The #1 book for American government, now even more interactive
Building on We the People’s focus on the citizen’s role, why participation matters, and the influence of gender, class, race, and ethnicity in American politics, the Fifteenth Edition offers new ways for students to understand and participate in politics. New and updated features in the Norton Illumine Ebook help students engage with real-life stories, interpret data, and understand the role of participation and representation, while InQuizitive helps students master and apply key concepts.
Features of the Fifteenth Edition
Illustrates how politics matters and relates to students’ lives
Chapter-opening stories by Andrea Campbell, available in the Norton Illumine Ebook, focus on real people from diverse backgrounds and political persuasions and how they have been affected by government and participated in the political process. Throughout the text, content updates show students that politics matters, with 2024 election coverage highlighting pivotal issues and implications. An exciting new 2024 digital election supplement provides extensive coverage of the election, with even more up-to-date data and results.
A balanced approach encourages all students to participate
We the People’s diverse author team brings their unique perspectives and expertise to the book to engage students in a dynamic political environment. Who Are Americans? and Who Participates?* infographics, available as new interactives in the Norton Illumine Ebook, ask students to explore data and think critically about how different groups are affected by politics and government.
*Who Participates? features are available in the Full and Core Editions.
2024 digital election supplement explores election results and their implications and impacts on students’ lives.
An exciting new 2024 digital election supplement, available to adopters in January 2025, provides extensive and accurate coverage of the election, including more up-to-date data and results. Written by Benjamin Ginsberg and election expert Caroline Tolbert, this supplement gives students the context of the 2024 elections, highlights the pivotal issues, examines each party's campaign strategies, analyzes the results, and discusses the implications for the future of American politics and government.
Meet the Authors
Benjamin Ginsberg
is the David Bernstein Professor of Political Science, Director of the Washington Center for the Study of American Government, and Chair of the Center for Advanced Governmental Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Before joining the Johns Hopkins faculty in 1992, Ginsberg was Professor of Government at Cornell University. Ginsberg’s published research focuses on political development, presidential politics, participation, and money in politics.
Caroline J. Tolbert
is Distinguished University Professor of Political Science at the University of Iowa, where she regularly teaches American government and social media and politics. Her work is driven by an interest in strengthening American democracy and inclusive participation in politics, the economy, and society.
Andrea Louise Campbell
is the Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was named a MacVicar Faculty Fellow in 2024. Professor Campbell's interests include American politics, political behavior, public opinion, and political inequality, particularly their intersection with social welfare policy, health policy, and tax policy.
Megan Ming Francis
is the G. Alan and Barbara Delsman Associate Professor of Political Science and an associate professor of law, societies, and justice at the University of Washington. She is also a Senior Democracy Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. Francis specializes in the study of American politics, with broad interests in criminal punishment, Black political activism, philanthropy, and the post–Civil War South.
Best Value and Options
Full Fifteenth Edition
The most comprehensive edition, with Who Are Americans? and Who Participates? infographics in every chapter and three separate policy chapters on social, economic, and foreign policy.
Core Fifteenth Edition
The same comprehensive coverage as the Full Edition, without the three policy chapters. Available as an ebook only.
Essentials Fifteenth Edition
Briefer coverage with Who Are Americans? infographics and two policy chapters on domestic and foreign policy.
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