A fresh and updated look at the social background to American political and economic life, the institutions and processes of government, and the most recent and dramatic events in the political arena. Fully updated to take into account the many political changes of the past four years, and includes new chapters on environmental politics and the presidency Includes commentary of the 2008 presidential election, with the historic election of Barack Obama, and issues such as the changing balance of support for the Democrats and Republicans and the recent decline in the global reputation of the United States Student friendly style and design, with illustrations throughout Uses common examples across chapters Includes a range of pedagogical features, including definition boxes, biographies, chronologies, and more controversies than before