Analyzing American Democracyteaches students to think analytically by presenting current political science theories and research in answering the engaging, big questions facing American politics today. It serves as both an introduction to American politics and to the discipline of political science by reflecting the theoretical developments and empirical inquiry conducted by researchers. Every chapter highlights the most current research and discusses related public policy. It demonstrates for students how to think critically and analytically, bringing theoretical insight to contemporary American politics.

More than just a comprehensive overview and description of how American politics works, Jon Bond and Kevin Smith demonstrate how politics can be studied systematically. Throughout the text, they introduce students to the insights gleaned from rational choice, behavioral, and biological approaches to politics. Understanding these three social scientific models and their applications helps students get the most out of their American government course and out of this text--they learn a way of thinking that they can use to make sense of future challenges facing the American polity.

A number of features help aid comprehension and critical thinking:

• Key Questions at the start of every chapter frame the learning objectives and concepts
• Politics in Practiceboxes in every chapter encourage students to think critically about how practice compares with theory
• Tables, Figures, Charts, and Maps throughout present the empirical details of American politics, helping students gain quantitative literacy
• Top Ten Takeaway Pointsat the end of every chapter recap the most important points covered but also help students discern the general principles that make sense of the numerous factual details
• Key Terms are bolded in the text, defined in the margins, recapped at the end of the chapter, and compiled in a glossary, all to help insure that students can effortlessly master the vocabulary of American politics and political science in order to move on to the more important concepts.