American Government: Institutions and Policies - Softcover

Wilson, James Q.; DiIulio, Jr. John J.; Bose, Meena

3.27

204 ratings by Goodreads

9781111830076: American Government: Institutions and Policies

Softcover

ISBN 10: 111183007X ISBN 13: 9781111830076

Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing, 2012

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Acclaimed for the scholarship of its prominent authors and the clarity of its narrative, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES sets the standard for public policy coverage while maintaining focus on three fundamental topics: the institutions of American government; the historical development of governmental procedures, actors, and policies; and who governs in the United States and to what ends. Reader involvement in the material is bolstered by features such as learning objectives, "Who Governs?" and "To What Ends?" questions framing each chapter, and "How Things Work" boxes that illustrate important concepts. Available separately, a state-of-the-art media package with new online tools makes the learning experience engaging and accessible.

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About the Author:

James Q. Wilson most recently taught at Boston College and Pepperdine University. He was Professor Emeritus of Management and Public Administration at UCLA and was previously Shattuck Professor of Government at Harvard University. He wrote more than a dozen books on the subjects of public policy, bureaucracy, and political philosophy. He was president of the American Political Science Association (APSA), and he is the only political scientist to win three of the four lifetime achievement awards presented by the APSA. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, in 2003. Professor Wilson passed away in March of 2012 after battling cancer. His work helped shape the field of political science in the United States. His many years of service to his AMERICAN GOVERNMENT book remain evident on every page and will continue for many editions to come.

John J. DiIulio, Jr. is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania and has won each of Penn's most prestigious teaching awards. He was previously Professor of Politics and Public Affairs at Princeton University. He received his PhD in Political Science from Harvard University. He has been a senior fellow and directed research programs at several leading think tanks including the Brookings Institution and has won awards from the Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management, the American Political Science Association, and other bodies. He has advised presidential candidates in both parties, served on bipartisan government reform commissions, and worked as a senior staff member in the White House.

Meena Bose is director of the Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, Peter S. Kalikow Chair in Presidential Studies, and Professor of Political Science at Hofstra University. She received her PhD in 1996 from Princeton University. Dr. Bose teaches courses on the American Presidency, Presidential Leadership and Policy Making, and American Politics. She is the author or editor of several volumes in presidency studies and American politics. She taught for six years at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Review:

"Whether it is the student who has come to believe that politics has always been about the status quo or the student who has given up because average citizens cannot produce real change (a very common bias in my experience), this book finds ways to present a more nuanced view of American politics and show them that there is more to learn about the political landscape... you then have a very good opportunity to seize their attention and get them interested."

"I have examined over 15 American Government textbooks... and I find that none of them come close to matching this textbook in terms of approach, clarity, content, pedagogy, and ancillary materials.... [Wilson and DiIulio's work in the public sector over the past years enhances their impressive academic credentials. The fact that they have worked for both Republicans and Democrats and the evenhanded manner with which they have covered the major topics in the text allays any reservations that this text doesn't give every side of an issue fair treatment.... I stand in awe of how Wilson and DiIulio are able to package so much solid information in such few pages.... This is as solid and intellectually honest a textbook as one could hope for. It should be the standard by which all others are measured. The emphasis on students using their critical thinking skills to reach conclusions on issues of the day provides a firm foundation.... I think that this is the finest American Government textbook available today. The authors combine excellent scholarship, academic rigor, practical examples, and insight that are an invaluable aid to any student trying to understand their government."

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