Politics is complex. Why do people vote or choose not to vote? What strategies do candidates employ to capture votes, and why are incumbents more successful than challengers? What functions do political parties serve, and why do they care so much about legislative districting?
Even though it takes many forms, politics possesses an underlying logic that can be understood in terms of five simple principles. Each chapter of the book uses this five-principle framework to help identify patterns in the noise and
maneuvering of everyday political life.
American Government: Power and Purpose emphasizes the knowledge and skills that are necessary to understand American politics:
� Core of the Analysis boxes at the start of each chapter preview key analytic
concepts,
� Analyzing the Evidence units use vivid graphics to present fascinating results from political science.
� Figures and tables provide the raw data behind political trends and behavior. � Key terms are defined in the margin for easy reference.