Readings in American Government

Readings in American Government provides a wide array of primary and secondary source materials on the fundamental themes of American political life. Teachers will enjoy having nearly 100 readings in a single volume. Students benefit from introductory essays at the beginning of each chapter, which analyze the readings and explain major themes. This volume encourages serious academic engagement with timeless issues facing the American regime, including:

• America’s fundamental political commitments
• The relationship between majority rule and the rights of
• minorities
• The tension between individualism and community
• Federalism and national power
• Separation of powers and the role of political institutions
• Presidential leadership and presidential rhetoric
• The role of political parties and the potential for reforming
• them today
• Constitutional interpretation
• The purposes and principles of American economic and
• foreign policy
• The protection of liberty and equality
• The importance of civic thought for the maintenance of
• self-government

Now in its 12th edition, Readings in American Government has been updated to address the challenges of federalism, the continuing importance of political parties, the influence of National Conservatism on economics and foreign policy, and contemporary debates in Congress