Politics in Action: Cases from the Frontlines of American Government

By Gary Wasserman

Designed for use on American Government courses, Politics in Action encourages students of American Government to take a critical approach to contemporary events and consider the impact of politics on everyday life.

The book offers short in-depth cases that enliven the teaching of often-abstract concepts and help students grasp key issues shaping their lives as citizens. Each of the fifteen chapters work as self-contained stories drawing attention to important and current political actors, events, and issues in American politics. This edition highlights current conflicts such as DEI, fake news, gun control and free speech on campus to illuminate contemporary American politics. Taken together, these concise reader-friendly stories reflect the energy and life of modern American politics.

Features

A three-part and 15-chapter organization echoes an introductory American Government syllabus, allowing for seamless integration into teaching the course. The chapters begin with an introduction that frames the discussion connecting it to significant issues and players. "Concepts to Consider" feature box in each chapter to aid student understanding of the key topics presented in each case.

Politics in Action is an ideal text for undergraduate courses on American government.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1041279132
• ISBN13: 9781041279136
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 216 Pages