John G. Geer - Gateways to Democracy: An Introduction to American Government, Enhanced

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Student Edition: ISBN: 978-1-337-79980-5

Loose-leaf Edition: ISBN: 978-0-357-02881-0

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Dear Introduction to American Government Instructor:

As teachers and scholars of American government, we have come together to write a textbook that engages students in both the process and the policy outcomes of U.S. government. We present an updated lens through which we can examine the theoretical and structural foundations of American democracy and the resulting political process that demands an active and informed citizenry. To help students understand American democracy and see how they can be involved in their government, we peel back the layers of the political system to expose its inner workings and to examine how competing interests can both facilitate and block the peoples will. In doing so, we use the conceptual framework of gateways. We contend that there are gatesformal and informalthat present obstacles to participation and empowerment. But there are also gateways that give students a chance to influence the process and to overcome the obstacles. The gateways framework helps students conceptualize participation and civic engagementeven democracy itself. Our book is both realistic and optimistic, contending that the American system can be open to the influence of students and responsive to their hopes and dreamsif they have information about how the system works. But we avoid cheerleading by also pointing out the many gates that undermine the workings of government. Although the size and complexity of the American constitutional system is daunting, it is imperative to prepare for the demands of democratic citizenship. This has never been truer than today, when we have a rapidly changing demographic balance within our population. Today groups that were formerly underrepresented in American politics and society, such as second- and third-generation Latinos, are a powerful force in our government. It is our hope that this textbook can awaken students and motivate them not only to learn about politics but to also participate actively throughout every stage of their lives.

In keeping with the theme of gates and gateways in American politics, we also open each chapter with a vignette that tells the story of an individual who has successfully navigated his or her own way in politics. The important role of the vignette for the instructor is to show the students how people like them have made a difference in American political and social life; our vignette subjects vary by historical era, career choice, gender, race, ethnicity, and party affiliation. We also include landmark Supreme Courtcases related to every chapters subject to show students the continuous and vital role the Court plays in both upholding and knocking down gates to policy implementation and political participation. We include policy features in each chapter to illustrate how the chapters core content operates on a real-time, real-life basis. We also have an Election 2018 feature in each chapter. To prepare students to evaluate the vast amounts of data present in todays political discourse, we include a Political Analytics feature in each chapter, which asks students to look closely at visual representations of data and to think critically about what they see.

• A dedicated focus on diversity and participation that reflects the changing demographic infrastructure in America today

• Expanded information about Donald Trumps presidential campaign, and factions in the Republican Party

• Coverage of Donald Trumps first two years as President

• Coverage of the 2018 midterm elections

• An expanded section on protest politics, including the Black Lives Matter and Gun Policy protests spurred by shootings in U.S. high schools movement

• Discussion of how the Supreme Court has changed and may lean differently after Justice Antonin Scalias passing

• New information about recent Supreme Court cases and their ramifications, such as Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) and same-sex marriage

• New opening chapter vignettes featuring Oregon Governor Kate Brown, author Ta-Nehisi Coates, Utah Representative Mia Love, former President Barack Obama, Los Angeles City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana, and Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer

• Explanatory text to accompany all figures to help students interpret data.

As an instructor, MindTap is here to simplify your workload, organize and immediately grade your students assignments, and allow you to customize your course as you see fit. Through deep-seated integration with your Learning Management System, grades are easily exported, and analytics are pulled with the click of a button. MindTap provides you with a platform to easily add in current events videos and RSS feeds from national or local news sources.

Teaching American government remains a vitally important but constantly challenging task for all of us. We know that there are many books to choose from to use in your course. We believe that Gateways to Democracy has an innovative approach in reaching and engaging students across a range of backgrounds and enables instructors to more easily achieve their pedagogical goals in American government courses. We have seen it work for our students, and we know it will work for yours.

Sincerely,

John G. Geer, john.g.geer@vanderbilt.edu

Richard Herrera, Richard.Herrera@asu.edu

Wendy J. Schiller, Wendy_Schiller@Brown.edu

Jeffrey A. Segal, jeffrey.segal@stonybrook.edu

Dear Student:

Our book begins with a simple question: How does anyone exert political influence in a country of more than 328 million people? Students in American government classrooms across the country are grappling with this question as they develop an appreciation of their role in American public life. In our own classrooms, students ask us: What is my responsibility? Can I make a difference? Does my participation matter? How can I get my opinions represented? These are gateway questions that probe the opportunities and limits on citizen involvement in a democracy. For that reason, we not only provide you with essential information about the American political system but also show you how to become a