Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy

With an emphasis on public policy, and through the use of its resonant "politics matters" theme, Government in America, Brief Ninth Edition, illustrates the impact that government has on the daily lives of each and every American, motivates students to become active participants in all aspects of our political system, and overcomes apathy toward American government. The Brief Ninth Edition contains all the information included in the comprehensive version, in a more compact form for ease of use. New to this edition: A new boxed feature entitled "A Generation of Change" appears in every chapter and provides students with insight into how various aspects of American politics have changed dramatically over the course of their lifetime. Some examples of "A Generation of Change" include the declining viewership of network news broadcasts; realignment in the South; and the increase in polarization of Democratic and Republican voters. A new section on political culture in Chapter 1 covers five key elements of the American creed: liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, laissez-faire, and populism. Because these concepts are integrated throughout the chapters, discussing them early provides students with a strong foundation on which to build their understanding. In addition, the authors cover the current debate over whether American politics is experiencing a culture war. This Ninth Edition was completely revised to include coverage of the 2006 midterm elections, the war on terrorism, how cable news channels transmit political content, as well as the impact of the Internet on politics, and much more. Longman's MyPoliSciLab for American Government is a state-of-the-art, interactive, online solution for the course offered within a course management system or as a stand-alone website. Course management systems include CourseCompass, WebCT, and Blackboard. This unsurpassed online tool offers students over 100 interactive exercises (such as simulations, timelines, comparative exercises, and more), assessment tools, hourly news updates, debate and roundtable videos, weekly polls, and more-all integrated with an online E-book so students can assess, review, and improve their understanding of the concepts within the chapters. Available at no additional charge when an access card is ordered bundled with a new copy of this text. Book jacket.