Product details
- ISBN 9781041027041
- Weight: 740g
- Dimensions: 152 x 229mm
- Publication Date: 23 Feb 2026
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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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.
Gary Wasserman has shaped a career in teaching, public service, political consulting, and writing. He recently wrote The Doha Experiment about his eight years as a Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar. His case book, Politics in Action (3rd ed.), was published in 2026. He now lives in Portland, Oregon.
Elliott Fullmer is Professor of Political Science at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. He is the author of two other recent books, Tuesday’s Gone: America’s Early Voting Revolution and Everyone’s Democracy. His research on elections and voting behavior has also appeared in Presidential Studies Quarterly, American Politics Research, Election Law Journal, and other outlets.
