The authors (of the U. of California at San Diego) of this introductory textbook on American politics emphasize the centrality of institutions in enabling and constraining collective decision making in the United States. They first offer chapters on what they see as the foundational elements of American national politics, the Constitution, federalism, civil rights, and civil liberties, explaining their development over time. They then examine Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal judiciary, discussing how the politics and logic of their development shaped their organizational features, practices, and relations with one another. Next come chapters examining the historical development, political logic, and present-day operations and activities of the institutions that link citizens with government officials, covering public opinion; voting, campaigns, and elections; political parties; interest groups; and the news media. A final chapter explores the dilemmas of institutional reform. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR