Understanding American Government, Alternate Edition - Softcover

Welch, Susan; Gruhl, John; Comer, John; Rigdon, Susan M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0495098728 ISBN 13: 9780495098720

Publisher: Cengage Learning, 2007

Synopsis

Written by authors who have won numerous awards for their research and writing on women and minority issues in American Government, this textbook offers an inclusive view of participants in the American political system. From this book, you will not only learn how government works but you will move on to the more controversial aspects of government, being exposed to actual people and experiences of government in action through the You Are There feature that opens each chapter, the suggested film lists at the ends the chapters, and the online exercises that support and enhance concepts found throughout the text.

About this title

About the Author:

Susan Welch received her AB and PhD degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Professor of Political Science at The Pennsylvania State University. Her teaching and research areas include legislatures, urban politics, and women and minorities in politics. She publishes widely on issues of race, gender, and urban politics.

Review:

"This book has played an enormously important role in my teaching.... Understanding American Government is without a doubt the best text... on race, ethnicity and gender in American politics.... I think the book offers analysis that is not seen in other textbooks."

"I have used quite a few different texts for American Government. I feel that your text reaches students and keeps them interested; there is a freshness and even at times an "edginess" that is suited to the college student."

"Welch does an excellent job at the end of every chapter in helping students to clearly understand the ways in which the American political system is and is not responsive--and to whom it is and is not particularly responsive."

"Welch provides a clear perspective throughout each chapter nicely summarized in the last section of each chapter, but leaves it up to the student to decide if that part of the political system or that policy reflects more of one kind of democracy than another--or little democracy at all. That is the beauty of Welch--"

"Welch is my pick because it is relatively clear and easy to read without being "dumbed down". It strikes a balance between modern pedagogy and old-fashioned intellectual rigor. It also avoids a sharply intrusive viewpoint without lapsing into the cold self-consciously "neutral" posture of books that are really just a bit conservative without saying so."

About this edition

• Publisher: Cengage Learning
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0495098728
• ISBN 13: 9780495098720
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 649