Faultlines: Debating the Issues in American Politics

This issues-debate reader encourages critical thinking by adopting a point-counterpoint approach.

In each chapter, two or more readings present opposing perspectives on contemporary political issues, such as immigration and what it means to be an American, domestic surveillance, medical marijuana, assisted suicide, and the growing gap between America’s rich and poor. Over 60% of the readings are new to this edition, and all the readings address issues of major importance in American politics today. Each set of readings is preceded by an introduction that puts the essays into a broader political context and is followed by discussion questions that help prompt debate.

David T. Canon is professor and department chair of political science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His teaching and research interests focus on American political institutions, especially Congress, and racial representation. He is the author of Actors, Athletes, and Astronauts: Political Amateurs in the United States Congress; Race, Redistricting, and Representation: The Unintended Consequences of Black Majority Districts (winner of the Richard F. Fenno Prize); The Dysfunctional Congress? (with Kenneth Mayer); and various articles and book chapters. He served a term as the Congress editor of Legislative Studies Quarterly. He is an AP consultant and has taught in the University of Wisconsin AP Summer Institute for U.S. Government and Politics since 1997. Professor Canon is the recipient of a University of Wisconsin Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award.

John J. Coleman is dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of political science at the University of Minnesota. His teaching and research interests are in the evolution of the American state and the relationship between changes in the political economy of the United States and its party structure.

Kenneth R. Mayer is professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His teaching and research interests focus on American political institutions, especially Congress, the Presidency, and defense policy.