FOR WHICH WE STAND

Seekers of essential information about the basics of government and political processes will find this handbook informative.

Foster, an AP government teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, explains the functions and branches of the federal government, political parties, the electoral process, and the different responsibilities of city, state, and federal governments. Brief explanations of the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation follow along with a thorough description of the Constitution. Foster explains in simple, accessible language each article, the Bill of Rights, and other amendments. Informative discussions of the pros and cons of the Electoral College, how interest groups affect legislation, voter suppression, and gerrymandering further deepen readers’ understanding. In the chapter on the Supreme Court, Foster lists only five significant cases, which can’t help but give this section an arbitrary feel. Brown v. Board of Education is included but not Plessy v. Ferguson; Miranda v. Arizona is listed but not Gideon v. Wainwright; and Roe v. Wade is surprisingly absent. The final chapter encourages civic engagement and offers advice on how to become involved in the political process, using the March for Our Lives campaign as an example. Each spread features an appealing mix of black-and-white and full-color art, and infographics, charts, maps, and political caricatures provide further design variation. Glossary terms are highlighted in yellow. There are no suggestions for further reading—an unfortunate oversight.

An appealing, accessible civics primer.