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. 36 Question #70. 9. (1) I liked the narrative on different types of government but I think that a table with the Greek classification of types of governments based on how many rule and whether they are good or bad would have clarified it better for students. 60. The text follows a chapter layout that is common among American politics texts, beginning with the Constitution and ending with policy. There is a vibrant discussion in modern research on the balance between socialization and genetics in public opinion research that should be included. 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. UPC: 9780076681136 I did not notice anything plainly inaccurate. Get it as soon as Monday, Feb 20. I think the book could benefit from a more extensive glossary at the end of each chapter, rather than each section. Washington set precedents. Reviewed by Leslie Caughell, Assistant Professor, Virginia Wesleyan College on 2/8/17, This book is very comprehensive. I think students would have an easier time digesting the information in this book than some of the other textbooks I have used. For class, it would probably be necessary to inform students of the most important links to review. The book is internally consistent. It covers all the bases of an Introduction to American Government and then some. Others may view this as a downside, because students will have less guidance in identifying the major themes or "thesis" of the course. Outputs of Government) and chapters that fold under the broader categories (i.e. American Government 3e aligns with the topics and objectives of many government courses. It does a good job of defining terms used in the text and citing relevant sources. While each citizen only has a small say, they do have some say in how the government is run and who runs the government. The previous comment represents a slight stylistic concern in the area of organization, but not a major one. The text is academic, yet accessible. Chapter 8, Section 3 discussing the media and particularly the FCC is a very strong section of the text. The text would be very easy to divide into smaller sections. Overall, I found the text to be clear and readable. The historical approaches Each chapter culminates in a Taking Action activity designed to translate learning into informed action. This immediately gives an indication of how the material will flow. There are also some advantages to this textbook, including clarity of the writing and various appendixes that include the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Federalist 10 and 51 right in the book. The only issue I had was that the NOTES that are interspersed through the chapters and appear to be hyperlinks do not work. 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. 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 Reviewed by Mary Anne K. Clarke, Adjunct Faculty, Rhode Island College on 4/11/17, American Government by Glenn Krutz covers a lot of ground. As an One issue that does not receive a lot of direct attention is American political culture, including the values that underlie our Furthermore, the textbook has the capacity to undergo straightforward updates, (such as to linked contents, etc.) The US is dominated by a rich and powerful elite. The discussion of the Civil Liberties issues in Chapter 4 were particularly well chosen, to the point, and engaging. Enrollment . This is an excellent question. Changes on the composition of the members of the elected branches are easily updated and/or can be explained in the classroom. Very logical and clear organization. This is evident throughout the text. I see no sign of bias or editorial spin from the authors. Sometimes it is used in plural sense, but most often used in the singular sense. I will admit, however, I could not get the hyperlinks to work. I did not see too much passive tense. If faculty want to remove a section, it is not difficult for students to follow the main concepts. The text covers everything that an introduction to American government should. The book looks very good, is easily navigable, and has a pleasing visual style (viz. Although the order of the chapters differ from the way I may group chapters together, the book does maintain a consistent pattern based on the logic of the book it presents. There are numerous features that are used to help students engage with content (summaries, supplemental reading, graphics and break outs). Other mainstream textbooks will generally issue an updated edition every few years to include the outcomes of new presidential elections. While there are changes I would like to see, that is true for any book. : My goal in writing this book is to help you develop the knowledge, skills, and ideals you need to protect your own freedom; to keep democracy alive in the United States. } 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. 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 content is concise to the point it is accessible for early undergraduates, but also in depth enough that real coverage of the topics exists. In reviewing the table of contents, I found the book has a logical flow that begins with defining what government is and then proceeds to provide information on the critical subjects of our American Government by Glenn Krutz covers a lot of ground. In fact, in several places the book includes specific discussion of how the subject relates to minority or historically underrepresented or repressed communities that other texts tend to ignore (e.g. Reviewed by Donald Travis, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Gettysburg College on 4/17/20, I like the additional chapter on State and Local Government (Chap 14). Reviewed by John Herbert, Instructor, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, MN on 6/15/19, 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. Yet both Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh are not present in the graphic. This progression is evident, for example, in the learning objectives that begin each section of the text. The United States democracy is based on principles and ideals that are embodied by symbols, people, and documents. Though I had trouble accessing the PDF and online versions, it appears to have been an issue with the browser I was using at the time. One important tenet of this system is democracy, in which the ultimate power rests with the people. Even though there are many different authors/contributors the book reads like a cohesive work. }. The topics are presented in a clear fashion. It is very comprehensive and covers all the necessary information. Thorough coverage of the main thematic areas generally addressed by introductory American Government textbooks. Certainly this could just be a matter of preference, and obviously an instructor can teach topics and assign chapters in whatever order they desire, but I am puzzled by this decision. But by sticking to institutional logic, historical examples, and well-established topic controversies that are not going to go away (abortion, executive orders and the use of force, the civil service), the book does an excellent job at avoiding the publishing industrys penchant for planned obsolescence. In fact. On the Appendices section, I like that it includes an appendix with relevant court cases (Appendix E). I did not see any issues with the accuracy of the book. Reviewed by Peter Wielhouwer, Associate Professor of Political Science, Western Michigan University on 12/14/18, This text covers nearly all of the major topics covered in American Government texts. This textbook covers the main topics of a course on American government. Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 PO 4. It is a good alternative to expensive textbooks. The book is updated through to the present day. 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. Otherwise, I find the content accurate, sufficiently in depth, and excellent. This is a positive choice as it provides students with some knowledge of state and local government without usurping the information that is taught in a state and local government class. Alternate ISBNs. The text then moves through its substantive topics in a coherent manner with useful transitions between topics. Whenever the next update does occur, I would strongly suggest change the order of the paragraphs so Part 4 comes after Part 1. And finally, it contains both sections on individual rights and liberties as well as policy and bureaucracy. Surely, it would be impossible to cover all the relevant material in this book, but its format does allow the instructor to be selective about the sections within each chapter to be emphasized. The material is easily divisible. The chapter on civil rights includes sections on African Americans, women, native Americans, Alaskans, Hawaiians and the LGBTQ community. read more. But chapters are broken up into 5 or so modules, so it could be assigned that way. This Electoral College voting method is referred to as the district system." Even the most "controversial" chapters - civil rights and liberties, for example - are well-handled and I can't imagine a reasonable basis for students' balking at them. But thats ok! Overall, the textbook provides accurate information, but there are some places where it comes up short in this regard, and a few statements made in the book are not as clear as they could be. It is easy to navigate, the images/charts are relevant and clear, and all other display features serve to enhance the key point, theory, etc. of the topic in a clear, straightforward way. This book contains everything I need for intro American government classes. Aristotelian "rule of the many" (direct or participatory democracy) a) Fourth-century B.C. Enlightened understanding 4. The links for figures seem to be useful in quickly navigating them. I did not identify any grammatical issues with the textbook content. Ideas are presented in a clear, logical fashion, and transitions between sections flow smoothly. read more. The textbook, American Government, has been written to be a lucid and detailed, book that more than adequately gives context to the terminology used in every chapter. 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. I have used this text this semester (fall 2017) here at Penn State Berks with good success. The text, while voluminous, should be readily understandable to the typical student. More than other textbooks I have used or read the framework of this textbook is more attuned to my style of teaching and presentation of material. In fact, the whole world pretty much looks democratic and thats not true. The content is up-to-date including most of the Trump presidency, which is helpful for students' understanding and familiarity. I like how there are separate chapters for Civil Liberties and Civil Rights. An innovative inclusion is that, in addition to the standard chapter on federalism, American Government (2e) also includes a separate chapter (14) on State and Local Governments. The way the book is organized makes a lot of sense. It is both well researched and written. There are occasional editorial comments and examples of protests which suggest liberal criticisms of the status quo. Here, the author does provide a chapter on our crappy treatment of some groups, but it is not as inclusive as it could be, and sidesteps coverage of some important groups. Third, Political Parties should precede elections in the book. I was actually surprised at the 'updatedness" of the book. First, Page 39 of textbook about Locke and the social contract gives no citation. I haven't seen anything quite like that before, and it's useful. Founding Father James Madison may have best described the difference between a democracy and a republic: "It [the difference] is that in a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in person: in a republic, they assemble and administer it by their representatives and agents. Some of the current graphs and charts will need to be updated.The links to learning sections make it possible to quickly find current data and information. It also does a great job bringing in marginalized or minority voices. The book contained appropriate section breaks so that students can jump directly to the relevant subsection. It would also be helpful if the text came with bookmarks to the main chapters and subsections. 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. In this textbook, I was pleased with both. read more. This is probably a sensitive issue. Though as I said before, more recent in time statistics, graphs, charts, and pictures would help, the use of the visuals organizationally as far as charts, maps, and graphs is very good. . and J. D. and Lee Arbetman and Megan L. Hanson and M.S. Most of the content of the different chapters focus on the mechanics of the system and on relevant examples that will be important for years to come. I can see myself using this textbook in the future. The following key features of U.S. Government: Our Democracy support both government content and civic engagement standards: Government in Your Community, which prompts students to . 34 Question #69. Regarding 7.3 Direct Democracy, although I understand why it is where it is currently, I think that the concept needs to be covered earlier in the text (time of American founding perhaps or even in the first chapter if possible). It means "rule by the people" or "sovereignty of the people". read more. Similar t the question about modularity, the organization and flow of the book is partially a matter of the author and editor's preference. 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. The book is accurate and error-free. Two points will be commented on here. This looks like an excellent resource--well researched and in depth. Would be nice to build out the list for a bunch of other chapters as well. There is no distortion of text, images, or figures; this is all very clear. 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United States Government: Democracy in Action emphasizes 14 key government concepts. American Government 2e is broken up with numerous sections with targeted learning goals and clear intention to allow students to read each section in whole or in small parts. Krutz joined the Department of Political Science in 2002. American Government and Civic Engagement, entire unmodified textbook can be accessed here on OpenStax, SLED (Statewide Library Electronic Doorway), "Slave Streets, Free Streets" - Virtual Tour of Baltimore, c. 1815, World War I: Why Young Men Wanted to Go To War. TEXT: United States Government: Democracy in Action US GOVERNMENT COURSE CALENDAR 2014 - 2015: Unit 1: Foundations of American Government August 19 - September 10 In this Unit: Exploring the Big Ideas Resources & Activities Chapter 1: People and Government. The narrative is engaging and very well written. The hyperlinks are effective for those who want to review the source and to learn more. The "Key terms" section at the end of each chapter is a great resource for students studying for multiple choice exams. THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES in 10 minutes The 1619 Project Exposed: A Special Edition of the American Mind . The text covers all areas that one would expect from an introduction to American Government textbook. Technical terminology is explained in a precise and clear manner. But as I noted above, the unhelpfulness of bolded terms can be genuinely confusing and are inconsistent (Katie Holmes gets bolded? It can be said that in capitalism, government accumulates wealth and then redistributes it to citizens. China is not a socialist country; it is an oligarchic authoritarian regime. 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. These add up quickly and at times break up material where paragraphs or explanations would benefit from remaining connected. The text repeatedly incorporates up-to-date examples to illustrate its reasoning and explain how foundational themes relate to contemporary political developments. 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The coverage of competing philosophies of Judicial Activism and Judicial Restraint in Chapter 13, Section 5 nicely presents these approaches to novice readers. In 1988, the U.S. Senate paid tribute with a resolution 3 that said . Pricing for school accounts will display in the cart once you are logged in. For their effort and expertise, I commend them and those who have supported this project. In particular, the sections on civil rights, civil liberties are grouped near the beginning with section on public opinion and elections. American Government by Glenn Krutz covers a lot of ground. In the case of the United States, that power is exercised indirectly, through elected representatives. There isnt much to say here. In summary, this is a high-quality book that has most everything anybody would want. The text uses the 2016 election, in particular, to help the reader better understand the varying voting methods within the Electoral College by stating: "In 2016, Republican Donald Trump won one congressional district in Maine, even though Hillary Clinton won the state overall. To be clear, it is not culturally insensitive. 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. Similar to other Introduction to American Government textbooks this book covers the typical material and then some. The text is also 100% iPad compatible. Overall, it is solid and accurate. 2. The text offers a consistent presentation of terms situated within a logical and approachable framework for college students. It will be interesting to see the update after Election Day. This isn't physics, it's politics. Overall, this is a solid choice in terms of comprehensiveness. government, this book integrates instruction about state and local government throughout, rather than relegating these vital institutions to a unit at the end. For example, I do a lot with the 9th Amendment, but it only has three paragraphs in the textbook. Each chapter is structured similarly. The Links to Learning and Insider Perspective features in the text help to enrich the material without breaking the overall flow of discussion. I made significant checks throughout the textbook and found it to accurate in the information provided. Each chapter includes an introduction, theory and history of particular governmental entity, Links to Learning credible websites, graphs, photos, documents, Insider Perspectives introducing a biography of an icon of the chapter, ways to engage in real life government , glossary, and Bibliography for Further Study including books and films. For me, this was one of the strengths of the textbook. 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). I found the textbook culturally sensitive and in no way offensive. The importance of this document and the story of Shay's Rebellion are too often overlooked and they are covered well here. At the time this edition was written, the information in figure 3.17, presented data on the legality of same sex marriage by state in our country in an easily understood and precise manner. According to Yale professor Juan Jos Linz there are three main types of political systems today: democracies, totalitarian regimes and, sitting between these two, authoritarian regimes . Democracy is a term that derives from the ancient Greek language. There is a consistent pattern in terms of the major headings outlined at the beginning of the book. For example, Plato and Aristotle are not included in the further readings of the introductory chapter on government. The text's consistency is quite strong in that it provides a comprehensible, conceptual framework and predictably organized units, chapters, and sections for the study of American government and politics. The text is wide-ranging and inclusive to a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in its examples, particularly in the chapters on individual agency and action. Chapter Tests and Lesson Quizzes:Printed blackline master booklet of Lesson Quizzes and Chapter Tests includes all the editable tests available online. Reviewed by Nicholas Pyeatt, Associate Professor of Political Science, Penn State, Altoona on 2/1/18, The book is very comprehensive. This textbook is very comprehensive. I have not found culturally insensitive comments. The book does a nice job of bringing in gender concerns throughout the text, as well. Of course the book's "longevity" is not likely to be long just because of the nature of the subject matter. It is a well planned and logical progression of chapters and topics. We have stopped printing many old products, but we might have some stock in our warehouse. Changes like these are expected and I do not think that this would be too difficult to do. I did not see any clear cultural bias on the part of the authors. 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. Reviewed by Rod Hanson, Political Science Instructor, Central Oregon Community College on 5/26/19, Krutz textbook is set up exactly the same as the three different United States Government textbooks I have used in nine years of teaching at the community college level. Overall, this looks like a viable option for an American government 101 course. The current book I use fully integrates free people of color into each chapter. This is a particular strength of the text book from my view. The highlighting of key terms and the examples that are provided are helpful.