Author Description

We the People is ideal for showing students that politics is relevant to their lives and that their participation in politics matters. The book engages students with contemporary topics, including polarization in government and digital politics, and presents information on these topics both in the text and in new figures designed to resemble those that students see in online media. New features and resources also teach students to be more savvy consumers of real-world political information. Both the book and free Coursepack are organized around specific chapter learning goals to ensure that students learn the nuts and bolts of American government and to help instructors assess student learning of key concepts. In lively prose, Ackerman and Ginsberg explain the origins of each constitutional provision, assess the ways in which each has been used and interpreted over time, and examine the controversies that continue to surround key constitutional principles such as the president's powers during times of war and Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce. The authors also address a number of long-standing American political principles and practices that are not discussed in the Constitution, although many Americans think they are. A selection of related documents is included, as well as a list of recommended online resources for further reading and research. The Third Edition includes expanded headnotes, coverage of recent Supreme Court decisions, and other important updates.