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Product DescriptionUpdated to reflect the current political landscape, this book is organized around a "participation" approach and provides an innovative content style and interactive assessment. It is designed to get readers to participate in their learning and in all aspects of American politics.Covering the foundations and institutions of the American Government, readers are prompted to draw connections between government topics and current events while finding a role for themselves in politics and government. This update includes coverage of the seismic changes that have taken place across our political landscape since the second edition published and Barack Obama took office.ReviewUpdated to reflect the current political landscape, this book is organized around a "participation" approach and provides an innovative content style and interactive assessment. It is designed to get readers to participate in their learning and in all aspects of American politics.Covering the foundations and institutions of the American Government, readers are prompted to draw connections between government topics and current events while finding a role for themselves in politics and government. This update includes coverage of the seismic changes that have taken place across our political landscape since the second edition published and Barack Obama took office.From the Back CoverThis update includes coverage of the seismic changes that have taken place across our political landscape since the second edition published and Barack Obama took office. In addition, this update features many new photos and updated tables and figures reflecting the most recent data available. Chapter 3 (Federalism): Includes updated data on federal grants-in-aid and local and special governments. Chapter 4 (The Judiciary): Features coverage of Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination and confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as new data on the number of court petitions and cases heard during the most recent Supreme Court term. Chapter 5 (Civil Liberties and Civil Rights): Provides new information on cases related to the fourth and sixth amendments and updates data on educational attainment and income by race as well as workers’ earnings by occupation. Chapter 6 (Congress): Features a new opening vignette addressing the rowdy town hall meetings on health care reform during the summer of 2009; discusses the impact of Senator Arlen Specter’s switch to the Democratic Party; examines the issue of civility and Representative Joe Wilson’s outburst during the president’s address to Congress in September of 2009; includes updates on the wealthiest Congressional members based on 2009 survey results; and provides updated data on the standing committees and the occupations, education, party profile, and gender composition of the 111th Congress. Chapter 7 (The Presidency): Includes a new opening vignette on the difference between campaigning and governing, using Obama’s campaign and early months of governance as an example; provides updated information on President Obama’s Cabinet and the 2009 Executive Office of the President, as well as updated information on presidential vetoes; examines Vice President Joe Biden’s likely role and impact; and includes coverage and analysis of C-Span’s 2009 ranking of American Presidents. Chapter 8 (Bureaucracy): Updates data on the number of federal employees and departments in the executive branch of the federal government. Chapter 9 (Political Socialization and Public Opinion): Provides new information comparing public opinion about health care in America with that of public opinion in Europe; includes updated data on public opinion related to abortion; and highlights updated data on women in the federal government, family life and poverty, and earnings by education level. Chapter 10 (Politics of the Media): Examines allegations about the death of newspapers; provides updated data on internet access; includes