"The stakes have never been higher: national security, civil liberties, the economy, the future of the republic. Yet few outside Washington actually understand how our government and political system should work, much less how it actually operates. On one level, it's a complex, interlocking world veiled in power brokering, bureaucracy, and big money. On another, it's the biggest, richest, most influential organization in the world, for better or worse. Understanding how modern America is managed and governed is more vital than ever, but television, radio, newspapers, and social media frequently aim to spin, seduce, and sell product rather than serve anything resembling the truth. Filling the breach and answering basic questions about how our very complex government operates and what it promises, [this book] takes a comprehensive look at the systems, people, and policies that comprise American democracy, providing much-needed clarity to the current political drama. This informative book traces the historic development of the government, the functions of each branch of government, and how they work together. It provides clear and concise definitions of who does what and why. Written in an entertaining, reader-friendly, question-and-answer format, [this book] deciphers the news behind the headlines through well-researched answers to nearly 800 common questions. This handy primer also includes numerous illustrations, graphs, tables, a helpful bibliography, and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. In the midst of the overheated rhetoric of the moment and the fast-changing, crisis-dominated world, a well-informed citizenry armed with [this book] is the best defense against political and corporate chicanery!"--Amazon.com.

Timeline -- Introduction -- INTRODUCTION to the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC : Politics and government -- Democracy and other forms of government -- Fundamental values -- Political ideologies -- Shifting demographics and political implications -- THE U.S. CONSTITUTION : The colonial background -- Early colonial government -- The road to revolution -- The first state governments -- The constitutional convention -- Principles of the constitution -- Amending the constitution -- FEDERALISM : Federalismand its consitutional basis -- State rights and budgets -- State and local government -- THE U.S. CONGRESS : The nature and functions of Congress -- House-Senate differences and congressional privileges -- Congressional elections and apportionment -- How Congress is organized -- Lawmaking and budgeting -- THE PRESIDENT : Who can become President? The President's role and responsibilities -- Presidential powers -- The executive organization -- The role of the Vice Presidency -- THE COURTS : The federal court system -- The selection of federal judges -- The Supreme Court at work -- Policy making and the courts -- State versus federal courts -- CIVIL LIBERTIES and CIVIL RIGHTS : Differences between civil liberties and civil rights -- The Bill of Rights -- The First Amendment : Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition -- The second, fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth amendments : From the right to bear arms to the rights of the criminally accused -- Civil liberties vs. security issues -- The right to privacy -- Experiences of ethnic groups, women, gays and lesbians, and juveniles -- POLITICAL OPINION : What is political opinion and how is it measured? Political preferences and voting behavior -- Political opinion and political process -- PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS : The role of public interest groups -- Types of interest groups -- Strategies that make interest groups successful -- Regulating lobbyists -- POLITICAL PARTIES : Functions of political parties in the U.S. -- The two-party system -- A history of political parties in the U.S. -- Mechanisms of political party change : realignment, dealignment, tipping -- CAMPAIGNS and ELECTIONS : How are elections conducted? -- The National Convention -- The election campaign -- Campaign finance -- The popular vote and the role of the electoral college -- The MEDIA MACHINE : The media and public opinion -- The power of the press : the media and political campaigns -- Political campaigns and the internet -- Freedom of the press -- The media under various administrations -- Further readings -- The Declaration of Independence -- The Articles of Confederation -- The U.S. Constitution -- The Bill of Rights.