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American Government: Institutions & Policies

By James Q. Wilson, John J. DiIulio Jr., Meena Bose, Matthew S. Levendusky

18th Edition © 2026
Discipline:Political Science
Course:American Government
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Updated with the latest scholarship and examples, Wilson/Dilulio/Bose/Levendusky's AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES, 18th Edition, equips students with a solid understanding of the U.S. government. Highlighting emerging issues, the text focuses on the importance of governmental institutions, the historical development of procedures and policies as well as who governs and to what end. Insightful debates on policy dynamics bolster comprehension. A proven pedagogy maximizes student engagement, while MindTap provides anywhere, anytime digital learning tools.

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MindTap for Wilson/Dilulio/Bose/Levendusky's AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES, 18th Edition, is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives…

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MindTap for Wilson/Dilulio/Bose/Levendusky's AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES, 18th Edition, is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives…

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About this product

Updated with the latest scholarship and examples, Wilson/Dilulio/Bose/Levendusky's AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES, 18th Edition, equips students with a solid understanding of the U.S. government. Highlighting emerging issues, the text focuses on the importance of governmental institutions, the historical development of procedures and policies as well as who governs and to what end. Insightful debates on policy dynamics bolster comprehension. A proven pedagogy maximizes student engagement, while MindTap provides anywhere, anytime digital learning tools.

Data questions help students analyze and comprehend chapter charts and graphs, fostering informed and intelligent consumption of online statistical data.

Then and Now vignettes immerse students in real-world context by comparing topics from past and present, helping them see how events have shaped their current political world.

Updated media literacy activities help students learn this important new skill in our digital age.

Chapter features like Policy Dynamics and What Would You Do? questions establish links between political institutions, policymaking and emerging issues in US politics.

Table of contents

Chapters

Cover Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Section Content
Letter to Instructors
Letter to Students
Ancillaries
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Career Opportunities: Political Science
Part 1. The American System
Part 2. Opinions, Interests, and Organizations
Part 3. Institutions of Government
Part 4. Public Policy and American Democracy
Appendixes
Show more

Part 1. The American System

Chapter 1. The Study of American Government
Preview this section ↗
1-1. Politics and Democracy ↗
Power, Authority, and Legitimacy ↗
Defining Democracy ↗
1-2. Political Power in America: Five Views ↗
1-3. Who Governs? To What Ends? ↗
Expanding the Political Agenda ↗
Groups ↗
Government Institutions ↗
Media ↗
State Action and National Policy ↗
1-4. The Politics of Different Policy Issues ↗
Four Types of Politics ↗
Majoritarian Politics: Distributed Benefits, Distributed Costs ↗
Interest Group Politics: Concentrated Benefits, Concentrated Costs ↗
Client Politics: Concentrated Benefits, Distributed Costs ↗
Entrepreneurial Politics: Distributed Benefits, Concentrated Costs ↗
Policy Dynamics: Inside/Outside the Box ↗
Understanding Politics ↗
Chapter Summary ↗
Chapter Quiz ↗
To Learn More ↗
Chapter 2. The Constitution
2-1. The Problem of Liberty
The Colonial Mind
The Real Revolution
Weaknesses of the Confederation
2-2. The Constitutional Convention
The Lessons of Experience
State Constitutions
Shays’s Rebellion
The Framers
The Challenge
The Virginia Plan
The New Jersey Plan
The Compromise
2-3. Ratification Debates
Key Principles
Government and Human Nature
The Constitution and Liberty
The Antifederalist View
Need for a Bill of Rights
The Constitution and Slavery
2-4. Democracy and the Constitution: Post-Ratification Debates
Economic Interests
The Constitution and Equality
Constitutional Reform: Modern Views
Reducing the Separation of Powers
Limiting the National Government
Who Is Right?
Chapter Summary
Chapter Quiz
To Learn More
Chapter 3. Federalism
3-1. Why Federalism Matters
The Founding
A Bold, New Plan
Elastic Language
The Debate on the Meaning of Federalism
The Supreme Court Speaks
Nullification
Dual to Cooperative Federalism
State Sovereignty
3-2. Governmental Structure
Increased Political Activity
Different States, Different Policies
3-3. Federal Money, State Programs
Grants-in-Aid
Meeting National Needs
The Intergovernmental Lobby
Categorical Grants
Rivalry Among the States
Federal Aid and Federal Control
Mandates
Conditions of Aid
3-4. A Devolution Revolution?
Congress and Federalism
Chapter Summary
Chapter Quiz
To Learn More
Chapter 4. American Political Culture
4-1. Political Culture
The Political System
The Economic System
4-2. How the United States Compares with Other Nations
The Political System
The Economic System
The Civic Role of Religion
4-3. Sources of Political Culture
4-4. Conflicts in American Political Culture
Mistrust of Government
Civil Society
Political Tolerance
Chapter Summary
Chapter Quiz
To Learn More
Chapter 5. Civil Liberties
5-1. The Courts and Conflicts over Civil Liberties
Rights in Conflict
Cultural Conflicts
Applying the Bill of Rights to the States
5-2. The First Amendment and Freedom of Expression
When can Government Restrict Expression?
What Types of Speech Are Constitutionally Protected?
Libel
Obscenity
Symbolic Speech
Commercial and Youthful Speech
5-3. The First Amendment and Freedom of Religion
The Free-Exercise Clause
The Establishment Clause
5-4. Crime and Due Process
The Exclusionary Rule
Search and Seizure
Confessions and Self-Incrimination
Relaxing the Exclusionary Rule
Terrorism and Due Process
5-5. Civil Liberties and American Democracy
Chapter Summary
Chapter Quiz
To Learn More
Chapter 6. Civil Rights
6-1. Race and Civil Rights
The Campaign in the Courts
“Separate but Equal”
Could Separate Schools Be Equal?
Brown v.Board of Education
The Campaign in Congress
6-2. Women and Equal Rights
Women’s Rights and the Supreme Court
Sexual Harassment
Privacy and Sex
6-3. Affirmative Action
Equality of Results
Equality of Opportunity
6-4. Sexual Orientation and Civil Rights
6-5. Looking Back—and Ahead
Chapter Summary
Chapter Quiz
To Learn More

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