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American Government: Stories of a Nation
Second Edition©2025 Scott Abernathy; Karen Waples
ISBN:9781319536022
Accessible on multiple devices. Bookmark, search, and highlight in an interactive and downloadable e-book
ISBN:9781319598983
Practice with purpose for better grades and exam scores.
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Learn MoreTable of Contents
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
To the Student
Tips for Taking the AP ® Exam
American Government: What’s Inside the Second Edition
Unit 1 Foundations of American Democracy
Chapter 1 American Government and Politics
The Stories of Our Nation
Chapter 2 The Constitution
A New Vision of Government
Chapter 3 Federalism
Dividing Power between the National Government and the States
Unit 2 The Branches of the Federal Government
Chapter 4 Congress
Representation, Organization, and Legislation
Chapter 5 The American Presidency
Individuals, Institutions, and Executive Power
Chapter 6 The Federal Judiciary
Politics, Power, and the “Least Dangerous” Branch
Chapter 7 The Federal Bureaucracy
Carrying Out the Day-to-Day Functions of Government
Unit 3 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Chapter 8 Civil Liberties
Protecting Fundamental Freedoms
Chapter 9 Civil Rights
What Is Equality?
Unit 4 American Political Ideologies and Beliefs
Chapter 10 American Attitudes about Government and Politics
What Americans Believe
Chapter 11 Public Opinion
Measuring Americans’ Opinions
Chapter 12 Political Ideology
How Beliefs Shape Our Choices
Unit 5 Political Participation
Chapter 13 Voting and Elections
Elections and Voters in an Era of Demographic Change
Chapter 14 Political Parties and Campaigns
The Powers and Limitations of Political Parties
Chapter 15 Interest Groups and Social Movements
Collective Action, Power, and Representation
Chapter 16 The Media
New Technologies, Enduring Issues
Practice Exam for AP ® U.S. Government and Politics
Political Party Affiliations in Congress and the Presidency, 1789–2021 A-1
Summary of Presidential Elections, 1789–2020 A-5
Glossary/Glosario G-1
Notes N-1 Index I-1
Scott Abernathy
After working as an on-street counselor for homeless adolescents in Boston, Scott received a master of curriculum and instruction and taught fourth and seventh grades in Wisconsin public schools. Hoping to learn more about the underlying systems that drove educational outcomes, Scott completed an M.P.A in domestic policy and then a Ph.D. in Politics from Princeton University. Scott is now an associate professor of political science and a University Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota. He is also the author of School Choice and the Future of American Democracy and No Child Left Behind and the Public Schools, both from University of Michigan Press.
Karen Waples
Formerly a trial attorney, Karen Waples has taught since 1989 and currently teaches AP® Comparative Government and Politics and AP® U.S. Government and Politics at Holy Family High School in Broomfield, Colorado. Karen has served as a reader, table leader, question leader, and exam leader for the AP® Comparative Government and Politics Exam and as a reader for the AP® U.S. Government and Politics and AP® U.S. History Exams. She is an endorsed consultant for the College Board® and leads workshops and institutes throughout the country for both the AP® Comparative Government and Politics course and the AP® U.S. Government and Politics course. Karen was the chair of the College Board® Social Science Academic Advisory Committee and was a member of the Curriculum Re-design Committee for AP® U.S. Government and Politics. She received the Colorado Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education in 1997 and was recognized as a Cherry Creek High School Teacher of the Year in 2002.
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