American Government and Politics Today The Essentials, 2004-2005 Edition (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac)

by Bardes, Barbara A.; Shelley, II, Mack C.; Schmidt, Steffen W.

• ISBN13: 9780534620820
• ISBN10: 0534620825
• Edition: 11th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-06-17
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

The best selling book for Introduction to American Government, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY, THE ESSENTIALS helps students experience the excitement that comes from active, informed citizenship in a concisely organized package. Bardes, Schmidt, and Shelley?s text is renowned nationwide for its balanced, unbiased, comprehensive, and up-to-date coverage of constitutional, governmental, political, social, and economic structures and processes. The overriding theme is the importance of informed active citizenship. The pedagogy underscores this theme by soliciting critical thinking about political issues and encouraging students to become involved the political process. With keen awareness of its audience, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY, THE ESSENTIALS incorporates current examples, the Internet, and other media to stimulate learning and excitement about American government. This truly interactive text gives students more than reading material--it gives them tools to become good citizens.

Table of Contents

Part One: THE AMERICAN SYSTEM

1. Political Forces of Change in Today's World

2. The Constitution

Appendix: The Constitution of the United States of America

3. Federalism

Part Two: CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES

4. Civil Liberties

5. Civil Rights

Part Three: PEOPLE AND POLITICS

6. Public Opinion and Political Socialization

7. Interest Groups

8. Political Parties

9. Campaigns, Elections, and the Media

Part Four: POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

10. The Congress

11. The Presidency

12. The Bureaucracy

13. The Judiciary

Part Five: PUBLIC POLICY

14. Domestic and Economic Policy

15. Foreign and Defense Policy

APPENDICES

A: The Declaration of Independence

B: How to Read Case Citations and Find Court Decisions

C: Presidents of the United States

D: Federalist Papers No

10, No

51, and No

78. E: Justices of the U

Supreme Court, 1900 to the Present

F: Party Control of Congress, 1900 to the Present

G: Spanish Equivalents for Important Terms in American Government

Glossary