Government by the People, National Version, 20th Edition [Hardcover]

James MacGregor Burns (Author), J.W. Peltason (Author), Thomas E. Cronin (Author), David B. Magleby (Author), David M. O'Brien (Author), Paul C. Light (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0131101706 | ISBN-13: 978-0131101708 | Edition: 20

For the Introduction to American Government or Introduction to American Politics courses. This is the most authoritative text for American Government. Always one step ahead of the competition. Government by the People continually sets the standards for other American Government texts by anticipating instructors' needs. Known for its impeccable scholarship and for its distinguished author team who treats each new edition as a fresh challenge, Government by the People is the perfect text for the educator who wants students to understand how the American political system works.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 20 edition (March 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131101706
• ISBN-13: 978-0131101708
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,299,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars gooses review, July 11, 2005

By 

goose "goose" (homewood, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Government by the People, Basic Version, 20th Edition (Hardcover)

The best features of this book include the charts which appear to have been all polled in new york state or california due to the leftist bias which makes me question the accuracy of any of the statistics. The thing that I liked least was the books negative attitude toward third parties which it attempted to emphasize as spoilers in political races. Besides that the side stories were interesting but of completely no use in showing how government works. The chapters were long and very repetative stating information several times as if it was new even though it had been explained several times before. The same examples were also used in many cases to explain different things. If you have a class with this book there is no point in reading the whole book. If you know nothing about political science you should read up to the last 4 chapters which are on rights and civil liberties this part is just common sense and can be largely opinionated.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Governmet? HA!, January 25, 2006

By 

Justin "JSS" (Wichita, Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Government by the People, National, State, and Local Version, 20th Edition (Hardcover)

I absolutely hated this book, it gave little factual information on the srtucture and founding of our government. The book also had an enormous left wing bias which is definately inappropriate for a college class. Instructors please find another textbook that is more interesting and deals with function and structure of government {if you want your students to read it ;) }

HORRIBLE BOOK!

3.0 out of 5 stars Government book, September 29, 2011

By 

Jon - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Government by the People, Basic Version, 20th Edition (Hardcover)

Would have liked to have known there was more than 1 version of this edition with the same cover as my daughter informed me that I got the wrong one. Seems to work as is smaller and easier for her to carry to class. Was supposed to be a text to be used at home. Now its what she uses for class and uses the real one at home since that's where most of her studying is done.