Keeping the Republic, 5th edition, The Essentials

Whether reading today's political news blog or last century's speeches on suffrage, sifting facts from hyperbole and analysis from opinion is a real challenge for students. Keeping the Republic's lively discussion of "who gets what and how" develops their critical thinking abilities so they aren't just memorizing details or passively reading. Every section and every feature in the book has one goal in mind: to get students to think critically and be skeptical of received wisdom. Serving as a true aid to teachers, each chapter is designed to build the students' analytical abilities. By introducing them to the seminal work in the field and showing them how to employ the themes of power and citizenship, this proven text builds confidence in students who want to take an active part in their communities and government- to play their part in keeping the republic, and to consider the consequences of that engagement (or lack thereof).

In this fifth edition, students will find discussion of the Obama administration’s early successes and setbacks, of how Congress fared under Democratic majorities, of the 2010 midterm election results, and of the lasting and lingering effects of the Great Recession, health care reform passage, two ongoing wars, the BP oil spill, and a fast-changing mass media climate.

Bright, bold colors give the book’s new interior design a jumpstart. Bigger photos visually grab students, but it’s the innovative treatment of key terms, the ability to discern the chapter’s structure from clear headings, and the colorful, but cohesive layout of the features that compel students to read every page.

For more information about Keeping the Republic, click here.

California Politics: A Primer

If you find yourself with only a week or two to squeeze coverage of California politics in to your intro to American government class, CQ Press has the perfect solution: a short, engaging—and inexpensive—primer!

Giving students the right level of detail, yet underscoring the essentials for understanding how the state’s political system works, author Renee Van Vechten delivers on the basics. Concise chapters offer up nuts-and-bolts information while showing how a unique set of rules and a rich political history are key to getting a handle on the Golden state. Photos, cartoons, maps, tables, and figures help to make this supplement a go-to resource.

For more information about California Politics, click here.