American Government: Political Development and Institutional Change

How politics in America works today, how it got that way, and  how it’s likely to change through reform―these are the themes that  pervade every chapter of Cal Jillson’s highly lauded American Government: Political Development and Institutional Change.  Even in the midst of current challenges, America’s past is present in  all aspects of the contemporary political system. Jillson uses political  development and the dynamics of change as a thematic tool to help  students understand how politics works now―and how institutions,  participation, and policies have evolved over time to produce the  contemporary political environment. In addition, Jillson helps students  think critically about how American democracy might evolve further,  focusing in every chapter on reform and further change. 

New to the 10th Edition

• Assesses the characteristics and early results of the Trump administration.
• Covers the 2018 midterm elections and looks ahead to the 2020 presidential race.
• Explores the political and judicial fights over ballot integrity and gerrymandering.
• Examines challenges to civil liberties in the wake of Charlottesville, the Muslim ban, and NSA warrantless surveillance. 
• Discusses the MeToo movement in the context of civil rights.
• Includes important Supreme Court events and decisions including the confirmation of Justice Gorsuch.
• Presents new material on race, ethnicity, gender, and political participation, especially in the context of social media.
• Details Republican tax cuts and their likely impact on deficits and debt.
• Discusses  the Trump administration’s climate change strategy and the December  2017 National Security Strategy of the United States, looking ahead to  security challenges in Korea and the Middle East.
• Updates all data in tables and figures through the 2018 midterms.

Features

In  a streamlined presentation, Jillson delivers a concise and engaging  narrative to help students understand the complexities and importance of  American politics. Along the way, several pedagogical features foster  critical thinking and analysis: 

• Key learning objectives at the beginning of every chapter focus students on the central learning objectives.
• "The Constitution Today" chapter opening vignettes illustrate the importance of conflicting views on constitutional principles.
• Key terms are defined in the margins on the page where they appear help students study important concepts.
• Colorful figures and charts help students visualize important information. 
• "Let’s  Compare" boxes analyze how functions of government and political  participation work in other countries―now framed by new critical  thinking questions. 
• Reformatted  "Pro & Con" boxes bring to life a central debate in each chapter  and highlight competing perspectives; new discussion questions in each  box prompt students to weigh the different arguments and weigh in. 
• End-of-chapter  summaries, suggested readings, and web resources help students master  the material and guide them to further critical investigation of  important concepts and topics.