{"product_id":"the-handy-american-government-answer-book-how-washington-politics-and-elections-work-9781578596393","title":"The Handy American Government Answer Book: How Washington, Politics and Elections Work","description":"\u003cb\u003eA practical, accessible, engaging, and comprehensive guide to how American democracy works (and how it sometimes doesn't work).\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e The stakes have never been higher: national security, civil liberties, the economy, the future of the republic. Yet few outside Washington actually understand how our government and political system should work, much less how it actually operates. On one level, it's a complex, interlocking world veiled in power brokering, bureaucracy, and big money. On another, it's the biggest, richest, most influential organization in the world, for better or worse. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Understanding how modern America is managed and governed is more vital than ever, but television, radio, newspapers, and social media frequently aim to spin, seduce, and sell product rather than serve anything resembling the truth. Filling the breach and answering basic questions about how our very complex government operates and what it promises, \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Handy American Government Answer Book: How Washington, Politics, and Elections Work\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e takes a comprehensive look at the systems, people, and policies that comprise American democracy, providing much-needed clarity to the current political drama. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This informative book traces the historic development of the government, the functions of each branch of government, and how they work together. It provides clear and concise definitions of who does what and why. Written in an entertaining, reader-friendly, question-and-answer format, \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Handy American Government Answer Book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e deciphers the news behind the headlines through well-researched answers to nearly 800 common questions. You will also read about such fascinating tidbits as \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003cli\u003eWhy is America's democratic system considered so precious? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow are shifting demographics related to the electorate? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat can Americans do to influence their government? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDid the framers of the Constitution place equal weight on the concepts of liberty, equality, and democracy? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat does \"checks and balances\" mean? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat generally happens when members of Congress act inappropriately? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow many presidents have been impeached? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow does a case reach the U.S. Supreme Court? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhich president appointed the most justices? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow do civil liberties differ from civil rights? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow does the Bill of Rights protect individual liberties? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs measuring public opinion a new phenomenon in politics? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat does the concept ?majority rule with minority rights? mean? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy has trust in the government declined? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat does it mean to lobby? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow are PAC donations and political decisions linked? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhere do the party symbols of the donkey and the elephant come from? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat is electoral realignment? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWho pays for the campaigns of candidates? \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDid the electoral college ever vote unanimously for a president?\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This handy primer also includes numerous illustrations, graphs, tables, a helpful bibliography, and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. In the midst of the overheated rhetoric of the moment and the fast-changing, crisis-dominated world, a well-informed citizenry armed with \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Handy American Government Answer Book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e is the best defense against political and corporate chicanery!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGina Misiroglu\u003c\/b\u003e has authored or edited more than three dozen books in the popular culture, biography, American history, folklore, and women studies genres. She holds two degrees from UCLA and has worked in various editorial capacities for publishers such as Price Stern Sloan, New World Library, Visible Ink Press, Facts On File, and Routledge. She has contributed to or authored several 'Handy Answer Book' titles, including \u003ci\u003eThe Handy Answer Book for Kids (and Parents)\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Handy Politics Answer Book\u003c\/i\u003e. Additional notable works include the three-volume \u003ci\u003eAmerican Countercultures: An Encyclopedia of Nonconformists, Alternative Lifestyles, and Radical Ideas in U.S. History\u003c\/i\u003e, winner of the 2010 RUSA Award for Outstanding Reference Source; \u003ci\u003eThe Superhero Book: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic-Book Icons and Hollywood Heroes\u003c\/i\u003e; and the trade anthology \u003ci\u003eGirls Like Us: 40 Extraordinary Women Celebrate Girlhood in Story, Poetry, and Song\u003c\/i\u003e, winner of the New York Public Library's 'Best Book for Teens' Award. Misiroglu lives in Los Angeles and is proud to say she votes in every national and local election.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Visible Ink Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50566992658706,"sku":"9781578596393","price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_177e2b46-8c6c-4602-acd0-a1d7c23eacb8.jpg?v=1731905563","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-handy-american-government-answer-book-how-washington-politics-and-elections-work-9781578596393","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}