American government: Political development and institutional change

To gain a fuller understanding of American politics today, students need to learn how it has evolved, from its founding principles to its contemporary practices. Such a perspective is crucial for making sense of the strategic and ideological battles in twenty-first century American politics. Cal Jillson’s American Government: Political Development and Institutional Change fosters this understanding by providing insights into how institutions, avenues of participation, and policies have changed over time to produce today’s political environment in the United States. Going one step further, Jillson homes in on the critical question of how American democracy might work better, focusing in every chapter on reform and change into the future.
These revisions make the sixth edition better than ever:
* New chapter opening vignettes emphasizing the Constitution and how it both structures political change and is continually reinterpreted
* Separate chapters for civil liberties and civil rights, each subject receiving a fuller treatment than in previous editions
* Updates throughout to reflect the 2010 midterm elections
* Coverage of President Obama’s first two years in office