Lively and straightforward, The Basics of American Politics offers a concise and accessible introduction to the nuts and bolts of the American system of government.

Throughout the nine chapters, Gary Wasserman and Elliott Fullmer engage readers in a complex "game" where government institutions and political players follow constitutional and other rules to gain power. The Basics reviews the original purpose, history, and current performance of our democratic system and emphasizes the importance of civic trust in the political culture. A comprehensive yet compact set of features—including “Spotlight On,” “A Closer Look,” and “Case Study” boxes; chapter wrap-ups, Thought Questions, Learn the Terms glossary entries, and Suggested Readings—keeps students engaged and offer professors easy “launching pads” into timely topics beyond the basic text.

This affordable text is ideal for introductory courses on American government.