The Complete Idiot's Guide to American Government, Second Edition [Mass Market Paperback]

Mary M. Shaffrey (Author), Melanie Fonder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 7, 2005 | Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide

The most comprehensive and up-to-date general reference book on the history and structure of the government of the United States - all its major institutions and agencies, the election process, and the creation and passing of laws and taxes. "The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to American Government, Second Edition", is a must-have for students and general readers who want to make sense of the complexities of the US political system.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Shaffrey is the Washington correspondent for the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal. In 2004 she covered the presidential and later vice presidential campaign of U.S. Senator John Edwards. Before joining the Winston-Salem Journal in 2003, she was a metro reporter for The Washington Times and won several Society of Professional Journalists Awards. She has also reported for States News Service; The Hill, a tri-weekly newspaper covering Congress; and The Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times. A native of Towson, Maryland, and a former high school government/history teacher, she received her B.A. in history from Providence College and her M.A. in newspaper journalism from Syracuse University. Melanie Fonder is the press secretary for Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. She most recently was associate editor for WisPolitics.com, an online political news service. Fonder is a former staff writer for The Hill, a tri-weekly newspaper covering Congress. The Grafton, Wisconsin, native is an award-winning journalist and former reporter for The Green Bay News-Chronicle and has written for numerous other publications. Fonder received her B.A. from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, attended the Fund for American Studies Institute on Political Journalism at Georgetown University, and is working on her M.A. at the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 2 edition (June 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592573282
• ISBN-13: 978-1592573288
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #118,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What? You didn't take Civics in high school??, March 4, 2004

By 

Regina "RCM" (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide To American Government (Paperback)

I went to a private high school that did not offer a course explaining the structure and function of the US government. I'm in my twenties and I live in Washington, DC. I was feeling like the BIGGEST idiot in town.

This book did its job; it outlined the federal government, it discussed local government, and it presented the complexity of the three branches of government in detail that helped me to understand current events on a deeper level.

It could have been better. Some aspects of the Bill of Rights were not explained very well. And once or twice I felt that the book was trying to tell me which politics to agree with (e.g. during discussions of supreme court precedent cases and during the definitions of "republican" and "democrat").

Overall, however, it was an easy read and there were lots of interesting facts. For example, the first woman elected to congress, the longest filibuster in history, and how many times certain constitutional amendments were proposed before they passed.

This book will not provide a cure for "politicians don't care about my vote" depression, but it cures ignorance with facts and provides encouragement by explaining how individuals can get involved in running the country, at least on a local level.

I now feel ready (and even eager!) to read more complicated texts. Also, I feel that my vote is just a little more meaningful than before, now that I actually know what I'm voting for and why I am voting.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A reader, May 26, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide To American Government (Paperback)

I used it as a secondary source in preparing for the CLEP in American Government. I found Cliffs QuickReview of American Government to contain the same information but much more concisely. If you want additional interesting tidbits concerning government then the Idiot's book is for you. However, if you are looking for a prep book for the CLEP exam then get the Cliffs book.

This is not to say that the Idiot's book is bad. It is a good book that is packed with information.

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for CLEP test, October 4, 2002

By 

J. Lee (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide To American Government (Paperback)

This was the only American Government that covered most of the subjects for the American Government CLEP test. Unlike a lot of idiot books, this one is well written and doesn't talk down to you. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to get a better grip on what's going on in Washington, and WHY.