For courses in American government Grounded in the most authoritative scholarship available in the introductory course, Government by the People is a complete introduction to American Government and the discipline of Political Science. It is built around a simple goal to make students effective participants in our political culture by making them informed consumers of that culture. This is the text that will help students understand why government and politics matter. With a new, engaging design and three new, compelling features, the 22nd edition of Government by the People continues in the long tradition of the book that has been the cornerstone of American Government classes for over 50 years. As we enter this very complex political era, there is no more reliable text to help you advance your students from being simple onlookers to knowledgeable participants in the American political experience.