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American Government and Politics Today : The Essentials 2004-05 - With CD
American Government and Politics Today The Essentials 200405 With CD Author:Barbara A. Bardes, Shelley, Schmidt American Government and Politics Interactive series — 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 renowne... more »d 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.
New to the Edition
Updated and new material includes discussion of the new tax rates, the WTO and China, the growing public debt, 9/11, terrorism, military tribunals, the rising nuclear threat, chemical and biological weapons and warfare, China and U.S. relations, affirmative action, new court cases, new laws, and analysis of the 2000 elections and the Bush presidency.
"Elections 2002" sections highlight the elections (including their outcomes), discussing both their immediate and long-term impact on American government and politics.
"America's Security" boxes relate to global and domestic issues. These end with "For Critical Analysis" sections that stimulate discussion and thought. Examples include "Networks and Netwars" (Chapter 1), "Big Brother Can Recognize You--Biometrics Is Now a Reality" (Chapter 2), and "Chipping Away at State Police Power" (Chapter 3).
Chapter ending "Why is it Important Today?" sections conclude the chapter and bring relevance to the student. Examples include: "Federalism: Why is it Important Today?" (Chapter 3).
Additional novels and films have been added to the "Selected Print and Electronic Resources" section in this edition.
A NEW interactive CD-ROM is packaged free with every new copy of this text. For an interactive learning experience, the CD-ROM features the entire text in electronic format, with each chapter containing the following integrated features; animated figures, simulations, video clips, a MicroCase Exercise, internet activities, InfoTrac exercises, participation exercises, public opinion data, hot links, and additional resources such as speeches, inaugural addresses, court cases, Federalist Paper.
End of chapter "Your CD-ROM Resources" lists the added resources on the CD-ROM for easy reference.
Features
"What If?" features elicit the reader's interest at the beginning of every chapter. These include "What If?" The States Were Responsible for Homeland Defense?" (Chapter 3) and "What if...You Had to Carry a National Identification Card?" (Chapter 4).
"Which Side Are You On?" features present both sides of a controversial issue and conclude with a "What's Your Position?" section that indicates how the outcome of a given debate or issue may affect the individual or reader. URLs are provided for further research. Examples include "Should States Have the Right to Permit Assisted Suicide?" (Chapter 3) and "Should the Founders Have Banned Slavery Outright?" (Chapter 2).
"Making a Difference" boxed features help students understand government by encouraging them to participate. Every chapter concludes with suggestions on how to get involved in the system.
"Logging On" sections conclude each chapter and show students how to use the Internet to do research. Following each "Logging On" is an Internet Exercise that shows students how to use the Internet for political analysis.
Comparative international coverage is integrated into most chapters through the "Global View" feature. Examples include "Personal Values and Political Culture" (Chapter 1) and "How Other Countries Deal with the Threat of Terrorism" (Chapter 4).
"E-mocracy" boxes at the end of each chapter show the impact of the Internet on politics, political parties, and interest groups. Students will be stimulated by topics that include "Connecting to American Government and Politics" (Chapter 1) and "Your Federal, State, and Local Governments Are Available at a Click of Your Mouse" (Chapter 3).
Pedagogy includes marginal definitions of key terms, end of chapter material also including key terms, chapter summaries, selected print and electronic resources, E-mocracy, using the Internet for political analysis, and Your CD Resources (lists all CD content and resources for the chapter).
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.S. Supreme Court, 1900 to the Present.
F: Party Control of Congress, 1900 to the Present.
G: Spanish Equivalents for Important Terms in American Government.