Elazar is a bit dated to present as useful fact (14.2) Many Supreme Court Justices do not regard the Court systems as the guardians of individual rights, but reserve this right to Congressthe Court, in their eyes, is there only to enforce laws that are made, whether right or wrong, so long as they are strictly in concordance with the Constitution. The beginning of each module clearly identifies the learning objectives and is organized in such a way that it can be assigned at any point within the course as the instructor sees fit. al consideration. . Many varied examples and leaders are highlighted. 1. I did not find the book cultural insensitive. Our School" Reopening Plan; Daily Bulletin; S3 Grant; Principal's Message; Mission & Vision Statement; Bell Schedule; Contact Us; Policies & Procedures; . This is a very impressive work, and I will most certainly adopt this book. have even added very impressive policy chapters (domestic and foreign) that you only see on occasion. First President of the United States. 13-23) A. United States government : democracy in action by Remy, Richard C; Congressional Quarterly, inc. Modularity in this textbook is handled well. There is no unifying logic, but the lack of this epistemological perspective is one strength of the book. The text will be accessible to students. Particularly appropriate for an undergraduate audience. Sixth, from pp. The text interface is good. To expect of our students to readily pursue this extent of "Notes" is excessive, and the opposite effect I suggest occurs, namely a sense of being overwhelmed by such extra content.This is in my opinion too much to expect of our students. I don't think that would be a problem here, because the chapters are for the most part logically defined and pretty self-contained. The book covers all of the basic components of American government. Customize the learning experience for differentiated instruction using leveled reading, customizable assessments and worksheets, and flexible online learning tools. I would not consider this to be a fatal flaw by any means, but one of the advantages of a digital text is that these types of updates are easier to make. 7. The content is very up-to-date and includes/examines relevant current issues. al have done so in this text. Democracy and government, the U.S. political system, elected officials and governmental institutions Americans are generally positive about the way democracy is working in the United States. The text contains no grammatical errors of any significance. Using a free text ensures that all students will HAVE the book, which has been a problem for me in recent years with 'standard' texts. United States Government: Our Democracy (2016) Publisher: McGraw-Hill . The text is free from interface issues as it was easy to read and navigate, and the graphics displayed properly. The textbook content is clearly organized into sensible modules. In doing so, the approach seeks to provide instructors with ample opportunities to open discussions, extend and update concepts, and drive deeper engagement. I found no problem with navigating the text. Would hope a new edition will be forthcoming over the next year or so? The text then moves through its substantive topics in a coherent manner with useful transitions between topics. It was supplemented by a survey conducted March 7-14 among 1,466 adults on landlines and cellphones. There isnt much to say here. Gerrymandering and redistricting is continually evolving. The text is very culturally sensitive and I see no cultural offensiveness. American Government 3ealigns with the topics and objectives of many government courses. The text is particularly impressive with its section on "Equal Protection for Other Groups" as it provides an exceptional overview of the challenges many groups have faced in the United States with thoughtful explanations of landmark Supreme Court cases and legislation impacting the struggle for civil rights. We have stopped printing many old products, but we might have some stock in our warehouse. This text had no major interface issues. Its designed with the C3 Framework for social studies in mind. I like the text's thematic emphasis on student participation. For example, the term latent opinion comes up in the introductory chapter. It provides an effective index as well as a glossary of key terms at the end of each chapter. While the textbook references race, ethnicity, gender, and other identities in expected chapters like Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, and even the Media, overall the textbook offers a limited approach to identity politics in the context of American politics and government. The chapter summaries, quizzes, the suggestions for extra activities in particular are useful. No obvious grammatical errors that I noticed. Reading and writing support such as guided notes, vocabulary pop-ups, and graphic organizers help improve understanding of the content. I mentioned this earlier, but I think it is important to have the chapters presented in a different order. democracy, literally, rule by the people. The book covers all the main topics that good introductory American Government textbooks typically cover and also includes chapters on topics that are not covered in detail in many textbooks. The book's content is accurate. The topics are presented in a logical and clear fashion. For their effort and expertise, I commend them and those who have supported this project. The text does a good job of covering the standard content (governments, federalism, civil rights, separation of powers, media, etc.). The writing is clear and accessible to an introductory-level undergraduate reader. The text does not contain any grammatical errors. The book was not culturally insensitive or offensive. In fact, I would critique the text somewhat in the other direction, there are a few points where important related ideas are broken into different subsections. There's A LOT of flexibility with the text content. Reviewed by Charles Young, Associate Professor, Umpqua Community College on 2/8/17, I am impressed with the comprehensiveness of the textbook. Fifth, Page 338 discusses the Electoral College as the reason for a two-party system, but the explanation given does not explain why the Electoral College is one of the main reasons why there is an entrenched two-party system. I do think that some modules could be combined, but for the most part the author accomplishes this well. I found the textbook culturally sensitive and in no way offensive. 33. Those items in chapter 8 are among my favorites. A chapter on State and Local government is also included as a useful addition. Yes, the book is internally consistent in terms of its discussion and its presentation of information. And finally, it contains both sections on individual rights and liberties as well as policy and bureaucracy. But at the mass level most Tea Party identifiers are Republicans, and in Congress the vast majority of Tea Party sympathizers (perhaps all) are Republicans. See the License and About pages for more details, as linked below. The chapters are well organized and reader friendly. I find this a potentially helpful framework to shape my courses. At the same time, I should point out that, at least in my view, the book is organized in an unconventional way. While the examples could become outdated, the issues used have been relevant for a long period of time. The foundational building blocks of the republic that are provided are similar to the last two textbooks I used (We the People & By the People) and for that matter correspond to the textbook I myself used over thirty years ago in my Intro course which I still refer to in the classroom. The chapters, at more than thirty pages are relatively long for some students so all of the material within a chapter may not be read. Its framework is solid. The text was clear and devoid of any unnecessary jargon. The order in which I present material in the course varies from the order in which chapters are presented in the text, but I have experienced few difficulties in subdividing chapters and assigning them in the order needed to support teaching. I did not see anything that I would say is not accurate, as much as a couple items that need to be updated, but that is discussed below. In particular, the text's chapters on interest groups and bureaucracy could be kept separated or recombined to provide instruction, as necessary, on the topic of public policy. Only 2 left in stock - order soon. I did not see any grammatical errors while doing so. 3. Examples used are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and gender. That said, there are areas where the text is quite brief and doesn't provide terribly deep discussion. United States Government: Our Democracy 2016, LearnSmart Social Studies Overview Flyer. All of the topics you would expect to be covered in an American government 101 course are here: origins of our republic, institutions, individual action and collective action. Grammar is as good as one would expect from a textbook from a commercial press. Following each chapter are a glossary and comprehension/study questions. Instead the textbook chooses to avoid the high stakes conversations. No instances of cultural insensititvity. margin-bottom: 1rem !important; Chapter 2. Overall, the textbook is written in a traditional format. The process of Amending the Constitution is under developed. The language is sophisticated throughout the text. Otherwise, I find the content accurate, sufficiently in depth, and excellent. Learning objectives are clearly identified for each unit, and each unit concludes with a concise summary of main points followed by multiple-choice and short answer questions. The textbook does not include much But the book helpfully highly new and key phrases, and uses plentiful figures and sidebars to improve clarity. The importance of this issue reflects so much for students about the goals of those at the convention and the individuals who ratified the document, coupled with the impact this very high hurdle for change has had on governing in America, leads me to believe that students need more time with this material and a further discussion of the impact that Article V has had. Electoral case studies provide for a story within a history. And while all the topic areas you would anticipate are present, the structure is different. The supplementary material within each chapter/section like Finding Middle Ground and Milestone can be an effective tool for the instructor to use for additional student engagement or an activity as such go deeper into a particular concept than mere text can. I reviewed the book for about 3 hours, and I could probably spend another 3 hours finding other "issues." The material is generally laid out in a straightforward fashion that should make sense to the reader. The first unit of the text ('Students and the System') outlines the necessary historical context without getting too bogged down in general introduction. You'll learn how the men who created the U.S. Constitution set up a structure of government intended to stand the test of time, and how the compromises they made left some questions unresolved that continue to be debated today. In the pages that follow you will find information to help you better understand how the machinery of . I found the book to be clear and precise in its discussions and presentation of material. Reviewed by Robert Asaadi, Instructor, Portland State University on 2/22/22, The work provides a comprehensive overview of both the formal and informal political institutions that one would expect to find in an introductory-level American Government text. This isn't physics, it's politics. read more. Of course the book's "longevity" is not likely to be long just because of the nature of the subject matter. Analysis of political institutions is well-balanced with substantial attention to the role of the individual and collective action. pdf: Download File. Overall the organization is quite good. The text covers all areas that one would expect from an introduction to American Government textbook. .nav-contain-highered p{ I plan to regularly assign these items to use in discussion and written work. I think that's important to show that most of the world's nations do operate with a democratic framework. I do wish there was a bit more of a unified explanatory framework that was used throughout the chapters, though. The reader benefits from content that is organized in a fashion that is both comprehensible and predictable. Use it to preview online test questions or print for paper and pencil tests. I would have preferred more of this, but the book was adequate in this regard. Might be using this text in the spring of 2020, Reviewed by Amedee George, Professor, SUNO on 4/23/19, The chapters in the Kurtz et al e-book covers all relevant chapters of American Government and even offers chapters on Foreign policy, Domestic policy and State and Local government. The "finding a middle ground" boxes are a neat idea, particularly in the context of an increasingly polarized country. The figure icon needs to be fixed or dropped. However, there were some paragraphs, that were a bit wordy and I am concerned that at times the author may lose the student due to this wordiness. Students and the System 2. My experience is that a significant number of my students will not read/fully comprehend a 30-40 page chapter at one pass. Those that do work, can take the reader away from the book and you can not hit the go back button. I like the fact that the authors attempt to present both sides in discussing problems and issues which contributes to an unbias pr I didnt have any difficulty navigating the book. Has good index. The book is well laid out and uses terminology consistent throughout the chapters. The text was easily navigable and the Index, search function, and drop-down menus in the Table of Contents functioned seamlessly. The Foundations of Geopolitics: The Geopolitical Future of Russia is a geopolitical book by Aleksandr Dugin. 334-335). If anything, the text may be a bit on the long side. US Government Textbook . By the standards of Introduction to American Politics textbooks, this is a comprehensive offering. My only critique here is substantial amounts of white space following some images which may distract the reader. I also very much like the end of the chapter contents. It follows the standard layout of American Government textbooks and offers an effective and easily searchable index. This textbook is perfect for my American government course that I teach to undergraduates at the community college level. The textbooks language is not as direct and as appealing to the pedagogical style of this new generation of students. 11th Amendment: Grants states immunity from outside lawsuits, 1795. . Do you need help? I really liked the authors writing style. have even added very impressive policy chapters (domestic and foreign) that you only see on occasion. This is an excellent and comprehensive American Government textbook. These gaps give the impression that the text has not been properly edited to make sure that text and images are combined the best possible way. No Rating Yet Discover. The book does a nice job of acknowledging racial injustice at the time of the American founding, including the Three-Fifths Compromise, as well as the importance of the Civil War Amendments in beginning to correct those wrongs (p. 63). A chapter on State and Local government is also included as a useful addition. Perhaps the next addition could include an index listing the section number of those various tools to make it easier for students to find. The use of the Electoral College and same-sex marriage across chapters are examples that I found useful in this regard. The online Student Learning Center And sections on the actually branches of government come near the end. Present the electoral information in tables and use the 2016 election as a case study. The presentation of the material lends itself to be easily modified to accommodate changes in the political sphere. There are questions and glossary words at the end of each chapter to help clarify issues. While I am echoing this notion from a previous review, I did find it to be true that Kurtz et al. By avoiding the topics and the conversations, the text is not allowing students to civically engage in discussions and learning. The charts, graphs and figures are well done and supplement the content. Toward Collective Action: Mediating Institutions, Delivering Collective Action: Formal Institutions. I repeat that the textbook content is well written. Other similar books dive too deeply for my purposes into the minutiae of government without providing concepts or making those concepts too academic sounding. There is much more in this book than I could use in a term, so I would select portions of the chapters. Concerns: Textbook lacks yearly/semester pacing guide, limited ability to edit teacher resources . Reviewed by Nicholas Pyeatt, Associate Professor of Political Science, Penn State, Altoona on 2/1/18, The book is very comprehensive. That said, those places were few and far between. Please read our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice before you explore our Web site. This text will only need updates in the area of the presidency, public policy, and possibly elections. This is not a pervasive problem, however but an occasional one. There could be more treatment of the concept of power in the beginning of the book. While I am generally unfamiliar with how open-resource textbooks are supposed to be ideally positioned, the book provides excellent navigational tools on the left side of the bar that made it easy for me to find what I wanted. The modularity is effective, though the order of the contents is the order I've been using for years, so I wouldn't have to make any changes.. This text covers nearly all of the major topics covered in American Government texts. The text is consistent in its use of terminology. Have used it this semester in 2 sections of my intro Am Gov class with no student complaints. Images and charts that are presented are not distractions at all, most of the time they are enhancements of the chapters. The division of provisions of the Bill of Rights into three categories is arguable at best. The unit heading probably need more explanation and their rationale for selecting the chapters under each unit topic spelled out. The textbook provides for a comprehensive overview of American Government. I find first and second year college students (the levels I teach) have limited attention spans with regard dense text no matter how articulately written. Would grade this as 4.5 if possible. For example, while Federalism (Chapter 3) is included in the "Students and the System" section, State and Local Government comes much later in the book (Chapter 14, in the "Formal Institutions" section). The 'Insider Perspective' sections in each chapter reflect this in their profiles of diverse individuals. I suspect students will read the chapters as rather lengthy. Reviewed by Wayne Jones, Assistant Professor, Virginia State University on 6/20/17, American Government is a very comprehensive textbook. The way the book is organized makes a lot of sense. I can definitely see the advantage of having them all in one place. I reviewed several chapters for discussion areas that students often time find difficult to understand due to the terminology used, such as federalism, civil liberties, civil rights and bureaucracies. Thought/theory/philosophy explained while discussing history of government. For example I like to group Congress and Interest Groups together, the Presidency and Political Parties, and Civil Rights and Civil Liberties with the Judiciary. The book does a nice job of bringing in gender concerns throughout the text, as well. Much of your textbook is solid, such as Chapter 8 on the Media. As clearly noted, I found far more to like about the text than not. Reviewed by Robert Perry, Chair, Department of Social Sciences, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin on 6/19/18, Very well done. The book is competently written and produced. Chapter 2: The Origins of American Government SyncBlasts:Online SyncBlasts permit teachers to leverage rich, multi-media reading and writing assignments focused on social studies and current event articles. It is only mentioned in the chapter on civil rights. The text is a fully integrated print-digital solution for students and teachers. The text effectively frames controversial topics in American politics and the reader does not come away with the impression that the author's are putting their thumbs on the scale in favor of a particular interpretation or political ideology. Us Government Democracy In Action Teachers 2000. For example, reelection rates to Congress stops at 2014. This is tricky, as some American politics textbooks emerge from an activist mentality of pointing out howfor lack of a better termmessed up American culture can be. The topics seem to be organized in a clear, logical fashion, with no jarring transitions. In addition, there are charts, visual aids, and extension activities to expand and complement the text. Additional sections within a chapter or sub-sections within a section and/or more topic headings could break up the volume of information into smaller chunks for the reader, especially one who may have distractions present. It is difficult to be so comprehensive and not lose the forest for the trees at times. The United States Government Manual. The writers do have material distributed into sections of the text that are not always the best choice in my view (this could be said of any textbook). This is a well put together textbook and with periodic revisions should be useful for students of American government for many years and decades to come. read more. The font is reader-friendly; pages are uncrowded. Pretty standard for many similar texts and courses. Additionally, there are sections within each chapter that can be assigned in other courses. A menu to the left of the online textbook allows readers to quickly and efficiently navigate to another topic of the textbook. Some of the information in it is five years old and the writing does not explore clearly the theory of federalism and its evolution. Uses contemporary examples, but not in depth cases that may be needed in higher level courses. The textbook is consistent and the framework is adhered to in each chapter. The hyperlinks are effective for those who want to review the source and to learn more. On the Appendices section, I like that it includes an appendix with relevant court cases (Appendix E). One issue that does not receive a lot of direct attention is American political culture, including the values that underlie our I spent a significant amount of time reviewing and reading this textbook. Each chapter includes embedded boxes with relevant information such as insider perspectives, specific short contemporary case studies, and external links to deeper readers. Sometimes it is used in plural sense, but most often used in the singular sense. The framework of the text is internally consistent. If anything, a few additional terms could likely be added, but this is a nice feature. In other words, most of the world's countries are parliamentary, not presidential. The index is clear and useful and the chapter glossaries are Verified. It includes the entire student text along with a variety of planning and instructional support for the print and digital resources.