American Government, Part 1

Introduced--tongue-in-cheek--as "everything you'll need to build your own democracy using a few simple household items," this initial volume in the two-part American Government set, from the Standard Deviants series of introductory and refresher courses on a wide range of academic subjects, begins with a brief overview of pre-democratic thinking (from Aristotle to Locke) before launching into a detailed whirlwind tour through the history of American government. Combining admittedly cornball--though mercifully brief--skits (England's George III, looking over the pre-Revolutionary American colonists' concerns regarding Britain's escalating series of annoying acts, responds "nuts to this") with news item-like reports from the field, loads of onscreen text, and regular breaks to review material, this fact-filled romp through our nation's civic history will serve as a real boon to students and history aficionados alike. Topics include the origins and import of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, the system of checks and balances, the ongoing power struggle between big government (Federalism) and states' rights (Anti-Federalism), the evolution of the Bill of Rights and later Amendments to the Constitution, and key decisions regarding civil rights handed down by the Supreme Court. Comprehensive, inexpensive, and unquestionably useful, this is strongly recommended. American Government, Part 2 is also available at the same price. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)