Publisher's Synopsis
In this book, two accomplished scholars have compiled a comprehensive and intriguing selection of readings that explore various facets of the most important topics in American Government. The readings raise broad normative questions about the fundamental nature of American government and politics, and display a variety of political scientists, historians, journalists, and other professionals at work analyzing our political system.
The reader is structured to parallel the organization of a typical introductory course in American Government or a textbook used in such a course. First, the selections set the constitutional and federal context for the entire American system of government, then address the impact of public opinion, the media, political parties, elections, and interest groups on the way our government deals with public problems and, finally, explore the basic institutions: Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the judiciary. The editors have assembled a group of readings that are well-written and succinctly edited, and their chapter introductions weave together the differing perspectives of the selections and add information and interpretations to make this reader uniquely comprehensive and accessible.
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