The brief edition maintains the framework of the complete text, emphasizing the historical development of the American political system, who governs, and to what end. Revisions include updated examples, tables, and figures; complete coverage through the 2004 Presidential election; and expanded discussion of domestic and foreign and defense policy in two new chapters--Chapter 12, Making Domestic Policy and Chapter 13, Making Foreign and Military Policy. Additional updates include discussions of current topics such as the U.S.A Patriot Act, recent Supreme Court decisions, and the Department of Homeland Security. An expanded discussion on education addresses how students may be influenced by interactions with campus organizations, political movements, and social contacts and how they may in turn affect public opinion. To augment the chapter summary and help students synthesize and think critically about what they learn, Revisiting the Enduring Questions appear at the end of each chapter as mini-essays and expand on the classic questions about democracy posed at the beginning of the chapter. In-text pedagogy includes key terms, end-of-chapter summaries, World Wide Web boxes, and suggested readings.