The new edition of this bestseller in American government has been aggressively revised to provide the most in-depth and current coverage of the 2004 elections, the beginnings of the second George W. Bush administration, and the ongoing wars on terror and in Iraq while also providing expansive new coverage of the United States' and Texas's Constitutional roots. The Texas Edition includes seven complete chapters on Texas government and politics. Written with the belief that students must first understand how American government developed to fully understand the issues facing our nation today, O'Connor/Sabato offers the strongest coverage of both history and current events on the market today. The new edition provides deeper coverage of both history and events today by exploring the Constitutional roots of our system and how those roots are relevant and often challenged today. The authors also continue their commitment to currency and student-relevance by providing up-to-the-minute coverage of the new Bush administration, the ongoing war in Iraq, etc.

Preface.
Analyzing Visuals: A Brief Guide.
I. FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT.
1. The Political Landscape.
2. The Constitution.
3. Federalism.
4. State and Local Government.
5. Civil Liberties.
6. Civil Rights.
II. INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT.
7. Congress.
8. The Presidency.
9. The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy.
10. The Judiciary.
III. POLITICAL BEHAVIOR.
11. Public Opinion and Political Socialization.
12. Political Parties.
13. Voting and Elections.
14. The Campaign Process.
15. The Media.
16. Interest Groups.
IV. PUBLIC POLICY.
17. Social Welfare Policy.
18. Economic Policy.
19. Foreign and Defense Policy.
V. TEXAS GOVERNMENT.
20. The Context for Texas Politics and Government.
21. The Texas Constitution.
22. Local Government and Politics in Texas.
23. The Texas Legislature.
24. The Governor and Bureaucracy in Texas.
25. The Texas Judiciary.
26. Political Parties, Interest Groups, Elections, and Campaigns in Texas.
APPENDICES.
The Declaration of Independence.
Federalist No. 10.
Federalist No. 51.
Presidents, Congresses, and Chief Justices: 1789-2003.
Selected Supreme Court Cases.
Glossary.
Index.