Building on decades of authoritative scholarship, this completely updated text continues to offer accessible, carefully crafted, and straightforward coverage of the foundations of American politics, as well consistent focus on the achievements of a government by the people

In an increasingly cynical world, GBTP emphasizes that politics matters and encourages, motivates, and even inspires students–with accounts of individual and collective acts of courageousness, intellect, and integrity in the political arena–to be effective and informed citizens.  

With each chapter now framed by nationally-selected learning objectives and chapter mastery self-tests, several compelling new features, and an all new contemporary design, this thoroughly updated Twenty-Third Edition continues in the book’s long tradition for excellence.  The National, State, and Local Edition includes the exact same coverage as the National verion, but with additional chapters devoted to State and Local Politics. As we enter this very complex political era, there is no more reliable or more relevant text to help you advance your students from being simple onlookers to knowledgeable participants in the American political experience.'

For courses in American government

A result of  time-tested scholarship, Government by the People gives a hopeful but realistic perspective on American government and emphasizes the role people play in our constitutional democracy.

Prentice Hall is extremely proud to publish the book that remains the most reliable, responsive, and respected text for use in colleges and universities in every state of the nation. For over 50 years, this is the book that has always remained one step ahead of all the others by anticipating your needs as an educator and your students' needs as learners. Now in its twenty-second edition, Government by the People continues this tradition.

We are entering a very complex political era and there is no better text poised to take students from being simple onlookers to knowledgeable participants in the American political experience. The level of scholarship of the Government by the People author team, as well as the way in which they treat each new edition as a fresh challenge, is clearly represented in this new edition.

Part I

Constitutional Principles

Chapter 1         Constitutional Democracy        

Chapter 2         The Living Constitution   

Chapter 3         American Federalism  

Part II

The Political Process

Chapter 4         Political Culture and Ideology  

Chapter 5         The American Political Landscape   

Chapter 6         Interest Groups: The Politics of Influence  

Chapter 7         Political Parties: Essential to Democracy  

Chapter 8         Public Opinion, Participation, and Voting  

Chapter 9         Campaigns and Elections: Democracy in Action     

Chapter 10       The Media and American Politics 

Part III

Policy-Making Institutions

Chapter 11       Congress: The People’s Branch  Chapter 12       The  Presidency: The Leadership Branch    

Chapter 13       The Federal Bureaucracy: Executing the Laws  

Chapter 14       The Judiciary: The Balancing Branch  

Part IV

Rights and Liberties

Chapter 15       First Amendment Freedoms  

Chapter 16       Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property   

Chapter 17       Equal Rights under the Law 

Part V

The Politics of National Policy

Chapter 18       Making Economic and Regulatory Policy 

Chapter 19       Making Social Policy   

Chapter 20       Making Foreign and Defense Policy  

Part VI

State and Local Government 

Chapter 21       State and Local Politics: Who Governs?  

Chapter 22       State Constitutions: Charters or Straitjackets?   

Chapter 23       Parties and Elections in the States  

Chapter 24       State Legislatures  

Chapter 25       State Governors  

Chapter 26       Judges and Justice in the States  

Chapter 27       Local Governments and Metropolitics  

Chapter 28       Making State and Local Policy 

Chapter 29       Staffing and Financing State and Local Governments