The Basics of American Politics / Edition 15

by Gary Wasserman

Overview

Wasserman, Gary, Wasserman's Basics of American Politics Tenth Edition *\ This brief, user-friendly introduction to American government has been a long-time favorite because of its lively, no-nonsense approach to the core topics in the course. Using a dynamic game metaphor, the book covers 4 governmental and 4 non-governmental "players," as well as the constitutional "rules of the game." It ends by examining rival theories on who wins and who loses in the American political system. Written in a way that engages readers and offers them great flexibility, Wasserman's book covers all the requisite topics and focuses on current debates in politics. In under 300 pages, the reader will learn what they need to know and like it. For those interested in American politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780133815436
Publisher:	Pearson
Publication date:	07/25/2014
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Gary Wasserman has shaped a career in teaching, public service, political consulting, and writing. He recently wrote The Doha Experiment about his eight years as a Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar. He now lives in Portland, Oregon.

Elliott Fullmer is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. He is the author of two recent books, Tuesday’s Gone: America’s Early Voting Revolution and Everyone’s Democracy. His research on elections and voting behavior has also appeared in Presidential Studies Quarterly, American Politics Research, Election Law Journal, and other outlets.

Table of Contents

1. What is Politics?

2. The Constitution: Rules of the Game.

3. The Executive Branch: The Presidency and the Bureaucracy.

4. The Legislative Branch: Congress.

5. The Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court and the Federal Court System.

6. Civil Rights and Liberties: Protecting the Players.

7. Voters and Political Parties.

8. Interest Groups and the Media.

9. Who Wins, Who Loses: Pluralism Versus Elitism.

Appendix: The Declaration of Independence.

Appendix: The Constitution of the United States

Glossary.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Basics of American Politics, 17^th edition

Wasserman and Fullmer have updated a classic American politics introductory textbook and made it as relevant as today's headlines. It introduces key concepts, and just as importantly, it asks students to use these concepts to consider the important issues involved in promoting and defending constitutional democratic governance. Its writing is crisp, its pedagogy helpful, and its coverage authoritative. For almost half a century this book has set the standard for accessible introductory texts, and this edition raises the bar.

Richard M. Pious, Barnard College and Columbia University

This brief and affordable text not only gives students the essential information they need to understand American politics, but also makes politics come alive with case studies on marijuana and federalism, race and the courts, and gun control and Congress.

Clyde Wilcox, Georgetown University

From the Publisher