American Government and Politics Today - Texas Edition, 2009-2010

Steffen Schmidt, Mack Shelley, Barbara Bardes, William Maxwell, Ernest Crain

Cengage Learning, Jan 29, 2009 - Political Science - 1056 pages

Students are often hesitant to become involved in the political process. Until now. AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY, TEXAS EDITION, 2009-2010 uses intriguing, real-life examples and hands-on exercises to engage students in the fascinating intricacies of American government and inspires them to participate in the political process. It’s the ideal text for the hybrid American Government/Texas Politics course as well as instructors who want to require just one book. As it introduces concepts, the text illustrates specific ways students can participate, showing through exciting examples how individuals ’including students’ can make a profound impact. Through topic-based discussions, the text illustrates that active participation can be as simple as calling a local politician to share an opinion on a local issue, registering to vote, or viewing a town council meeting on local access cable demonstrating how these seemingly small steps can make a difference. Critical thinking is promoted throughout with issue discussion, comparison, and debate. The new edition also includes expanded coverage of the 2008 presidential election. A powerful new administrative DVD and an innovative online Resource Center help you maximize your time and student results. Engaging and inspiring, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY, TEXAS EDITION, 2009-2010 helps students discover the importance of active, informed citizenship. Again and again, students see the power of one to make a difference.
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About the author

Steffen W. Schmidt is the Lucken Professor Emeritus of political science at Iowa State University. He has published 14 books and over 130 articles in scholarly journals and major newspapers. His numerous teaching honors include the Amoco Award for Lifetime Career Achievement in Teaching and Teacher of the Year. He is a pioneer in the use of web-based and real-time video courses, a founding member of the American Political Science Association's section on Computers and Multimedia, and a founding member of the USSTRATCOM academic alliance. Known as "Dr. Politics" for his extensive commentary on U.S. politics in both U.S. and international media, he comments on CNN en Español and Univision as well as CTV Canada Cable TV. Dr. Schmidt grew up in Colombia, South America, and studied in Colombia, Switzerland, the United States and France. He received a B.A. from Rollins College and a Ph.D. in public law and government from Columbia University, New York. Dr. Schmidt is on Facebook (SteffenWSchmidt) and Twitter (DrPolitics). Barbara A. Bardes is professor emerita of political science at the University of Cincinnati. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Kent State University and her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. She served as a faculty member in political science and dean of Mundelein College at Loyola University of Chicago. In 1993, she was appointed dean of Raymond Walters College of the University of Cincinnati, where she served until 2003. She returned to the political science department, where she held the position of graduate director before retiring. Bardes has written articles on public and foreign policy, and women and politics. She also has co-authored Declarations of Independence: Women and Political Power In 19th Century American Novels; Thinking About Public Policy; Public Opinion: Measuring The American Mind; and American Government And Politics Today. William Earl Maxwell is a professor emeritus at San Antonio College, where he has taught courses in U.S. and Texas government since 1971. Throughout his career Maxwell has focused on innovative teaching techniques and improving the teaching and learning environments for students. As part of that effort, in 1975 Maxwell co-authored UNDERSTANDING TEXAS POLITICS, his first text on Texas government. He also co-authored such texts as POLITICS IN TEXAS and THE CHALLENGE OF TEXAS POLITICS: TEXT WITH READINGS. He completed his undergraduate and graduate work at Sam Houston State University. Ernest Crain did his graduate work at the University of Texas at Austin, spent 35 years teaching Texas government at San Antonio College and now lives in Montgomery County, Texas. He has co-authored UNDERSTANDING TEXAS POLITICS, POLITICS IN TEXAS: AN INTRODUCTION TO TEXAS POLITICS, THE CHALLENGE OF TEXAS POLITICS: TEXT WITH READINGS and AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY: TEXAS EDITION. His special areas of interest include party competition, comparative state politics and Texas public policy.

Bibliographic information

• Title: American Government and Politics Today - Texas Edition, 2009-2010
• Authors: Steffen Schmidt, Mack Shelley, Barbara Bardes, William Maxwell, Ernest Crain
• Edition: 14
• Publisher: Cengage Learning, 2009
• ISBN: 0495568414, 9780495568414
• Length: 1056 pages
• Subjects: Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / General; Political Science / General