You Decide! : Controversial Cases in American Politics

The book is a unique and innovative assembly of 14 originally written cases on controversial topics in American government and politics. It is intended to engage students in active learning through discussion, debate and participation in the introductory American Government course.

The second edition of You Decide! Controversial Cases in American Politics provides a unique and innovative way to learn more about American government by examining contending points of view on controversial issues. Drawing on many years of combined teaching experience, Edward Drachman and Robert Langran present fourteen original cases and encourage students to make choices from policy options that might help resolve the case controversies. To facilitate the reading of the cases, the authors developed a format that provides the necessary background information on each issue, a list of options to address the controversy under consideration, and the probable future direction of each case controversy. Each case also includes discussion questions that focus on highlights of the case, classroom activities designed to complement more traditional learning, and a list of suggested readings and websites. On a range of topical, hot-button cases—from organized school prayer and affirmative action, to the electoral college and the tension between Congress and the president over war-time powers—students have the opportunity to become directly involved in discussing, debating, and evaluating controversial issues. With this help of this classroom-proven text, you decide!