AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY: THE ESSENTIALS 2009-2010 EDITION inspires readers to join the exciting process of being active, informed citizens. Bardes, Shelley, and Schmidt provide an unbiased and concisely organized overview of this essential subject, updated with complete Election 2008 coverage and wholly redesigned for even greater reader appeal. The text's fundamental theme continues to be the importance of participating in active citizenship. To reinforce this theme, the text emphasizes continual critical thinking about political issues and encourages readers to become involved in the political process. The authors incorporate abundant current examples, including increased coverage of the impact of the Internet and other media, to stimulate learning and excitement.

Table of Contents

Part I: THE AMERICAN SYSTEM. 1. The Democratic Republic. 2. The Constitution. 3. Federalism. Part II: CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES. 4. Civil Liberties. 5. Civil Rights. Part III: PEOPLE AND POLITICS. 6. Public Opinion and Political Socialization. 7. Interest Groups. 8. Political Parties. 9. Campaigns, Elections, and the Media. Part IV: POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 10. The Congress. 11. The Presidency. 12. The Bureaucracy. 13. The Judiciary. Part V: PUBLIC POLICY. 14. Domestic and Economic Policy. 15. Foreign and Defense Policy. Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence. Appendix B: How to Read Case Citations and Find Court Decisions. Appendix C: Presidents of the United States. Appendix D: Federalist Papers No. 10, No. 51, and No. 78. Appendix E: Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, 1900 to the Present. Appendix F: Party Control of Congress, 1900 to the Present. Appendix G: Spanish Equivalents for Important Terms in American Government. Glossary. Index.