"Answers to over 500 questions about how your federal and state governments work, including the history of the U.S. Constitution, an explanation of citizens' rights outlined in the Bill of Rights, explanations of the operations of the three branches of the U.S. government, U.S. Supreme Court history, a discussion of the Civil Rights Movement, and explanations of your rights and responsibilities as a U.S. citizen"--

"Building on his own extensive experience as a writer and activist on various aspects of inner and institutional life, Parker J. Palmer explores the soulful dynamics of American politics. What he did for educators in The Courage to Teach he does for citizens here, exploring the dynamics of our inner lives for clues to reclaiming our national unity. In Healing the Heart of Democracy, he points the way to a politics worthy of the human spirit, rooted...

"Featuring compelling, well-researched text and accompanying sidebars, this handy guidebook offers an accessible overview of big US civics topics, including federal programs, international relations, and more"--

At the end of his first inaugural address, delivered to a nation deeply divided and on the brink of civil war, Abraham Lincoln concluded, "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies." Lincoln's words ring true today, especially for a new generation raised on political discourse that consists of vitriolic social media and the echo chambers of polarized news media. In We Must Not Be Enemies, Michael Austin combines American history,...

It's very important to be a good citizen. But what does that mean? Readers will learn through examples in a fun question and answer format that taking pride in what you do and trying to make the world a better place shows good citizenship.

America has always been a nation of laws. But today our laws have grown so vast and reach so deeply into our lives that it's worth asking: In our reverence for law, have we gone too far?

Over just the last few decades, laws in this nation have exploded in number; they are increasingly complex; and the punishments they carry are increasingly severe. Some of these laws come from our elected representatives, but many now come

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Thomas Jefferson's conviction that the health of the nation's democracy would depend on the existence of an informed citizenry has been a cornerstone of our political culture since the inception of the American republic. Even today's debates over education reform and the need to be competitive in a technologically advanced, global economy are rooted in the idea that the education of rising generations is crucial to the nation's future. In this book,...

Civics is the study of the rights and duties that come with being a member of a country. Members of a country are called citizens. Find out more in Civics, one of the titles in the Social Studies Essential Skills series.

In an era when Democrats and Republicans in the United States often disagree on key concepts, understanding how individuals and institutions interact to work toward the common good has never been more important. This informative text takes an in-depth look at civic engagement in the United States, focusing on institutions such as the news media, political parties, and the U.S. Postal Service. Primary sources give readers a better understanding of...

America's favorite government teacher offers thrilling, heartfelt stories of ordinary American heroes. Most pundits and historians sell a dangerously naïve version of the American story-either praising its most consequential figures uncritically or criticizing them unfairly. Sharon McMahon believes the truth is more human. In her debut book The Small and the Mighty, she tells the inpiring stories of twelve Americans--regular people with human foibles--whose...