The Handy American Government Answer Book

Gina Misiroglu has authored or edited more than three dozen books in the popular culture, biography, American history, folklore, and women studies genres. She holds two degrees from UCLA and has worked in various editorial capacities for publishers such as Price Stern Sloan, New World Library, Visible Ink Press, Facts On File, and Routledge. She has contributed to or authored several 'Handy Answer Book' titles, including The Handy Answer Book for Kids (and Parents) and The Handy Politics Answer Book. Additional notable works include the three-volume American Countercultures: An Encyclopedia of Nonconformists, Alternative Lifestyles, and Radical Ideas in U.S. History, winner of the 2010 RUSA Award for Outstanding Reference Source; The Superhero Book: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic-Book Icons and Hollywood Heroes; and the trade anthology Girls Like Us: 40 Extraordinary Women Celebrate Girlhood in Story, Poetry, and Song, winner of the New York Public Library's 'Best Book for Teens' Award. Misiroglu lives in Los Angeles and is proud to say she votes in every national and local election.

Introduction
Historical Timeline

Part I. The American System
1. The Basics of Democracy
2. The Constitution
3. Federalism



Part II. The Political Institutions
4. The Congress
5. The Presidency
6. The Courts



Part III. People and Politics
7. Civil Liberties and Rights
8. Political Opinion
9. Interest Groups
10. Political Parties
11. Campaigns and Elections
12. The Media



Appendices
The U.S. Constitution
Further Reading
Index