Includes bibliographical references (pages 315-325) and index.
Contents:
Timeline -- Introduction -- Introduction to the democratic republic -- The U.S. Constitution -- Federalism -- The U.S. Congress -- The President -- The courts -- Civil liberties and civil rights -- Political opinion -- Publis interest groups -- Political parties -- Campaigns and elections -- The media machine -- The Declaration of Independence -- The articles of confederation -- The U.S. Constitution -- The Bill of Rights.
Summary:
"The stakes have never been higher: national security, civil liberties, the economy, the future of the republic. Yet few outside Washington actually understand how our government and political system should work, much less how it actually operates. On one level, it's a complex, interlocking world veiled in power brokering, bureaucracy, and big money. On another, it's the biggest, richest, most influential organization in the world, for better or worse. Understanding how modern America is managed and governed is more vital than ever, but television, radio, newspapers, and social media frequently aim to spin, seduce, and sell product rather than serve anything resembling the truth. Filling the breach and answering basic questions about how our very complex government operates and what it promises, [this book] takes a comprehensive look at the systems, people, and policies that comprise American democracy, providing much-needed clarity to the current political drama. This informative book traces the historic development of the government, the functions of each branch of government, and how they work together. It provides clear and concise definitions of who does what and why. Written in an entertaining, reader-friendly, question-and-answer format, [this book] deciphers the news behind the headlines through well-researched answers to nearly 800 common questions. This handy primer also includes numerous illustrations, graphs, tables, a helpful bibliography, and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. In the midst of the overheated rhetoric of the moment and the fast-changing, crisis-dominated world, a well-informed citizenry armed with [this book] is the best defense against political and corporate chicanery!"--Amazon.com.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.