Governing is a challenging activity and was not meant to be easy. In the American republic, the struggle to find common ground is a constant challenge. The making of the Constitution and its structured conflicts between the states and the national government along with the establishment of political parties have triggered conflict in the United States for two and a quarter centuries. Considering American Government: A Reader, by Lydia M. Andrade and James W. Riddlesperger Jr, attempts to position struggle and competition in a contemporary context. Considering American Government: A Reader describes: The political environment which lays the foundations for governance, including building society on shared values that both define and limit decisions Elements of institutions that connect Americans with their government, including public opinion, political parties and elections, and interest groups The making of public policy, which involves spending our money, regulating our behavior, providing services and in the case of military members or first responders, and risking one's own safety for the survival of the system