberate to identify and promote the common good. Emphasizing citizenship, the text examines the way that civic culture and immigration impact students and shape the country. It offers solid historical coverage and a close look at civic responsibility.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: DELIBERATION, DEMOCRACY AND CITIZENSHIP, has three underlying principles: Citizenship, History and Democracy. Authors... Joseph Bessette and John Pitney, Jr. examine the way that civic culture affects students and shapes the country, and take a close look at civic responsibility.