I do wish there was a bit more of a unified explanatory framework that was used throughout the chapters, though. It's very well organized. There is an additional chapter on State & Local government aside from the chapter on federalism - which offers 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. - A timely set of examples, nicely updated through the beginning of the Trump presidency. Other critical concepts such as "security dilemma" and "domino theory" need to be introduced. At times, the chapters are heavy with history and not as much with theory. Sometimes it is used in plural sense, but most often used in the singular sense. Prosper Bernard, Jr., City University of New York, Jennifer Danley-Scott, Texas Womans University, Christopher Lawrence, Middle Georgia State College, Adam Newmark, Appalachian State University, Brooks D. Simpson, Arizona State University, Shawn Williams, Campbellsville University, Rhonda Wrzenski, Indiana University Southeast. Although I found having a chapter on Bureaucracy toward the end of the textbook unconventional, overall organization of the topics covered in the text are presented in a logical fashion. One issue, however, that might be addressed is with the word "media." In the next sentence, the author writes "Another way the media socializes audiences is through framing." Chapters provide plenty of information for pedagogical instruction; which is well organized. With this objective in mind, the content of this textbook has been developed and . 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. Our School" Reopening Plan; Daily Bulletin; S3 Grant; Principal's Message; Mission & Vision Statement; Bell Schedule; Contact Us; Policies & Procedures; . 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. My only critique of the book is that the sections on Congress, the presidency, and the court system appear later on in the textbook. As mentioned above, I found the text slightly denser than the average textbook for an Introduction to American Government class. Sixth, from pp. The text is very culturally sensitive and I see no cultural offensiveness. I love the inclusion of recent current events. Exam Weighting (Multiple-Choice Section) Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy. List of forms of government - Wikipedia It is as accurate as any standard, mainstream textbook on American government. How the Iroquois Great Law of Peace Shaped U.S. Democracy This book is very impressive, as is. No obvious grammatical errors that I noticed. The book is well laid out and uses terminology consistent throughout the chapters. United States Government: Our Democracy 2018 - McGraw Hill It is both well researched and written. Learning objectives are clearly identified for each unit, and each unit concludes with a concise summary of main points followed by multiple-choice and short answer questions. Reviewed by Charles Young, Associate Professor, Umpqua Community College on 2/8/17, I am impressed with the comprehensiveness of the textbook. The reading schedule is posted here by week, and the readings themselves can be found in the links below. I liked the fact that the book had several subsections within each chapter. The text features sophisticated and accessible prose. Adopting profs should read the chapters carefully so they know what areas get deeper coverage, and what areas get shallower treatment. Similar to other Introduction to American Government textbooks this book covers the typical material and then some. Grammar is as good as one would expect from a textbook from a commercial press. For example, the text's section on "Engagement in a Democracy," outlines how individuals can become more civically engaged and showcases how ordinary people can effect change. Do away with elections and democracy itself might be saved, argues Alexander Guerrero. These subjects were covered using terminology that was timely and clear. Includes pre-built and customizable tests and quizzes, with a variety of question types to provide critical practice for high-stakes assessments. That said, there are areas where the text is quite brief and doesn't provide terribly deep discussion. United States Government; Our Democracy, c 2018, 9780076681136 when necessary. Your idea of relevance is not really relevant. Multiple perspectives on issues and areas of controversy are acknowledged.Enduring themes and tensions between ideas and realities are presented in a way that is not reductive. Building Democracy for All - EdTech Books I liked this feature very much. Reviewed by M. Victoria Perez-Rios, Adjunct Assistant Professor, La Guardia Community College on 5/21/18, The textbook is very comprehensive with more than 650 pages of content plus appendices with relevant documents. According to Locke individuals held authority through a divine power that existed in the people that formed the basis for the "fountain of authority"? United States Government: Our Democracy (2016) Publisher: McGraw-Hill . 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 sources cited, within the sections of each of the various chapters, are from reputable, recognizable experts in their fields of study. Here, citizens vote for their government officials. Mediating Institutions and Collective Action 4. read more. The textbook does not include much material on current elections, but an instructor can easily add his or her own supplemental materials. Chapter 1. The content is up-to-date including most of the Trump presidency, which is helpful for students' understanding and familiarity. The book is up to date and has most of the usual citations one would expect of an Introduction to American Government text. So do be sure, if adopting this text, to carefully preview the chapters for any issues like this. Overall I find the writing to be at an appropriate level for first-year college students. The comprehensiveness of Krutz's American Government text is such that it more than adequately addresses the curricular requirements of the American government and politics courses offered by the Virginia Community College System. Chapter 13: Constitutional Freedoms - Freeman Middle School Accuracy is excellent, with essentially an unbiased and error-free content (and i do judge rather stringently the accuracy of historical content given I teach history as well). 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. The book seemed to use inclusive examples--for example, the racial breakdown of the federal judiciary. Modularity is important for me as I usually find myself teaching "out of order" with respect to the book's chapter organization. Each chapter is structured similarly. The content delivers plenty of perspective for students to learn about American government. The textbook contains sections and subsections within the chapters with independent learning objectives. 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. I feel like I'm on a rollercoaster and everyone else has a seat belt. I have also discovered no instances in which the presentation seems unduly slanted or biased. I do miss a chapter on political culture, but even without it, the text is good. The foundational material in each chapter/section is relevant and the examples used to explain/apply such material is more up to date than many for profit books I have read. For instance, the many examples of LGBTQ issues like marriage was well documented and current through recent case law like Masterpiece Cakeshop. I also think the book does an exceptional job bringing in minorities not traditionally covered in American politics texts (Asian Americans, Native Americans, etc.) In a couple instances such as above, they simply need to be done. 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 like that a section on state and local government is included. American Government is a very comprehensive textbook. PDF United states government: our democracy pdf online free - Weebly I choose this title because it underlines student political participation. While I am echoing this notion from a previous review, I did find it to be true that Kurtz et al. The text is highly relevant for students studying American government and politics today and will serve students well in subsequent years without seeming obsolete. One of the first things that I check when reviewing any textbook is the organization of the information in the table of contents for its structure. My least favorite chapter concerns Federalism (3), not because of the topic but I just think that chapter is not as informative as others. The chapter summaries, quizzes, the suggestions for extra activities in particular are useful. read more. The chapters have a mix of history, current facts and evidence along with key concepts traditional of American government texts. While the focus on diversity is certainly not as all-encompassing as some commercial books that make racial/ethnic diversity the "thesis of the book" (most notably McClain and Tauber's American Government in Black and White), the book certainly does not limit discussion of racial/ethnic diversity to the chapter on Civil Rights, as many textbooks have done historically. For example, the chapter on political parties resembles a history text. - A good set of basic references at the end of each chapter. 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. This is an excellent question. As I have shared, I suggest fewer "Note" features within the already long paragraphs of content, and in fact a tightening as well of the length of the reading text. I would have included in most, if not all chapters after the constitution, sections where students would be guided on how to engage with politics effectively in the context of each chapter. Faculty involved in the project have endeavored to make government workings, issues, debates, and impacts meaningful and memorable to students while maintaining the conceptual coverage and rigor inherent in the subject. United States Government Democracy in Action Student ~ United States Government Democracy in Action Student Edition GOVERNMENT IN THE 1st Edition by McGrawHill Author 43 out of 5 stars 14 ratings ISBN13 9780078799822 ISBN10 0078799821 Why is ISBN important ISBN This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book Find step-by-step solutions and answers to United States Government: Our Democracy - 9780076634538, as well as thousands of textbooks so you can move forward with confidence. Concerns: Textbook lacks yearly/semester pacing guide, limited ability to edit teacher resources . I never saw any problems with that concern. The textbook content is clearly organized into sensible modules. Find step-by-step solutions and answers to United States Government: Our Democracy - 9780076634538, as well as thousands of textbooks so you can move forward with confidence. It also includes a chapter on At the same time, I should point out that, at least in my view, the book is organized in an unconventional way. , but for next semester, the text needs to provide 2016 turnout and election data. The text follows the standard format for American Government texts. 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. Bill of Rights Poster: File Size: 199 kb: File Type: pdf: . The US is dominated by a rich and powerful elite. read more. It was updated in 2020. United States Government: Our Democracy, Student Learning Center Online interactive website, accessible with login and password. 334-335). This textbook is very comprehensive. Within each unit, the chapters are structured to provide connections between topics that build upon the prior chapter's learning objectives . Unfortunately, I found the hyperlinks within the text to be a bit distracting. The reason I say this is because the choice of content is a subjective process in itself and surely there are other content areas that could be added on a particular theme. Examples depicting the new terms are plentiful. This is also one of the longer chapters in the book coming in at about 50 pages. For their effort and expertise, I commend them and those who have supported this project. Chapter 9: Presidential Leadership - Freeman Middle School The authors updated the contents reflecting current events and political landscape. This book would be easy to update as changes occur. This text covers nearly all of the major topics covered in American Government texts. One important tenet of this system is democracy, in which the ultimate power rests with the people. The importance of this issue reflects so much for students about the goals of those at the convention and the individuals who ratified the document, coupled with the impact this very high hurdle for change has had on governing in America, leads me to believe that students need more time with this material and a further discussion of the impact that Article V has had. The text interface is good. At the end of each chapter, the reader finds a glossary of key terms emphasized in the chapter. . United States Government. Democracy and government, the U.S. political system, elected officials and governmental institutions Americans are generally positive about the way democracy is working in the United States. The modularity of the chapters should allow the instructor to more effectively chunk material than most other textbook options. I like the additional chapter on State and Local Government (Chap 14). Foundations of Our Democracy (Aug 22-26) Monday: Roots of Democratic Government - All About Me (Assignment) . .nav-contain-highered{ I would have preferred more of this, but the book was adequate in this regard. The text is also 100% iPad compatible. In fact, Kurtz et al. The choice of pictures, and subjects is excellent throughout. The text is arranged in a way that necessary updates can be easily integrated. Thus, instructors who want to cover highly salient domestic policy issues like healthcare or immigration may need to assign supplements. I recommend considering the use of this book for an introductory American Government course. In addition to what I discussed earlier, here are some other things about the book I enjoyed that did not easily fit into the previous topics provided: I very much apricate the discussion of The Articles of Confederation in Chapter 2, Section 2. I did not see any issues with the accuracy of the book. To be clear, it is not culturally insensitive. The hyperlinks are effective for those who want to review the source and to learn more. The content is accurate, straightforward, and unbiased. 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. This textbook does a nice job covering women Chapter 7, especially in regards to elections. This is probably a sensitive issue. Ways to Participate in Our Democracy 59. I like the fact that the authors attempt to present both sides in discussing problems and issues which contributes to an unbias pr For instance, right off the bat, the critique of socialism seems to take the position that socialism is inherently and entirely distinct from our system, which isnt accurate. The text does not run the risk of becoming obsolete in a short period of time; however, many of the examples are quite common to other introductory American Government texts. AP United States Government and Politics - AP Students - College Board As another example, the description of Adam Smiths views on wealth accumulation is oversimplified and arguably misleading. This is disappointing but not fatal as I can update in class using the overhead. Text is well written and provides adequate context for necessary political science terminology. Grammar and sentence structure are appropriate for the reading comprehension level expected in an introductory level course. PDF Us Government Democracy In Action Teacher Edition The material could easily be reorganized or covered in a different sequence at the discretion of the instructor without much disruption. Excellent. Key words repeated throughout so students would be exposed them at various points in the text. I am impressed with the comprehensiveness of the textbook. Basics of American Government - University of North Georgia United States Government: Democracy in Action 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. A chapter on State and Local government is also included as a useful addition. This consistency and clear explanation of the concepts behind the examples makes the book particularly strong. The book is very comprehensive. Also, I believe that the material on Parties should be placed closer to the material on campaigns and elections. } The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. I really appreciate how they were able to consolidate what would easily be a 15 chapter textbook into 5! The chapter on Congress should also be updated and with data from 2016 and 2018. And the book is missing some introductory material on theory of collective action/game theory that I is included in other texts that I like to teach in my course. Creating the Constitution. Perhaps more specific information about the Supreme Court case regarding employment and other cases could be fleshed out. To some extent, though, that would make this a book with a specific orientation, which defies one of its strengths. 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 For example, the term latent opinion comes up in the introductory chapter. For example, Plato and Aristotle are not included in the further readings of the introductory chapter on government. ACT & SAT Practice Books. Only problem I saw: there are 2 versions of this book in OpenStax. References are balanced--not exclusively conservative or liberal--and include non-partisan resources.This text appears to be carefully edited and reviewed. Go Go. The text acknowledges multiple perspectives of race, ethnicity, gender, ability and other backgrounds. The glossary of terms after each chapter and the illustrations, examples, color pictorials and web links are all critical to the issue of clarity. A chapter on State and Local government is also included as a useful addition. Otherwise, I find the content accurate, sufficiently in depth, and excellent. read more. United States Government Our Democracy Textbook PDF Book Details . It covers all of the major topics an introductory text should cover and a few others as well. The consistency and cohesion of the organization of the textbook is on par with all the other material on the market. democracy: [noun] a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections. Following this is a separate section on media, parties, and interest groups. The book is internally consistent. It does not explain some additional reasons why the two-party system in the U.S. persists. For example, on page 205 of the text, the author writes "With the rise of the Internet and social media, however, traditional media have become less powerful agents of this kind of socialization." Issues related to race, ethnicity, gender, and class are addressed in appropriate ways. The United States democracy is based on principles and ideals that are embodied by symbols, people, and documents. Aristotelian "rule of the many" (direct or participatory democracy) a) Fourth-century B.C. Such can pose a roadblock for the easily distracted student or the person using the aid of a text reader. Because of the breakdown by the author, students can tackle smaller blocks of material easily and I believe that this will help with comprehension of the material. Great looking book and the price point would be very beneficial to students. The textbook does not contain grammatical errors. I think that the textbook goes too far in this direction. Key terms are defined with appropriate detail in a glossary and the summaries serve to reinforce the material covered in each section. p. 136, in which only a small fraction of the page is filled with an external link) , though if you are not strictly concerned with minimizing page count or aesthetics, this is feature rather than a bug, as it reduces the need for thing like including figures on a page with unrelated text to maximize efficient spacing. Log in to your program from these platforms: McGraw Hill Science Interactives (612), .bs3-nav-link-support a{ The coverage and scope is presented in a way that is well organized, concise, and engaging.