Political Science

This brief, straight-forward introduction to American government has been a long-time student favorite because of its lively and no-nonsense approach to the basics and its continued inexpensive price.

Using a dynamic game metaphor, the text covers four governmental and four nongovernmental “players,” as well as the constitutional and civil liberties “rules of the game.”   It begins by defining politics and finding it in an unusual place—the classroom. It ends by examining rival theories of who wins and who loses in American politics. Written to engage students and lay a flexible foundation for instructors, The Basics of American Politics covers all the needed terms and topics behind the current news.

• The extreme brevity and inexpensive price of this book makes it an excellent choice for instructors who want to use other material—articles, readers, novels—in their course, but also ensure that the class ‘gets’ the basics.
• Completely updated through Election 2004 and its aftermath, the heated partisan divisions both here and abroad, a new case study on Howard Dean’s innovative use of the Internet, the use and avoidance of the new campaign reform law, the rise of big money and 527 groups, the role of late-night TV comics, and the impact of the elections on the presidency, congress and the political parties.
• Fresh accounts of national security issues since September 11, 2001 focusing on the presidency, congress and media.   National security issues are reflected in conflicting media images of the war in Iraq, a Marine’s view of embedded reporters, the White House spin on damaging intelligence revelations and Congress’s dependence on the executive in wartime.
• Civil Liberties and Terrorism bring to life the continuing tension within the government and public opinion on the proper balance between prosecuting terrorism and protecting liberties.   A case study looks at the courts guarding these liberties in terrorist cases, and Congress’s debate over the Patriot Act.
• Boxed stories present engaging anecdotes and promote critical thinking—including President Bush’s Unconservative Approach to Federalism; The Revival of Affirmative Action in the University of Michigan Case; The Presidential Leadership Style on Iraq; Nasty Behavior on the Hill; Redistricting: the Incumbent Protection Racket; and Free Speech Bake Sales on Campus.
• More emphasis on lobbying: The text looks closely at the impact of lobbyists and the debate over their influence. It traces the rise in power of this much publicized actor in our political system, and the continuing importance of money in campaigning.
• Analyses of the Rehnquist Court. The text now discusses the current writings on the modern court as a guardian of federalism, involvement in affirmative action and its vigorous assertion of judicial supremacy.
• “Case Studies” in each chapter allow students to apply concepts to real-life scenarios and enhance their understanding of material.
• “Thought Questions” and “Suggested Readings” at the end of every chapter aid discussion and promote further interest in the topics discussed.
• TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGE—Free access to LongmanParticipate.com Version 3.0. LongmanParticipate.com 3.0, the most interactive and comprehensive Web site available for American government, gets students experiencing what they only read about in their textbook. The site offers five types of highly interactive, in-depth activities for every chapter in the textbook: Simulations (now over 30 simulations in all!), Visual Literacy, Timelines, Participation, and Comparative. All activities are accompanied by detailed feedback and scoring so students know how they are doing, and there are pre-and post-tests for each chapter so students can gauge their progress. Go to www.longmanparticipate.com to explore a demo of the site!

• An increased focus on the presidency: the centralizing of power in the chief executive and the role of national security in this trend; the president’s unusual approach in deciding and implementing his invasion of Iraq; and the use of political spin in handling uncomfortable revelations by the 9/11 Commission.    Once again, organizing discrete news into an overall trend helping students understand the ‘bigger picture.’
• A new case study: Blogs, Howard Dean and the 2004 Campaign discusses the impact of the Internet on presidential elections and how it may radically change how we choose political leaders. Students can be expected to relate to how their online world is drastically altering America’s political world.
• A thoroughly revised case study, Fighting Terrorism, Guarding Liberties focuses on an American born terrorist who the Supreme Court declared should have the right to a Court review of Administration charges; allows students a peek behind the scenes of judicial action.
• New boxes on the Patriot Act and privacy; affirmative action in universities; and on conservative free speech bake sales on campus illustrate to students the relevance of civil rights and liberties in their lives.
• The 2004 Elections in all their conflicted splendor—from White House spins, presidential debates and national party conventions to John Kerry’s vice presidential pick, the rise of 527 groups channeling big money back into campaigns, and the role of late-night TV comics.   All designed to give students a deeper look at the daily news.

1. What Is Politics?

2. The Constitution: Rules of the Game.

3. The Executive Branch: The Presidency and 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.

American Government  [BRIEF / ESSENTIALS TEXTS]   (Political Science)

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  Basics of American Politics, The, 13/E
  Wasserman
  ©2008 | Longman | Paper; 320 pp | Instock
  ISBN-10: 0321489160 | ISBN-13: 9780321489166
  Brief Description | Buy from myPearsonStore

  

  This brief, nuts-and-bolts introduction to American government has been a student favorite and a bestseller for over 30 years because of its lively, straight-forward approach to the basics, its brevity, and its always inexpensive price.

   

  This text uses a dynamic game metaphor to engage students in the basics of the American political system and the contact sport of politics.  Beginning with a clear definition of politics, it introduces four governmental and four nongovernmental “players” who must abide by the “rules of the game” established by the Constitution and civil liberties.  It ends by examining rival theories of who wins and who loses in American politics.  Written to engage students, and kept short to provide a flexible foundation for instructors, The Basics of American Politics covers all the terms and topics a student will need to understand the nuts-and-bolts of American government and poltics.

Companion Website, 12/E
Wasserman
©2006 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321355148 | ISBN-13: 9780321355140
URL:  http://www.ablongman.com/wasserman12e

Companion Website, 12/E
Wasserman
©2006 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321355148 | ISBN-13: 9780321355140
URL:  http://www.ablongman.com/wasserman12e

Companion Website, 12/E
Wasserman
©2006 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321355148 | ISBN-13: 9780321355140
URL:  http://www.ablongman.com/wasserman12e

Building Bridges: The Allyn & Bacon Student Guide to Service-Learning
Hamner
©2002 | Longman | Paper; 128 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205319742 | ISBN-13: 9780205319749
Buy from myPearsonStore

Classroom Response System (Download Only) for American Government
Pearson Education
©2010 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205713610 | ISBN-13: 9780205713615
  View Downloadable Files

Georgia (Longman State Politics Series), 2/E
Sewell & Walton
©2011 | Longman | Paper; 64 pp | Estimated Availability : 12/15/2010
ISBN-10: 0205734405 | ISBN-13: 9780205734405

InterWrite PRS RF (Personal Response System)
InterWrite PRS & Allyn & Bacon/Longman
©2005 | Longman | Electronic Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205436951 | ISBN-13: 9780205436958

ResearchNavigator.com Guide
Allyn & Bacon & Barr
©2007 | Longman | Paper; 48 pp | Out of Stock
ISBN-10: 020552396X | ISBN-13: 9780205523962

ResearchNavigator.com Guide
Allyn & Bacon
©2007 | Longman | Paper; 48 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205517196 | ISBN-13: 9780205517190

iClicker Classroom Response System
iClicker & Allyn & Bacon/Longman
©2008 | Longman | Electronic Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205594506 | ISBN-13: 9780205594504

American Government: Continuity and Change (Portable Version), 9/E
O'Connor & Sabato
©2008 | Longman | Paper Package; 784 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205621732 | ISBN-13: 9780205621736
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Annotated Texas Constitution for American Government: Continuity and Change (all editions)
O'Connor & Sabato
©2006 | Longman | Paper; 104 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321355334 | ISBN-13: 9780321355331

California (Longman State Politics), 7/E
Fiber
©2010 | Longman | Paper; 144 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 020567979X | ISBN-13: 9780205679799

California (Longman State Politics) (Valuepack Item Only), 6/E
Fiber
©2008 | Longman | Paper; 111 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205584047 | ISBN-13: 9780205584048

Digital Media Archive for American Government
Longman
©2005 | Longman | CD-ROM Only; 16 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321270681 | ISBN-13: 9780321270689

Florida (Longman State Politics) (Valuepack Item Only), 3/E
Gonzalez
©2008 | Longman | Paper; 70 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205584039 | ISBN-13: 9780205584031

Georgia State Politics (Longman State Politics Series) (Valuepack item only)
Sewell & Walton
©2006 | Longman | Paper; 208 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321427653 | ISBN-13: 9780321427656

Interactive Questions for American Government
Longman
©2005 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321388100 | ISBN-13: 9780321388100
  View Downloadable Files

Longman American Government Study Site (Open access)
Longman
©2008 | Longman | Website | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321479947 | ISBN-13: 9780321479945
URL:  http://www.longmanamericangovernment.com

Study Card for American Government
Longman
©2005 | Longman | Study Card; 8 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321291859 | ISBN-13: 9780321291851

Ten Things Every American Government Student Should Read, 2/E
Allyn & Bacon
©2000 | Longman | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 020528969X | ISBN-13: 9780205289691

Texas (Longman State Politics series), 6/E
St. John
©2010 | Longman | Paper; 144 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205679803 | ISBN-13: 9780205679805

Texas (Longman State Supplements) (Valuepack Item Only), 5/E
St. John
©2008 | Longman | Paper; 105 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205584020 | ISBN-13: 9780205584024

Companion Website, 12/E
Wasserman
©2006 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321355148 | ISBN-13: 9780321355140
URL:  http://www.ablongman.com/wasserman12e

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