3rd Edition
Politics in Action Cases From the Frontlines of American Government
Part I: The Foundations
1. The Constitution
The Art of Compromise: The Meal Deal of 1790 that established Washington, D.C.
2. Federalism
Partisan Federalism: The States Battle Over Immigration.
3. Civil Rights
Affirmative Action to D.E.I: The University Admissions Debate and Beyond
4. Civil Liberties
Freedom of Speech on Campus: The Fight over Fighting Words
Part II: The Public
5. Public Opinion
A Surprising Stability: The Public, Partisans and Politics of Abortion
6. Elections
How Gender Matters: A Woman for President? Female frames in Presidential politics
7. Campaigns
Playing the Campaign Game: A Political Pro’s Insider Views
8. Political Parties
The 2020 Georgia Election ‘Steal’: The limits of party loyalty.
9. Interest Groups
Guns Rule: Intense Interests vs a Mellow Majority
10. Media
Trump vs the Media: A War of Words
Part III: The: Institutions
11. Congress
Re-presenting the Climate: Acts One and Two—Tragedy and Hope
12. The President
9/11: Presidential Power in a Crisis
13. Foreign Policy
The Best and The Brightest in The Afghanistan Disaster
14. The Bureaucracy
The Space Shuttle Disasters: Organization Groupthink.
15. The Supreme Court
Watergate and U.S. v Nixon: The Supreme Court Referees
Biography
Gary Wasserman has shaped a career in teaching, public service, political consulting, and writing. He recently wrote The Doha Experiment about his eight years as a Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar. The 18th edition of his co-authored classic The Basics of American Politics was published in 2026. He now lives in Portland, Oregon.
