In an election year that has defied expectations, scuttled predictions, and demonstrated that “politics as usual” is often anything but, a distinctive new textbook publishes that helps students make sense of our politics and government.   This engaging new book’s unique approach emphasizes and explores causal questions in American politics.  It gives student critical thinking tools–tools pulled directly from a social scientist’s playbook–to start answering those questions, see past today’s headlines, and understand why things really happen in our political world.   In a clear, straightforward style brimming with rich, real world examples, this exciting new text not only covers the fundamentals of American government and politics in a highly accessible, engaging fashion, it arms readers with the tools to separate political fact from fiction.  Using this book, readers will develop the skills to see through the simplistic sound bites and partisan assertions they’re subjected to by the pundits and politicians.   Students reading this text will be fitted with armor against the partisan bickering and hyperbolic media coverage that causes so many of them to become cynical about politics.  They will come away from the text not only excited by political questions, but with the means to explore possible answers as more thoughtful, critical, and empowered citizens.

Product Description: ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable...read more

Product Description: ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable...read more

Product Description: ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable...read more

Product Description: ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable...read more

ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable. In addition, you may need a CourseID, provided by your instructor, to register for and use Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products.   Packages Access codes for Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products may not be included when purchasing or renting from companies other than Pearson; check with the seller before completing your purchase.   Used or rental books If you rent or purchase a used book with an access code, the access code may have been redeemed previously and you may have to purchase a new access code.   Access codes Access codes that are purchased from sellers other than Pearson carry a higher risk of being either the wrong ISBN or a previously redeemed code. Check with the seller prior to purchase.   -- Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Updated in a new 2nd edition, Understanding American Politics and Government provides students with a substantive foundation on the fundamentals of our government while enlisting them to become more discerning consumers of political information, better decision-makers and more effective citizens. Using a journalistic, example-rich narrative, this unique text schools students in the building blocks of good social science by distinguishing between the concepts of “correlation” and “causation.”   *The Brief version of this text contains abbreviated coverage of all the major topic areas*

Product Description: Updated in a new 2nd edition, Understanding American Politics and Government provides students with a substantive foundation on the fundamentals of our government while enlisting them to become more discerning consumers of political information, better decision-makers and more effective citizens...read more

Product Description: Books à la Carte are unbound, three-hole-punch versions of the textbook. This lower cost option is easy to transport and comes with same access code or media that would be packaged with the bound book.   This Package Contains: MyPoliSciLab with E-Book Student Access Code Card and Understanding American Politics and Government, Alternate Edition, Books a la Carte Edition Updated in a new 2nd edition, Understanding American Politics and Government provides students with a substantive foundation on the fundamentals of our government while enlisting them to become more discerning consumers of political information, better decision-makers and more effective citizens...read more

Product Description: This edition features the exact same content as the traditional text in a convenient, three-hole- punched, loose-leaf version. Books à la Carte also offer a great value for your students–this format costs significantly less than a new textbook...read more

Product Description: ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable...read more

Product Description: ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable...read more

Product Description: ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable...read more

Product Description: This access code card gives you access to all of MyPoliSciLab’s grade-boosting resources...PLUS a complete e-book of your textbook! MyPoliSciLab is a state-of-the-art interactive and instructive solution for introductory American government courses that combines multimedia simulations, video debates, research support, and practice tests to make learning fun!  This is the product access code card for MyPoliSciLab and does not include the actual bound book...read more

Product Description: Updated to capture the current political landscape, this book is emphasizes and explores causal questions in American Politics. It helps readers apply critical thinking tools—tools pulled directly from a social scientist’s playbook—to start answering those questions, see past today’s headlines, and understand why things really happen in our political world...read more