The Logic of American Politics Eighth Edition by Samuel H. Kernell (Author), Gary C. Jacobson (Author), Thad Kousser (Author), Lynn Vavreck (Author) (CQ Press)

I have been using The Logic of American Politics for ten years, and of all the introductory textbooks on American politics, this is the best. It has a well-carried theme throughout, is comprehensive, and always reflects updated political science research.The Logic of American Politics is the best textbook on the market for those instructors seeking to emphasize the concepts of institutional design and collective action. This thematic focus helps introductory students truly understand American government and politics. What is more, the text pushes students to think analytically about the topic while engaging them with both current and historical narratives in American politics.

The Logic of American Politics is a well-written and thorough introduction that incorporates helpful and contemporary examples. It is the best textbook that I have come across in the subject of American politics and the discipline of political science.This new edition of the bestselling The Logic of American Politics is thoroughly updated and covers the dramatic 2016 election results with a thorough analysis of those results. It arms students with a revised introduction to institutional design that makes concepts such as command, veto, agenda control, voting rules, and delegation easier for students to master and apply, so they clearly see how the American political system was devised and why it works the way it does. Authors Samuel Kernell, Gary C. Jacobson, Thad Kousser, and Lynn Vavreck build students′ critical thinking through a simple yet powerful idea: politics is about solving collective action problems.

This new edition continues to delve into partisan differences among voters and in government and highlight the increasingly partisan nature of campaigns. By exploring issues such as the Affordable Care Act’s troubled implementation, the increasing legalization of marijuana and same-sex marriage in the states, and the debate over immigration, the book illustrates how the institutional structures of government, federalism, and even campaigns can help voters make sense of their choices. The concluding chapter on policymaking examines the noticeable logic that guides American policy, as shown through issues like health care reform, global climate change, and the federal budget. Students glean insights into the sources of policy problems, identify possible solutions, and realize why agreement on those solutions is often so hard to achieve.

About the Author
Samuel Kernell is professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego, where he has taught since 1977. Previously, he taught at the University of Mississippi and the University of Minnesota. Kernell’s research interests focus on the presidency and American political history. His previous books include Going Public: New Strategies of Presidential Leadership, 3rd edition; an edited collection of essays, James Madison: The Theory and Practice of Republican Government; and, with Gary C. Jacobson, The Logic of American Politics, 7th edition, and Strategy and Choice in Congressional Elections, 2nd edition. Kernell’s most recent book, Party Ballots, Reform and the Transformation of American Politics, (2015, with Erik Engstrom), won the APSA′s David Greenstone Award for the best book in politics and history.