Truth and Power: An American Government Owner's Manual

At a critical tipping point in American history, this textbook pulls no punches—directly confronting the threats to democracy from both within and beyond our borders. From the sway of public opinion and the power of the media to the bedrock principles of the Constitution, the battles in the courts, the maneuvers of political institutions, and the making of policy, it reveals how truth and power collide to shape the nation’s destiny. With unflinching “Tipping Point” analyses that spotlight today’s most urgent dangers, it challenges readers not just to understand the crisis facing democracy, but to face it head-on.

Specializing in Constitutional Law, American Political Institutions and the Politics of Intelligence, Professor Carrico has created and taught advanced and introductory Political Science courses at Auburn University, Francis Marion University, Emory University, Georgia Perimeter College, Mercer University and Kennesaw State University. Truth and Power mirrors the sequence, content and lectures presented to the literally thousands of students who have taken his American Government survey courses.

This very readable text is sequenced non-traditionally as an outside-in approach to government that engages students from the outset with the most immediately relevant topics before diving into the thicker theoretical and institutional areas --- something that has proven over the years to result in fewer first-week drops. The scope of the book is designed to be accessible to the “one-timers” who are merely filling core requirements, while still offering the substance of coverage befitting a course serving as an entry-point and universal prerequisite for Political Science majors.

The conversational (and somewhat irreverent) flow of Truth and Power reflects a presentation approach that has worked equally well in engagement for both traditional college students and adult learners, majors and non-majors, from community colleges to research universities. Moreover, the content divisions are designed to be adaptable to “short courses” or full-semester survey sections with time to cover policy, and as a brief test has the built-in ability to get out of an instructor’s way when desired. Also, created to be student-friendly, the author insisted on a price-point substantially below the typical college survey text.

Finally, the thematic approach contained in the title is presented up front and without apology. At a crucial time in the history of the republic, with existential threats to liberal democracy boiling over --- both abroad and at home --- the restoration of the sanctity of truth in political discourse is nothing less than urgent. Ideally, Truth and Power will indeed serve as an “American Government Owner’s Manual” for students even after the course is done.