Understanding American Government - Hardcover

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

2.86

22 ratings by Goodreads

9780495568391: Understanding American Government

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0495568392 ISBN 13: 9780495568391

Publisher: Cengage Learning, 2009

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A fascinating, provocative read, UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN GOVERNMENT gives you an inside look at the American political system and how the government works. You'll read about 2008 election controversies, ethical choices, diversity issues, and more--all important information that you will need throughout your life as an involved voter and citizen.

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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:

"It is the best American government textbook I have ever encountered. Since I have at least 80 students per year, and sometimes as many 160, I have had many other publishers send me examination copies. None have matched the strengths of UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN GOVERNMENT."

"The text is rigorous and does not cut corners on presenting the nuances and complexities of the concepts and issues being presented."

"It is an exceptional textbook on American national government and one that I believe would be of great value to the student taking a course in this subject. It is exceptionally well-written, comprehensive, incorporates not only traditional material included in an American government textbook but also incorporates this material with current issues and promotes critical thinking in the student. In my opinion, this book could not only serve as a textbook for a course but be a valuable reference book that a student could use long after the formal course is over. It highlights the dynamics of government, the issues of the basic belief in the American democratic system while raising the important questions of legitimacy and the need for participation by the student in the future. I would highly recommend this book and think it would meet and exceed the expectations of both an instructor and student."

"I commend some of the photos for the candor by which they address difficult issues that need to be addressed and are avoided in other textbooks. This material prompts course discussion about the difficult issues and events in American national government but, at times, the best way to address American government and democracy is to deal with those that are the most difficult and highlight some of the most difficult periods in government--the slave ship, the photograph of immigration in New York City, Founding Mothers, Prohibition, and the Depression. . . . It is the first text I have seen that not only deals exceptionally with the written material presented but uses graphic illustrations to reinforce the written material and make the subject matter both interesting and relevant to the student."

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