Does the U.S. Two-Party System Still Work? (At Issue) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0737746459 ISBN 13: 9780737746457

Publisher: Greenhaven Publishing, 2010

Synopsis

The increasing volatility in American politics often leads many people to wonder if the two-party system is still a viable, and healthy, part of the political process. Directly supporting key Social Studies curriculum and political science studies, this informative anthology tackles the many questions related to the two-party system in America. Readers are presented with essays and articles that expand upon topics such as third-party campaigns, the electoral college, and gerrymandering.

About this title

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up—Using the popular series format, these books discuss some of the most controversial issues of the contemporary American political scene, with some overlap in coverage. Two-Party System discusses the extreme polarization of American politics, the promise and perils of third parties, changes to the Electoral College, gerrymandering, and the overuse of the filibuster in the Senate. Campaigns is the more comprehensive title, examining problems and proposals for reform, redistricting and gerrymandering, and the rapid growth of Internet operations to build campaign support and raise funds. It includes reproductions of political cartoons, sidebars about related topics, and discussion questions. Both volumes draw on excerpts from books and periodical articles, and as usual with the format, differing opinions are well represented and given equal weight. While these titles are certainly timely, the topics have been exhaustively covered in electronic and print media. Many of the readings are drawn from those sources and are widely available. Additionally, the books often veer into arcane details of campaign financing, redistricting, and Electoral College reform and fail to give students a much-needed historical perspective that would better inform their understanding of the underlying issues. Most students would be better served by more general overviews of American campaigns, such as Kathiann M. Kowalski's Campaign Politics: What's Fair? What's Fowl? (Lerner, 2000), making both of these titles supplemental choices for libraries that need detail-rich research materials (such as for debate preparation) on American politics.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO
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Edition details

• Publisher: Greenhaven Publishing
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0737746459
• ISBN 13: 9780737746457
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 97
• Editor: Berlatsky Noah