united states government: our democracy textbook pdf

A downside of the online version is that the section, source and other links do not open in a new page, at least for me, which causes the reader to then backtrack with the effect that after a few instances some readers may not bother. They are usually a couple of paragraphs long and illustrate key concepts with practical examples followed by links to websites that have additional relevant information. The book is competently written and produced. But that seems like a limitation of this medium, not of this particular textbook. Sentence structure and grammar are excellent. Spelling, punctuation and sentence structure were also all very good. Complex ideas were synthesized inlanguage that was easy to understand. 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. For example, Chapter 1, Section 3 has a discussion on civic engagement along with colorful graphs and data pertaining to 18-29 yr olds and their political participation. read more. This is the first time that I have thoroughly reviewed an open source textbook for potential use in a course, and I was impressed by the overall quality of the book. Below are the modifiedexcerpts that are assigned to you. The chapter organization is clear, so it would be easy to teach the chapters in a different order. I plan to print around 100 pages double-sided in additional to providing the online and PDF links. If anything, the text may be a bit on the long side. Chapter 8 on the Media is the best chapter I've seen on that subject. This follows from previous comments. But the Krutz book has won back my confidence. Toward Collective Action: Mediating Institutions, Delivering Collective Action: Formal Institutions. I set up an assignment for my students to respond to a question based on the discussion in this section in an online class. It has begun. }. For instance, the many examples of LGBTQ issues like marriage was well documented and current through recent case law like Masterpiece Cakeshop. read more. The entire unmodified textbook can be accessed here on OpenStax, where you can also download a PDF, install the app, or even order a hard copy from Amazon if you desire. United States Government. In this textbook, you will find a built-in structure that helps you identify the key concept in every lesson and see it in action. Images and charts that are presented are not distractions at all, most of the time they are enhancements of the chapters. In terms of content, the textbook has all the chapters one normally expects from an introductory American Government textbook. The book seemed reasonable "inclusive", although I suppose this is pretty subjective and I'll admit to not usually judging texts on this ground. While no text does a perfect job at inclusiveness, I was impressed at the myriad examples of diverse cultural experiences incorporated throughout the text. In the table of contents, chapter 17 is titled "Chapter 17: Foreign Polict.". This is one of the pluses of this text. Thankfully, though, the chapters are easy to move around. The textbook does not include much material on current elections, but an instructor can easily add his or her own supplemental materials. It also seems like there are only answers to select questions? The book was written at a high level but not an unclear one. The book seems to presume knowledge of the concept based on preceding chapters. This means that the program can easily fit into your curriculum, no matter how high-tech or low-tech your classroom is. Independence and the Articles of Confederation. } In order to help students understand the ways that government, society, and individuals interconnect, the revision includes more examples and details regarding the lived experiences of diverse groups and communities within the United States. Reviewed by Nicholas Goedert, Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech on 6/20/17, The text is impressively comprehensive, both with respect to its range of coverage and depth of discussion of each topic. The material could easily be reorganized or covered in a different sequence at the discretion of the instructor without much disruption. While there are a few points where the text could be more concise, overall the text is well written and accessible. Also, the yellow for Saudi Arabia doesn't show up very well. American Government 2e offers a comprehensive survey of the core aspects of the US political system. United States makes some of the nation's most important decisions. The "Middle Ground" feature might need to be updated as controversies change but overall this definitely a relevant textbook. Access and customize online lesson plans and explore the library of resources. This is a difficult problem, because our history of oppression and inequality is lengthy and robust, and so where does one start? Here again I suggest that there are too many long blocks of text to read made even more so by the frequent "Note" sections expecting students to further read about key court cases. I found the insertion of bold links in the middle of the text rather distracting. Overall, it is solid and accurate. The is consistent in its use of terminology, and the frameworks that it provides are generally helpful and clear. have taken care to discuss the impact of this issues on minority populations across the many chapters, and not solely in the chapter on Civil Rights as previous texts on the subject tended to do. Understanding Economics. I have used this text this semester (fall 2017) here at Penn State Berks with good success. The text of each chapter does form a consistency. This is a welcome inclusion: Although most Americans interact far more with their state and local governments than the national government on a daily basis, historically American government courses have de-emphasized sub-national politics. I had no problems with navigation and saw no distortion of images and charts. This book uses clear language and of-the-moment context that brings the idea of government to life. One Day University presents a series of audio lectures recorded in real-time from some of the top minds in the United States. The new survey of the public's views of democracy and the political system by Pew Research Center was conducted online Jan. 29-Feb. 13 among 4,656 adults. The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework. The content of the work is accurate and unbiased. The content of the text features contemporary examples and events situated within historical and theoretical contexts. Some of the pages could use a little more color to add some pop. Grammar is as good as one would expect from a textbook from a commercial press. I mentioned this earlier, but I think it is important to have the chapters presented in a different order. The text covers the full range of standard American Government textbooks, from government and civic engagement, to civil liberties and rights to branches of government and foreign policy. The text is highly relevant for students studying American government and politics today and will serve students well in subsequent years without seeming obsolete. Unlike many other textbooks, it has a separate chapter on State and Local government which I think would be useful as I found it is helpful for students to understand the lower level governments in relation to the federal government when discussing American politics. Its inclusive treatment of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds is especially evident in the texts treatment of civil rights, but it is evident in other sections of the text as well. by. Get it as soon as Monday, Feb 20. I see no reason why that would be different with this text. I believe ample coverage of diverse viewpoints and experiences are made use of in this text. For example, what were free people color doing while such issues as Shay Rebellion and debates about military involvement in the Revolutionary War were going on . I did not find any grammatical errors in the text. The text features sophisticated and accessible prose. The text is highly segmented, which may seem overwhelming at first, but flows in a way that makes sense. This enabled some students to essentially cheat on my homework. The chapters are well organized and user friendly. While things may change quickly in American government, a lot stays the same. Reviewed by Matthew Wright, Associate Professor, American University on 2/1/18, The book is comprehensive in that it has everything I usually look for in an intro to American government text: It is only mentioned in the chapter on civil rights. Whenever the next update does occur, I would strongly suggest change the order of the paragraphs so Part 4 comes after Part 1. In terms of content, the textbook has all the chapters one normally expects from an introductory American Government textbook. The text is extremely consistent. 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. The book is available in multiple formats. This is the easiest area for remarks for this review. 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 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. I was actually surprised at the 'updatedness" of the book. Democratic backsliding in the United States is no longer a matter of speculative concern. There is a consistent pattern in terms of the major headings outlined at the beginning of the book. font-weight: 400; Also, when you click, for example, chapter 2, you cannot go directly to chapter 2, but you have to click the Intro first. read more. The 'Insider Perspective' sections in each chapter reflect this in their profiles of diverse individuals. The material offered more than meets the appropriate standard for a textbook used in a first or second year course in American Government and Politics. An example is found in Chapter 13, Section 4 in a visually appealing graphic on the timeline of the Supreme Court justices arriving at the Court. American Government by Glenn Krutz covers a lot of ground. The United States Government Manual. Back to List. So concludes a recent study by Princeton University Prof Martin Gilens and Northwestern University Prof Benjamin I Page. The concepts represented in the text also make case teaching via policy/politics news easy, even if the textbooks examples were to be stale - - which they are unlikely to be. The book's content is accurate. 1st - 10th Amendments: The Bill of Rights, 1791. 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. There were a few places where the order within the chapter was slightly distracting (the media chapter comes to mind), but this was not a major issue. The textbook includes virtually all topics that are critical to foundational course(s) in U.S. Government. No instances of cultural insensititvity. The textbook is very comprehensive with more than 650 pages of content plus appendices with relevant documents. American Government 3e aligns with the topics and objectives of many government courses. The pros and cons of government regulation of group activity (spending) are both presented accurately, and the student is asked to make their own determination. At times, the chapters are heavy with history and not as much with theory. The book also includes more whitespace than a typical textbook (e.g. The first unit of the text ('Students and the System') outlines the necessary historical context without getting too bogged down in general introduction. The language seems accessible. It is as accurate as any standard, mainstream textbook on American government. These issues are prevalent in American political and social life, and have been accentuated during the first term of President Trump. read more. The framework of the text is internally consistent. Each chapter includes embedded boxes with relevant information such as insider perspectives, specific short contemporary case studies, and external links to deeper readers. Reviewed by Leo Keneally, Associate Professor, Thomas Nelson Community College on 3/29/19, The textbook covers all the essential parts of American government. In doing so, the approach seeks to provide instructors with ample opportunities to open discussions, extend and update concepts, and drive deeper engagement. The book was not culturally insensitive or offensive. Gerrymandering and redistricting is continually evolving. Actually, I think it is. Key terms are also defined at the end of each chapter. . This is another useful function to organize student assignments around. 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. It means "rule by the people" or "sovereignty of the people". When you become a U.S. citizen, you also make these promises: give up loyalty to other countries defend the Constitution and laws of the United States obey the laws of the United States serve in the U.S. military (if needed) do important work for the nation (if needed) One of many things I like about this textbook is that it is well organized throughout. The text is free from interface issues as it was easy to read and navigate, and the graphics displayed properly. I didnt find any interface issues in this textbook. While it is rare for any textbook to be completely full of errors, there are a few more errors in this book than in my preferred American Government textbook and other leading textbooks on the topic. This organization allows instructors and students to easily reference particular sub-units of content. I like the additional chapter on State and Local Government (Chap 14). However domestic and foreign policy are rushed at the end while lobbyists and other peripheral topics enjoy a more central position. Those items in chapter 8 are among my favorites. . The charts, graphs and figures are well done and supplement the content. New Blasts are being added regularly; Spanish language Blasts are also included. This text covers nearly all of the major topics covered in American Government texts. In fact, the text compares positively with other leading texts in this regard. Reviewed by Charles Young, Associate Professor, Umpqua Community College on 2/8/17, I am impressed with the comprehensiveness of the textbook. The second edition of the text provides more than 100 substantial updates from the last two years. This text, American Government 2e by Krutz and Waskiewicz, covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately beginning with the origins of each political construct, through its evolution in America, and trends into the future. Some may view this as a benefit, as there is more room for each instructor to add their own "big story" to their courses. The definition of public opinion is probably not as accurate as it could be. Democracy 10 days 20 days Students analyze inherent tensions in American democracy between rights and freedoms and between promoting the public good and protecting individuals. The book leans more towards describing American government than explaining it, which may be fine for many instructors, especially for an introductory course. Most of the other chapters are in the 35 to 40 page range. The textbook is well-written and clear. A couple of further notes (in no order) that didn't seem to fit anywhere else: 1. These definitions are located at the end of the chapter, which is not entirely user-friendly but understandable given the format of the text. The text also does a better job than most of discussing the importance of Voter Registration in Chapter 7 (Voting and Elections), including coverage of the Voting Rights Act and Shelby County v. Holder (2013). Sometimes it is used in plural sense, but most often used in the singular sense. I wish there were more pictures though to break up the text and to enhance the reading. As a form of government, democracy has been practiced for over 2,500 years, though in different forms, such as direct democracy of the ancient Athenian The "Key terms" section at the end of each chapter is a great resource for students studying for multiple choice exams. } It is a well planned and logical progression of chapters and topics. The graphics were very well done. Sixth, from pp. I can see myself using this textbook in the future. Issues related to race, ethnicity, gender, and class are addressed in appropriate ways. I usually wind up giving the students a link to these materials on the web, so having them in the actual textbook would be a nice bonus of using this text. This is disappointing but not fatal as I can update in class using the overhead. It covers all the bases of an Introduction to American Government and then some. Second, key terms in Chapter 17 are wanting. The textbook includes many illustrations, photographs, and examples that are recent enough for students to be able to relate to without much difficulty. I really liked that it had information from the 2016 election, as that is interesting to many students. Analysis of political institutions is well-balanced with substantial attention to the role of the individual and collective action. I was impressed by how up to date the text was. Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s) Expansion and Reform (1801-1861) Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877) The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900) The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930) The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945) Reviewed by Carley Shinault, Assistant Professor, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania on 3/13/19, The text covers the full range of standard American Government textbooks, from government and civic engagement, to civil liberties and rights to branches of government and foreign policy. Overall, this is a good text that seems to be accessible for student learning. This progression is evident, for example, in the learning objectives that begin each section of the text. read more. This book does a much better job of bringing these groups in than some other texts I have seen. Well written with solid organization, the chapters flow nicely together. If anything, the text may be a bit on the long side. The book seemed to use inclusive examples--for example, the racial breakdown of the federal judiciary. The coverage and scope is presented in a way that is well organized, concise, and engaging. Each unit has three to four sub units that can easily be assigned in different readings This is the type of written activities I use in the classroom, specifically teacher driven selected chapter readings. And sections on the actually branches of government come near the end. I did not notice any grammatical errors, though I admit I was not closely proofreading for this purpose. Reviewed by Gale Czerski, Adult Basic Education Instructor, Portland Community College on 6/20/17, This textbook provides a comprehensive framework for introductory American government. The writing is generally very clear. I saw no problems here. Additionally, if I made any additions to the text, you may not have them. Sometimes the beginning of the paragraphs are repetitive but this may favor comprehension of the content. Foundations of American Government. Citizen control of the agenda 5. There are sections in the textbook that resemble a history textbook. Swapping out these examples for newer ones in the future should not be too onerous. Us Government Democracy In Action Teachers 2000. Accuracy is overall quite good. I am also not sure that the students will click on the hyperlinks unless they are told to specifically read them. The details and interpretations of major issues provided by the text are accurate and helpful. United States Government: Our Democracy allows students to master an understanding of the structure, function, and powers of government at all levels. have even added very impressive policy chapters (domestic and foreign) that you only see on occasion. No obvious grammatical errors that I noticed. This book is easy to divide into chapters or sections that make sense for the progression of the semester. However, I cant really think of a way to sidestep these concerns all authors must make choices. To some extent, though, that would make this a book with a specific orientation, which defies one of its strengths. This website is constantly being updated and improved. The book is very accessible. Within each unit, the chapters are structured to provide connections between topics that build upon the prior chapter's learning objectives . Would be nice to build out the list for a bunch of other chapters as well. Overall, I found the text to be clear and readable. The 2020 census will alter the reapportionment section on Congress and the Electoral College. It is a well planned and logical progression of chapters and topics. The internal structure of individuals chapters is clear and logical. The text's ease of access and open source publishing make it a clear and obvious alternative to expensive textbooks. However, I believe that the chapter on Bureaucracy (Chapter 15) would be better placed after the discussion of the Presidency (Chapter 12). It would be useful to have the endnotes at the end of the chapters. 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. Afterwards, the Bill of Rights was adopted to appease anti-federalist and it was ratified in an amendment process of Art. Page 1 Reading text only The United States is a representative democracy. This book would be easy to update as changes occur. Have used it this semester in 2 sections of my intro Am Gov class with no student complaints. read more, 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. This has become such an important issue. I think that the textbook goes too far in this direction. The text does a good job of covering the standard content (governments, federalism, civil rights, separation of powers, media, etc.). I never saw any problems with that concern. The textbook is written well.

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