The American Democracy, Texas Edition [Hardcover]

Thomas Patterson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0073219363 | ISBN-13: 978-0073219363 | Publication Date: December 15, 2006 | Edition: 8

This comprehensive text is known for its engaging narrative and its positive presentation of the latest developments in scholarship and real-life politics. Through the use of narrative, The American Democracy weaves together theory, information, and examples in ways that highlight key points, make them easy to understand, and capture readers' interest. The Texas edition includes eight additional chapters that examine the government and politics of the Lone Star State including the Texas State Constitution, interest groups, political parties and elections, the legislature, the governor and state agencies, the court system, and local government in Texas.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thomas E. Patterson is Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was previously distinguished professor of political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University. Raised in a small Minnesota town near the Iowa and South Dakota borders, he was educated at South Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota, where he received his Ph.D. in 1971. Currently running the "Vanishing Voter" study at the Kennedy School of Government, which has been widely used in the media and on college campuses, Tom is also the author of six books and dozens of articles, which focus primarily on the media and elections. His book, 'Out of Order'(1994), received national attention when President Clinton said every politician and journalist should be required to read it. An earlier book, 'The Mass Media Election'(1980), received a 'Choice' award as Outstanding Academic Book, 1980-81. Another of Patterson's books, 'The Unseeing Eye'(1976), was recently selected by the American Association for Public Opinion Research as one of the fifty most influential books of the past half century in the field of public opinion. His current research includes a study of White House communication and a study of the news media's role in Western democracies. His work has been funded by major grants from the National Science Foundation, the Markle Foundation, the Smith-Richardson Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 784 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 8 edition (December 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0073219363
• ISBN-13: 978-0073219363
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #990,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars POL 201: american political systems, July 11, 2000

By 

K. Budzek "lbtyjnana" (Norman, Oklahoma, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The American Democracy (Hardcover)

This was the text used for my introductory poly-sci class. This book is one of the better texts I've been required to read. It's very concise and easy to understand, but doesn't talk down to the student. A wonderful reference and overview.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American Democracy - For dummies, November 9, 2006

By 

M. MCIVOR (New Fairfield, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The American Democracy, with PowerWeb (Hardcover)

I am brand new to the subject but found this book an excellent starting point. It has easy to read chapters and supporting graphs. I reccomend to anyone who may be interested or a text book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, informative., January 15, 2010

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James Yanni (Bellefontaine Neighbors, Mo. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The American Democracy, Alternate Edition (Paperback)

This is one of the more readable textbooks that I've encountered, yet in achieving that status, it does not seem to have sacreficed any degree of thoroughness. It is an excellent introduction to the American political system, and if, as one reviewer has noted, it is somewhat mistitled in that the American political system is NOT, technically, a democracy but is rather a representative republic, that's a pretty minor quibble to slam an otherwise excellent book over. Heck, I'd have given it a second star just for its appendices; it includes the text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the US (including all amendments), and Federalist papers #s 10 and 51. As to the reviewer who complained that the book is biased against the south, I think he's oversensitive; I certainly didn't see anything of the sort.