I found the insertion of bold links in the middle of the text rather distracting. The book is comprehensive in that it has everything I usually look for in an intro to American government text: - clear framing around basic theories of representation and collective action (probably less explicitly on the latter than something like the Kernell book, but on balance thats a good thing). The framework of the text is internally consistent. Traditional Democratic Theory 1. By: Donald A. Ritchie and Richard C. Remy and M. Ed. The chapters are well organized and reader friendly. In the pages that follow you will find information to help you better understand how the machinery of . The book uses a standard framework/structure, and so there is no problem with consistency. 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. Reviewed by Alexandre Couture Gagnon, Associate Professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 10/26/20, This textbook covers the main topics of a course on American government. While the examples could become outdated, the issues used have been relevant for a long period of time. 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. I do think that some modules could be combined, but for the most part the author accomplishes this well. The pure number of citations is impressive, however they are shown to the reader throughout a chapter in a separated gray box. .nav-contain-highered{ 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). The respective discussions involving each of the aforementioned groups is objective, open minded, and balanced. I made significant checks throughout the textbook and found it to accurate in the information provided. read more. If anything, the text may be a bit on the long side. The textbook covers all the essential parts of American government. The consistency and cohesion of the organization of the textbook is on par with all the other material on the market. 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. I spotted no factual inaccuracies, and the text does not belay any obvious political bias. The real differences of course align along questions of *what* aspects of society and the economy ought to be controlled, and by whom--liberals want to control some areas, conservatives others. Develop strong critical thinking, analytical, and compromise skills with. Second, key terms in Chapter 17 are wanting. You can replace that space with something more relevant? This course must give freshman students the conceptual baseline tools to advance to the next grade. It also includes a chapter on I found the text to be eminently user friendly with no issues what so ever navigating within the chapters. The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world's oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States, held in Washington, D.C., from October 1889 to April 1890. I'm seeing paragraph errors on my machine, but that may be unique to me. I was impressed by how up to date the text was. Do you need help? American Government by Krutz and Waskiewicz is an exceptionally good textbook. The headings and subheadings are appealing and provide the students with direction about what is coming next. The text of each chapter does form a consistency. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.--Preamble to the United States Constitution 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. The accuracy of the content presented in the Kurtz et al book is as accurate and unbias as one would expect. The text was easily navigable and the Index, search function, and drop-down menus in the Table of Contents functioned seamlessly. Along those lines, I would like to have seen the American government discussed more in a relative/comparative sense. Everything was clear and easy to find, including graphics, charts, and figures. The book also does not always allow the reader to skip pages or go straight to a section to read. Overall, this looks like a viable option for an American government 101 course. The writing is clear and concise. While things may change quickly in American government, a lot stays the same. Right from the start is an engaging "What is Government" and "Who governs" introductory sections, followed by excellent descriptions of our constitutional backgrounds and developments, and next the originality and purpose of our federal system of government. Yes, the book is internally consistent in terms of its discussion and its presentation of information. Hume's ideas on human nature as the underlying purpose for dividing power is essential to understanding the American political system. In addition, there are charts, visual aids, and extension activities to expand and complement the text. However, the concepts are so strong here (thorough, well laid out) that an instructor could easily supplement the text for a variety of courses and levels. 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. This was an early indication of the accuracy of the textbook. The unit heading probably need more explanation and their rationale for selecting the chapters under each unit topic spelled out. I reviewed several chapters for discussion areas that students often time find difficult to understand due to the terminology used, such as federalism, civil liberties, civil rights and bureaucracies. I was able to move freely throughout the textbook with ease, experiencing no navigational difficulties and without finding any display features that were distracting or confusing. Also, where is David Hume? 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. The writers were able to demonstrate intersections across time, incorporating themes that could easily be segregated in a single chapter. of the topic in a clear, straightforward way. The online navigation is exceptionally good. It provides an effective index as well as a glossary of key terms at the end of each chapter. The links for figures seem to be useful in quickly navigating them. Perhaps the next addition could add a supplement for each chapter or unit containing other voices which could be an effective shortcut for the instructor and of interest to our contemporary student base that is more diverse in many areas than 10-20 years ago. in District List . Afterwards, the Bill of Rights was adopted to appease anti-federalist and it was ratified in an amendment process of Art. Students will develop an appreciation for the value of citizenship and civic . 1. Reviewed by Jeremiah Castle, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 8/17/20, 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 modularity of the chapters should allow the instructor to more effectively chunk material than most other textbook options. Sections open with learning objectives that tell students the 2-5 most important things to take away from that reading, and quiz questions populate the text at the end of sections to help students self assess their understanding of the reading. The book builds upon what students have already learned and emphasizes connections between topics as well as between theory and applications. Of course, whenever there are big changes on the Supreme Court or in the American governmental structure updates would need to be made. But fundamentally, I often found myself searching for particular lessons, only to find the introduction to those lessons a bit dry or even meandering. The text interface is good. As for bias, the author(s) definitely stayed neutral in their descriptions of the events regarding the Trump presidency and their effect on American society. It contains accurate references to the Trump presidency. I have not tested it on a smartphone; however, on a computer the book is easy to navigate - to move between chapters, sections, pages, etc is easy. I do miss a chapter on political culture, but even without it, the text is good. Excellent use of sub-sections in each chapter. read more. Diverse student populations will appreciate this aspect of the text. I found my iPad did not always work well with it. There are no grammar or spelling errors, but sometimes the choice or placement of topics doesnt align with the larger argument being made in a chapter, which can be confusing. There certainly is enough relevant and timely material to assign a chapter per week for the one semester Intro type class, especially when combined with the supplementary material noted above. Reviewed by Eric Radezky, Adjunct Professor, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY on 5/21/18, This textbook is very comprehensive. Within the chapters, there are simple navigational linksoften to external resourcesthat are helpful and not distracting. As an introduction to American Government, the text covers the areas and ideas of the subject at a very comprehensive level. I have used this text successfully in the classroom, and students generally respond positively to it. I recommend considering the use of this book for an introductory American Government course. There are some lapses here. However I do feel that stylistically the presentation of in-text citations is cumbersome and distracting. Students can read individual sections or chapters online (in a way vaguely reminiscent of Wikipedia), they can download a free PDF of the entire book, or more traditional students can order a hard copy of the book from Amazon (at a price that's still less than half of what students might pay for a book from a commercial press). It means "rule by the people" or "sovereignty of the people". One nice feature of the text is the ability directly to citations through the texts footnotes. The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework. Reviewed by Matthew Wright, Associate Professor, American University on 2/1/18, The book is comprehensive in that it has everything I usually look for in an intro to American government text: read more. The textbook is structured in a logical manner with chapters that have clearly defined subareas that more than adequately provide students with an understanding of American government. $47.96. First President of the United States. Only 2 left in stock - order soon. Modularity is important for me as I usually find myself teaching "out of order" with respect to the book's chapter organization. I set up an assignment for my students to respond to a question based on the discussion in this section in an online class. V of the Constitution. And as stated above, the book is very clear and easy to read, which would make this text easy for students to understand.