Praise for the Eighth Edition
"In crafting a text on American government, the greatest difficulty lies in explaining the complexity of the American political system and at the same time making that explanation accessible. In this new edition, Cal Jillson accomplishes both with extraordinary ease. Each chapter unfolds around three deceptively simple questions: 1) How does American politics really work? 2) Why do we do it this way? and 3) Is there a better way? Jillson thus allows student and professor to connect the descriptive to the historical to the normative. Clear, comprehensive, and concise, this is no doubt the best American government text on the market today."
-Christopher Malone, Pace University
"I really like this textbook because it is evenly written across all chapters and places the institutions of American government in a historical context. The first three chapters of the eighth edition, on political principles, the Constitution, and federalism, are just as serious as the core chapters on Congress, the presidency, and the courts. For my personal use, I also like Jillson's liberal reference to court cases, which some American government texts now gloss over. The book is widely accessible, but I assign it to honors students. It's that good."
-Keith Dougherty, University of Georgia
Praise for Previous Editions
"Jillson's carefully crafted book helps students understand American politics at a deeper and more engaging level than other texts. Each clear, concise chapter weaves together the threads of American political growth into a thoughtful perspective on the nation's urgent challenges."
-Dave Robertson, University of Missouri - St. Louis
"The ideals that Jillson so thoroughly includes in this text are straight down the middle and do not in any way cater to the right or left, which is a refreshing idea in today's educational world. An A+ for government classes everywhere!"
-Drew Mowen, Ft. Scott Community College
"This book truly stands apart from the vast crowd of introductory American politics textbooks."
-Shamira M. Gelbman, Illinois State University
"[This is] a book that connects the political challenges of today to the political conflicts of the past. Students can see not only ways in which the political system has changed, but also how choices we make today will shape the setting for addressing problems to be faced in the future."
-Jonathan Chausovsky, SUNY Fredonia
"The textbook's thesis is that the American political system is best understood when viewed through the lens of institutions, and how and why those institutions have evolved over time. In my mind, this is the most important way to understand American politics and students gain a much more substantive understanding."
-Quentin Kidd, Christopher Newport University
"Like other scholars, I have searched and searched for the best American Government text. I adopted Jillson's book because of its in-depth coverage of political history, Supreme Court cases, and basic facts. . . .It is a great book."
-Keith Dougherty, University of Georgia
