American Government
Central Ideas in American Government is Soomo’s best-selling webtext. Driven by concise learning objectives, each chapter presents political science students with critical concepts in American Government.

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Steady encouragement
After each new topic is presented, students answer a few questions about the main ideas. This helps students stay focused, actively process the information, and construct new knowledge.
Presentation and exploration
Sixteen chapters offer concise presentation of key concepts. An additional 32 investigations guide students through the examination of real-world artifacts and case studies to put the concepts into context and test the limits of the ideas presented.
Study questions
More than 1,000 study questions encourage close reading and guide students to key information.
Everything you need
Central Ideas in American Government provides everything you need for an online course—including the text, interactive investigations, lecture slides, a test bank, and an analytics dashboard. And we can tailor the webtext to match your program’s emphasis, term length, student expectations, and assignment types.
- The Founding and Constitution
- Central Ideas
- I. The Constitution
- Declaring Independence
- The Articles of Confederation
- Negotiating the Constitution
- A New Government
- II. Major Principles
- Federalism as a Principle
- III. Government Powers
- The Articles of the Constitution
- Investigation: Comparing Constitutions (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Comparing Constitutions (Part 2 of 2)
- Amending the Constitution
- Twenty-Seven Amendments and Counting
- Investigation: Till We Have Suffrage: The Amendment (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Till We Have Suffrage: The Amendment (Part 2 of 2)
- IV. Amending Difficulties
- The Contentious Constitution
- The Living Document
- Federalism
- Central Ideas
- I. Establishing a Federal System
- II. Nation vs. State
- Investigation: Supreme Court Stories: McCulloch v. Maryland (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Supreme Court Stories: McCulloch v. Maryland (Part 2 of 2)
- Dual Federalism
- Cooperative Federalism
- Coercive Federalism
- New Federalism
- Brief History of Federalism
- III. Power Shifts
- Crises
- Technological Developments
- The Commerce Clause
- Differing Political Ideas
- IV. Strengths and Weaknesses
- Investigation: Half Baked (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Half Baked (Part 2 of 2)
- An Essential Tension
- Civil Liberties
- Central Ideas
- I. Protection of Individuals
- II. Core Protections and Limits
- Amendment I: Freedom of Religion
- Amendment I: Freedom of Speech
- Amendment I: Symbolic Speech
- Investigation: Bong Hits 4 Jesus (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Bong Hits 4 Jesus (Part 2 of 2)
- Amendment I: Limits to Free Speech
- Amendment I: Assembly and the Press
- Amendment II: Firearms
- Amendment IV: Searches and Seizures
- Amendment V: Due Process
- Amendment VI: Fair Trials
- Amendment VIII: Cruel and Unusual Punishment
- III. Protections Extended
- Religious Freedom and Incorporation
- Selective Incorporation
- IV. Changing Interpretation
- Privacy Rights and Abortion
- Privacy Rights and Sexuality
- Investigation: Older than the Bill of Rights (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Older than the Bill of Rights (Part 2 of 2)
- The Right to Die
- The Future of Civil Liberties
- Civil Rights
- Central Ideas
- I. Equal Protection
- Affirmative Action
- II. Early Expansion of Civil Rights
- Reconstruction and Jim Crow
- The First Feminists
- Investigation: Till We Have Suffrage: The Movement (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Till We Have Suffrage: The Movement (Part 2 of 2)
- III. Further Expansion of Civil Rights
- Desegregating Education
- Investigation: Supreme Court Stories: Brown v. Board (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Supreme Court Stories: Brown v. Board (Part 2 of 2)
- Desegregating Transportation
- Civil Rights Legislation
- Expanding Women’s Rights
- Women’s Rights Today
- Judicial Standards of Review
- IV. Rights for Diverse Groups
- LGBT Rights
- Civil Rights or Civil Wrongs?
- Congress
- Central Ideas
- I. Democratic Ideals of Congress
- Differences Between the Houses
- Apportionment and Redistricting
- Investigation: Drawing Political Lines (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Drawing Political Lines (Part 2 of 2)
- II. The Process of Making Laws
- III. Parties and Committees
- Parties
- Party Influence and Control
- Unified vs. Divided Government
- Committees
- Investigation: Setting the Legislative Agenda (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Setting the Legislative Agenda (Part 2 of 2)
- IV. Considering Multiple Influences
- Legislative Decision Making
- The People vs. Congress
- Delegate vs. Trustee Models of Representation
- Balancing Competing Interests
- Congress in a Nutshell
- The Presidency
- Central Ideas
- I. The President’s Many Roles
- Executive Powers
- Executive Orders and Privilege
- Legislative Powers
- Judicial Powers
- Diplomatic Powers
- Military Powers
- II. Growth in Presidential Power
- Policies and Programs
- Parties and Media
- Globalization
- Interpretation and Delegation
- III. Limits on Power
- Impeachment
- Investigation: The Broken Presidency (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: The Broken Presidency (Part 2 of 2)
- IV. Presidential Performance
- Assessing Performance
- Investigation: Eavesdropping on the Oval Office: LBJ’s First Days (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Eavesdropping on the Oval Office: LBJ’s First Days (Part 2 of 2)
- Hail to the Chief
- Bureaucracy
- Central Ideas
- I. Implementing Laws
- Executive Branch Organization
- Presidential Power
- Legislative Oversight
- Investigation: Old MacDonald Had an Agency (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Old MacDonald Had an Agency (Part 2 of 2)
- Issue Networks
- II. Growth of the Bureaucracy
- The Progressive Era
- The New Deal
- The Great Society
- The Reagan Revolution
- The Bureaucracy Today
- III. Bureaucratic Power
- Investigation: Implementing the ACA (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Implementing the ACA (Part 2 of 2)
- Limits to Power
- IV. Reforming the Bureaucracy
- Devolution and Privatization
- Sailing on the Seas of Paperwork
- The Judiciary
- Central Ideas
- I. Article III
- Jurisdiction
- II. Expanding Judicial Power
- Judicial Review
- Investigation: Supreme Court Stories: Marbury v. Madison (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Supreme Court Stories: Marbury v. Madison (Part 2 of 2)
- III. Choosing Cases
- Access to the Supreme Court
- The Decision-Making Process
- IV. Executive and Legislative Influence
- The Judicial Nomination Process
- The Court Today
- V. Influences on Judges’ Decisions
- Personal Experience
- Judicial Philosophy
- Political Ideology
- Political Context
- Investigation: The Path to Marriage Equality (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: The Path to Marriage Equality (Part 2 of 2)
- The Amazing Technicolor Supreme Court
- Public Opinion
- Central Ideas
- I. Influences on Public Opinion
- Investigation: Am I Blue, Purple, or Red? (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Am I Blue, Purple, or Red? (Part 2 of 2)
- II. Political Socialization
- Factors of Socialization
- III. Properly Conducted Polls
- Investigation: Exit Poll Controversies (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Exit Poll Controversies (Part 2 of 2)
- Basics of Scientific Polling
- IV. Public Opinion and Elected Leaders
- Paying Attention to the Public
- Presidential Approval Ratings
- Congressional Approval Ratings
- The Voice of the People
- The Media
- Central Ideas
- I. Evolution of Content and Standards
- The Partisan Press Era
- Sensationalism and Muckraking
- The Professional Era
- Watchdog Journalism
- The Era of Infotainment
- II. Media Influence on Politics
- Agenda Setting
- Priming
- Framing
- Persuasion
- Investigation: Making the News (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Making the News (Part 2 of 2)
- III. The Rise of the Aggregators
- Aggregators and Ethics
- Selective Exposure
- Civil Discourse
- Investigation: #Divide (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: #Divide (Part 2 of 2)
- Media Matters
- Voting and Political Participation
- Central Ideas
- I. Political Participation
- Forms of Participation
- Forces Behind Participation
- Demographics Behind Participation
- Investigation: We the Protestors (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: We the Protestors (Part 2 of 2)
- II. Partisan Loyalty
- Policy Issues
- Candidate Characteristics
- Other Factors
- III. Declining Voter Turnout
- Low Turnout Compared
- Vote or Die?
- Investigation: License to Vote (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: License to Vote (Part 2 of 2)
- The Will of the People
- Elections and Campaigns
- Central Ideas
- I. Ensuring Political Legitimacy
- Congressional Elections
- Incumbents vs. Challengers
- Investigation: The Year of the Woman (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: The Year of the Woman (Part 2 of 2)
- Presidential Elections
- The Primary Season
- National Conventions
- The Electoral College
- Electoral College: Good or Bad?
- Investigation: Getting into the Electoral College (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Getting into the Electoral College (Part 2 of 2)
- II. Campaign Strategies
- Campaign Finance
- III. The Evolution of Campaigns
- Candidate-Centered Campaigns
- Once Upon a Tuesday
- Political Parties
- Central Ideas
- I. Three Components of Parties
- The Party Organization
- The Party in Government
- The Party in the Electorate
- The Role of Parties in Governance
- II. The Two-Party System
- Implications of the Two-Party System
- Investigation: Third Wheels (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Third Wheels (Part 2 of 2)
- III. Republicans and Democrats
- 1796–1827
- 1828–1859
- The Critical Election of 1860
- The Critical Election of 1896
- The Critical Election of 1932
- The 1960s to Today
- Investigation: 2016 Party Platforms (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: 2016 Party Platforms (Part 2 of 2)
- Party On
- Interest Groups
- Central Ideas
- I. Interest Groups Defined
- Types of Interest Groups
- The Politics of Health Care Reform
- Lobbying
- Investigation: Evil Lobbyists (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Evil Lobbyists (Part 2 of 2)
- Election Activity
- Other Forms of Influence
- II. Forming and Maintaining a Group
- Joining Interest Groups
- Investigation: The American Pizza Community (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: The American Pizza Community (Part 2 of 2)
- Forming Interest Groups
- III. Inequities in Representation
- IV. The Value of Interest Groups
- Overreaching Underdogs?
- Public Policy
- Central Ideas
- I. Public Policy Defined
- What Is Policy?
- Policymaking in a Separated System
- The Everlasting Policy Machine
- II. The Policymaking Process
- Agenda Setting
- Policy Formulation and Adoption
- Policy Implementation
- Investigation: Health Care: Quality (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Health Care Quality (Part 2 of 2)
- Policy Evaluation
- III. Categories of Public Policy
- Domestic Policy
- The Affordable Care Act
- Foreign Policy
- Diplomacy
- Trade
- National Security
- Investigation: Bombing for Peace (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Bombing for Peace (Part 2 of 2)
- Economic Policy
- The Federal Budget
- Monetary Policy
- IV. Disagreement over Public Policy
- How Do You Solve a Problem Like Policy?
- State and Local Government
- Central Ideas
- I. Political Cultures Among the States
- Engagement and Public Policy
- Investigation: These Divided States (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: These Divided States (Part 2 of 2)
- II. State Constitutions and Their Structures
- The Long and Short of It: State Constitutions
- Amending State Constitutions
- III. Managing from the Middle
- Issues of Funding
- Investigation: Managing Guns in America (Part 1 of 2)
- Investigation: Managing Guns in America (Part 2 of 2)
- IV. Citizens and Their Government
- State and Local Politics at Work
- Government by the People
Interactive content
Study questions
Get the Gist study questions on each page guide students to critical information by providing immediate feedback. These low-risk opportunities allow students to reset answers to try again or to study for tests.
Investigations
Investigations incorporate videos, journal articles, infographics, audio clips, simulations, and primary sources to help students explore key concepts in greater depth.
Response boards
Students engage each other through discussion boards that allow them to see the responses of their peers only after they’ve posted their own comment.
Polls
Polls allow students to share their opinions and render a live pie chart displaying the responses of all class members.
Study tools
Webtext Reader app
Students can access materials and complete assignments offline with our mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Reading tools
Reading tools allow students to hover over vocabulary terms for definitions and mark up their own webtext by highlighting and adding margin notes.
Read to Me
Text-to-speech feature instantly creates an audio version of the webtext page to extend the reach of online content.
My Progress
Students can keep track of their own work inside My Progress, which records their scores, time spent, and completion.
The following materials are available for this course:
- test bank
- lecture slides
- release notes
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Authors
Jocelyn Evans, PhD
University of West Florida
Kristy Michaud, PhD
California State University–Northridge
Publisher
David Lindrum
Executive Editor
Mary Jane Lindrum
Managing Editor
Jacob Caselli
Deputy Managing Editor
Georgia Mason
Development Editor
Autumn McGimsey
Copy Editors
Laura Traister
Ernesto Yermoli
Production Editor
Nancy Woods
Assistant Production Editor
Stephen Clark
Photo Research & Permissions
Zara Elizabeth Crockett
Illustrations
Travis Fetting
User Interface Design
Olumuyiwa Ayandosu
Clint McFarlin
Software Developers
Matthew Bennink
David Perkowski
Investigation Development Editors
Zara Elizabeth Crockett
Autumn McGimsey
Investigation Contributors
Jennie Linder Cunningham, MA
Texas A&M University–Kingsville
Jocelyn Evans, PhD
University of West Florida
Lilly Goren, PhD
Carroll University
Jessica Hayden, MA
University of West Florida
Kristy Michaud, PhD
California State University–Northridge
Cynthia Newton, PhD
Wesley College
Tressa Tabares, PhD
American River College
Advisors
Lilly Goren, PhD
Carroll University
Erin Richards, MA
Cascadia Community College
Peer Reviewers
Jean-Marc Akakpo
Kennesaw State University
Scott Buchanan, PhD
The Citadel
Michelle Buehlmann,
Northern Virginia Community College
Toney Carey, Jr., PhD
University of North Texas
Larry Carter, PhD
University of Texas-Arlington
Carl D. Cavalli, PhD
North Georgia College
Linda C. Davis, MA
Hillsborough Community College
Matthew DeSantis, PhD
Guilford Technical Community College
Gregory Domin, PhD
Columbus State University
Michael Evans, PhD
Georgia State University
Bailey R. Fairbanks
Georgia State University
Anna McCaghren Fleming
Georgia State University
David Hill, PhD
Stetson University
Parakh Hoon, PhD
South Puget Sound Community College
Gary Johnson, PhD
Weber State University
Joseph Jozwiak, PhD
Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi
William Kelly, PhD
Auburn University
Marvin King, PhD
University of Mississippi
Robert J. King, PhD
Georgia Perimeter College
Glen Krutz, PhD
University of Oklahoma
Julie Lester, PhD
Macon State College
Christie Maloyed, PhD
University of Nebraska–Kearney
Benjamin Melusky, MA
University of Pittsburgh
Sara Moats, PhD
West Virginia University
Dwight Mullen, PhD
University of North Carolina—Asheville (ret.)
Cynthia Newton, PhD
Wesley College
Sandra Popiden, PhD
Bridgewater State College
Amanda Rosen, PhD
Webster University
Mikhail Rybalko, PhD
Texas Tech University
Joanna Sabo, PhD
Monroe County Community College
Lauren R. Santoro, PhD
Ohio State University
Mayia Shulga, PhD
Lone Star College
Tressa Tabares, PhD
American River College
Christopher Witt, PhD
Augustana College
Shawn Williams, PhD
Campbellsville University
David Woodard, PhD
Clemson University