Cengage Learning American Government and Politics Today: No Separate Policy Chapters Version, 2016-2017 Edition

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY is known nationwide for its balanced, unbiased, and modern coverage of constitutional, governmental, political, social, and economic structures and their processes. The book provides the knowledge that allows you to make informed choices, encourages you to play an active role in the decision-making process, and promotes your participation in the world around you by giving you the tools you need to get involved. MindTap for American Government, Cengage Learning's fully online learning solution, is available and fully integrated with this text. Review "I honestly think this text is the gold standard for teaching American Government. It is clear and replete with numerous access points for students to understand the material." "Its strength is its comprehensive nature. A student who reads this text would be ready to engage in a meaningful conversation about most of the current political topics." "The text is relevant and its presentation evokes interest and excitement." About the Author Mack C. Shelley II is a professor of political science and statistics at Iowa State University, where he arrived in 1979. Currently chair of the Department of Political Science, he conducts policy research in a number of areas funded by grants and contracts. From 1993 to 2002 he served as elected co-editor of the POLICY STUDIES JOURNAL. In addition, Dr. Shelley has published numerous articles, books and monographs on public policy, including THE PERMANENT MAJORITY: THE CONSERVATIVE COALITION IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND THE RESEARCH ENTERPRISE: A GUIDE TO THE LITERATURE (with William F. Woodman and Brian J. Reichel), AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY: THE CONTEMPORARY AGENDA (with Steven G. Koven and Bert E. Swanson) and QUALITY RESEARCH IN LITERACY AND SCIENCE EDUCATION: INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND GOLD STANDARDS (with Larry Yore and Brian Hand). He received his bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C., and both a master’s degree in economics and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Steffen W. Schmidt is the Lucken Professor Emeritus of political science at Iowa State University. He has published 14 books and over 130 articles in scholarly journals and major newspapers. His numerous teaching honors include the Amoco Award for Lifetime Career Achievement in Teaching and Teacher of the Year. He is a pioneer in the use of web-based and real-time video courses, a founding member of the American Political Science Association's section on Computers and Multimedia, and a founding member of the USSTRATCOM academic alliance. Known as Dr. Politics" for his extensive commentary on American politics in both U.S. and international media, he comments on CNN en Español and Univision as well as CTV Canada Cable TV. Dr. Schmidt grew up in Colombia, South America, and studied in Colombia, Switzerland, the United States and France. He received a B.A. from Rollins College and a Ph.D. in public law and government from Columbia University, New York. Dr. Schmidt is on Facebook (SteffenWSchmidt) and Twitter (DrPolitics)." Barbara A. Bardes is professor emerita of political science at the University of Cincinnati. She also served as a faculty member in political science and dean of Mundelein College at Loyola University of Chicago. In 1993 she was appointed dean of the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash, serving until 2003. Returning to the Political Science Department, she held the position of graduate director before retiring. In addition to writing articles on public and foreign policy and women and politics, Dr. Bardes co-authored DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE: WOMEN AND POLITICAL POWER IN 19TH CENTURY AMERICAN NOVELS, THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY, PUBLIC OPINION: MEASURING THE AMERICAN MIND and AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Kent State University and her Ph.D. from the University of Cin