You have a solid editing staff doing well to ensure a good syntax throughout the book. The authors for this book have used a standard structure that will stay relevant as long as any other. The text is a fully integrated print-digital solution for students and teachers. The main framework chapters are excellent and thorough. Perhaps its status as an open textbook is one reason why it is so easy to avoid a chapter on Trumps tweets, as this is stuff that publishers vaunt as the need for new editions. On the other hand, on the divisive topic of LGBT rights, the discussion is pretty even-handed, adopting what is certainly the modal vocabulary of political science regarding these complex issues. The book is well laid out and uses terminology consistent throughout the chapters. For example, the chapter on political parties has a nice section about divided government and political polarization (section 9.4), and the chapter on Congressional representation does a nice job of recognizing both the growing diversity of Congress as well as the continued ways in which Congress is less diverse than the American public (section 11.3). Concept 1: Foundations of Government . All of the topics you would expect to be covered in an American government 101 course are here: origins of our republic, institutions, individual action and collective action. read more. United States Government Democracy in Action Student ~ United States Government Democracy in Action Student Edition GOVERNMENT IN THE 1st Edition by McGrawHill Author 43 out of 5 stars 14 ratings ISBN13 9780078799822 ISBN10 0078799821 Why is ISBN important ISBN This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book The layout is consistent for each chapter, with topic subheadings, feature boxes, links to learning, summaries and glossaries. Overall, an excellent textbook which covers the needed subject matter comprehensively. read more. United States Government: Democracy in Action. The text covers everything that an introduction to American government should. Reviewed by David Weiden, Associate Professor, Colorado State Board of Higher Education on 11/23/19, The book covers all of the basic components of American government. I found no appreciable errors in the textbook. (1) I liked the narrative on different types of government but I think that a table with the Greek classification of types of governments based on how many rule and whether they are good or bad would have clarified it better for students. The figure icon needs to be fixed or dropped. There is much more in this book than I could use in a term, so I would select portions of the chapters. The book was very culturally sensitive but more could be added throughout each chapter. Current and updated; the textbook has a wealth of information ad applicable activities. I have used this text successfully in the classroom, and students generally respond positively to it. The second edition of the text provides more than 100 substantial updates from the last two years. The word "democracy" comes from the Greek word "demos" which means "people." The word "democracy" is not used anywhere in the U.S. Constitution. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 election, and key aspects of the first-term of the Biden administration are usefully addressed in the text. I believe students prefer more than black and white words. Changes like these are expected and I do not think that this would be too difficult to do. I see no sign of bias or editorial spin from the authors. The book was not culturally insensitive or offensive. This means that pretty much every major topic you could want is in this book and all you have to do is choose which chapters you want to cover. Yes, the topics are presented in logical and clear fashion. Modularity is clearly possible in this text, although I do not think this criteria should be rated high in importance as to determining whether this is a solid textbook. I can definitely see the advantage of having them all in one place. Because of the texts design, I believe that it will be a manageable task to keep it up to date. The chapters have a mix of history, current facts and evidence along with key concepts traditional of American government texts. On the plus side, the fact that the chapters are divided into sections aids the instructor in assigning chunks of material and the reader in being able to jump to a particular section therein. LBGTQ issues were integrated in many of the chapters and this is refreshing. Customize the learning experience for differentiated instruction using leveled reading, customizable assessments and worksheets, and flexible online learning tools. The president can also send troops into battle, and nominate individuals to serve in the cabinet or on the Supreme Court. American Government 3ealigns with the topics and objectives of many government courses. . I also liked very much the "exercises" section allowing "assessment of learning." read more. This usefully guides the reader and provides the shared language and conceptual understanding necessary for more nuanced, thoughtful analysis. The fully integrated print and digital content of United States Government: Our Democracy is grounded in solid pedagogy, strong authorship, and includes a full suite of thoughtfully designed teaching and learning tools. At present, this text meets that need but it may not completely in a couple of years. US Government Textbook . .nav-contain-highered{ Furthermore, the textbook has the capacity to undergo straightforward updates, (such as to linked contents, etc.) The importance of this issue reflects so much for students about the goals of those at the convention and the individuals who ratified the document, coupled with the impact this very high hurdle for change has had on governing in America, leads me to believe that students need more time with this material and a further discussion of the impact that Article V has had. . At times, the chapters are heavy with history and not as much with theory. There are a couple other places in the text where this is noticeable. There is a good selections of "photographs.". The book's organization/structure/flow is very good. Key terms are also defined at the end of each chapter. The authors do a superb job. SyncBlasts:Online SyncBlasts permit teachers to leverage rich, multi-media reading and writing assignments focused on social studies and current event articles. Students may struggle with somewhat dated, routine examples. There seem to be problems with the formatting, though that could just be on machine, with some not converted paragraphs. Ive covered organization under clarity above, so setting this aside, the textbook is good at being consistent in its tone and content, and chapters are easy enough to utilize. I did not notice anything offensive, but the textbook could be updated in the future on the topic of transgender individuals. This edition (2016) has been eclipsed by the huge changes under Trump, but that is also true of all 'standard' texts. The Iroquois Confederacy, founded by the Great Peacemaker in 1142 1, is the oldest living participatory democracy on earth 2. I think it would be interesting to point out that when the USA had the chance to write other countries' constitutions, those new systems (Japan and West Germany) were created with parliamentary governments. A good example of such are the Continuing Challenges sections. Defining Democracy 1. The textbook is consistently outlined. Textbook solutions. Also, I was disappointed that I requested access to the instructor resources a few weeks ago, but as of the start of the semester I have still not received access. I have not noticed any internal tensions or inconsistencies within the text. 9. In addition, some of the information on the map can be confusing for students: the UK is a monarchy and a democracy; and some countries that appear as democracies are transitioning to democracy or are really autocracies. Its inclusive treatment of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds is especially evident in the texts treatment of civil rights, but it is evident in other sections of the text as well. The book covers all of the basic components of American government. Each chapter starts with basic concepts and moves discussion toward topics which need more critical thinking. Overall the book is balanced, but there are areas where things could be more even handed. I think it would be easy for me to pick and choose sections of the book to focus on and to present chapters in a customized order. This text is not culturally insensitive. Reviewed by Leo Keneally, Associate Professor, Thomas Nelson Community College on 3/29/19, The textbook covers all the essential parts of American government. American Government by Krutz and Waskiewicz is an exceptionally good textbook. I really like that a section on state and local government is included. I like to 'build' my curriculum from a variety of sources; this book could provide a foundation. I believe the entire flow of the text and ease of read would increase by ditching this method of citation and simply using end notes or foot notes. That is, of course, just one area. For example I like to group Congress and Interest Groups together, the Presidency and Political Parties, and Civil Rights and Civil Liberties with the Judiciary. In addition, there are charts, visual aids, and extension activities to expand and complement the text. This is somewhat backwards to how I teach the course in my mind. The text is divided into 5 categories. Where is the concept of deterrence? The language is accessible for students in higher education; and likely high school juniors and seniors. read more. American government textbooks, in order to stay relevant, demand frequent updates. United States Government: Our Democracy, Student Edition Hardcover full-color textbook divided into chapters and lessons, with table of contents, atlas, glossary, and index, 952 pages]. read more. Reviewed by Elsa Dias, Affiliate, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 11/1/19, The textbook provides for a comprehensive overview of American Government. Although I found having a chapter on Bureaucracy toward the end of the textbook unconventional, overall organization of the topics covered in the text are presented in a logical fashion. The text is highly relevant for students studying American government and politics today and will serve students well in subsequent years without seeming obsolete. Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s) Expansion and Reform (1801-1861) Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877) The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900) The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930) The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945) I like the "Feature Boxes" with the "Get Connected!" Offers many examples and insights to a wide variety of political views and cultures. The textbook content is clearly organized into sensible modules. This coverage emphasizes and links back to the section of the text on Civic Engagement. More textbook info. In updates to this text, it may be useful to search for more contemporary illustrations of key concepts, and this would be a relatively easy fix to implement. Surely, it would be impossible to cover all the relevant material in this book, but its format does allow the instructor to be selective about the sections within each chapter to be emphasized. The writers also relied on tons of well-referenced outside sources that can easily be reorganized and incorporated into additional units. 5. And I don't. Publication date 2003 . The text's clarity is excellent. While each citizen only has a small say, they do have some say in how the government is run and who runs the government. Uses contemporary examples, but not in depth cases that may be needed in higher level courses. The respective discussions involving each of the aforementioned groups is objective, open minded, and balanced. The president signs bills into law or vetoes them. United States Government. Equality in voting 2. This book does a much better job of bringing these groups in than some other texts I have seen. First, on page 15, in Figure 1.6, is a map illustrating different forms of government throughout the world. I think it would be very easy to pick and choose which parts of the book you would want to assign. The text is extremely consistent. Delivering Collective Action: Formal Institutions 5. In fact, Kurtz et al. The text is consistent in terms of language, organization, and overall framework. The chapter summaries, quizzes, the suggestions for extra activities in particular are useful. There are minor mistakes in some of the tables and figures, too. The "Middle Ground" feature might need to be updated as controversies change but overall this definitely a relevant textbook. The text is written in lucid prose with technical terminology highlighted, defined in the text, and listed again in a glossary. I also wish that some videos were integrated into the text as students love videos and this might help to draw them into the content even more. This is one of the pluses of this text. Chapter 8 on the Media is the best chapter I've seen on that subject. The text is easily navigated and free of any significant interface issues. Changes on the composition of the members of the elected branches are easily updated and/or can be explained in the classroom. We have stopped printing many old products, but we might have some stock in our warehouse. Instead the chapters information jumps around and the data needs organizing. Images and charts that are presented are not distractions at all, most of the time they are enhancements of the chapters. I like the "exercises" section for assessment of learning and the "glossaries." Reviewed by Gale Czerski, Adult Basic Education Instructor, Portland Community College on 6/20/17, This textbook provides a comprehensive framework for introductory American government. Understanding Economics. The textbooks language is not as direct and as appealing to the pedagogical style of this new generation of students. This article lists forms of government and political systems, according to a series of different ways of categorizing them.The systems listed are not mutually exclusive, and often have overlapping definitions. One issue that does not receive a lot of direct attention is American political culture, including the values that underlie our The authors or editors clearly made an effort to be inclusive in this chapter. As I have shared, I suggest fewer "Note" features within the already long paragraphs of content, and in fact a tightening as well of the length of the reading text. The accuracy of this text is equivalent or higher than any introductory text I am familiar with. So things will change and go out-of-date. I did not identify any issues with the accuracy of the textbook content. Technical terms are clearly explained allowing the typical college to understand unfamiliar terms/concepts. For example, p. 44. and in most of the chapters. To learn more about how the presi-dent makes important decisions and leads our nation, view the Democracy in Its review of Civil Rights and the groups fighting for their rights is one of the strongest parts of the text. One designed to be looked at online, another one that is essentially a replica of the printed version. It covers all of the major topics an introductory text should cover and a few others as well. Chapter 2: The Origins of American Government The next time I teach American politics, I will definitely use this text. For instance, right off the bat, the critique of socialism seems to take the position that socialism is inherently and entirely distinct from our system, which isnt accurate. Everything appears to be up to date, especially in the Voting and Elections chapter, with 2012 statistics and current pictures. But after that there is some latitude as to which major theme comes next. The book clearly defines all the terms and theories and in plain language for non-majors to understand. Overall, this looks like a viable option for an American government 101 course. There is a consistent pattern in terms of the major headings outlined at the beginning of the book. Yes, the book is internally consistent in terms of its discussion and its presentation of information. The book follows a relatively consistent framework for presentation throughout. However, I always start American Government with a discussion on political culture and that seems to be missing. The reading schedule is posted here by week, and the readings themselves can be found in the links below. The graphics were very well done. The text focuses on current events less than many commercial publishers' alternatives (Keeping the Republic comes to mind). The book is comprehensive in that it has everything I usually look for in an intro to American government text: - clear framing around basic theories of representation and collective action (probably less explicitly on the latter than something like the Kernell book, but on balance thats a good thing). The Declaration of Independence and parts of the Constitution are in the Appendices. Different perspectives of complex issues are presented. margin-bottom: 1rem !important; The writing is clear and error-free. The "Key terms" section at the end of each chapter is a great resource for students studying for multiple choice exams. Unlike many other textbooks, it has a separate chapter on State and Local government which I think would be useful as I found it is helpful for students to understand the New Blasts are being added regularly; Spanish language Blasts are also included. This is particularly identifiable in chapters one and two. Overall, I like the text very much. It can be said that in capitalism, government accumulates wealth and then redistributes it to citizens. China is not a socialist country; it is an oligarchic authoritarian regime. I could go on, but you have some important ones. I am impressed with the comprehensiveness of the textbook. In a couple instances such as above, they simply need to be done. Washington set precedents. Elazar is a bit dated to present as useful fact (14.2) Many Supreme Court Justices do not regard the Court systems as the guardians of individual rights, but reserve this right to Congressthe Court, in their eyes, is there only to enforce laws that are made, whether right or wrong, so long as they are strictly in concordance with the Constitution. References are balanced--not exclusively conservative or liberal--and include non-partisan resources.This text appears to be carefully edited and reviewed. The textbook follows the usual model of an American Government textbook. This provides the Media with an opportunity to fill this vacuum. } 28 . There are occasional editorial comments and examples of protests which suggest liberal criticisms of the status quo. It could easily be mistaken for a book that costs students $75, and so that fact that it is free of charge means everybody should use it. Your textbook makes no mention of Rousseau. Particularly well written is the "Approach to Foreign Policy, p. 650, especially, the "Classic Approach" and the more recent history of U.S. foreign policy.