This comprehensive guide to American civil government is an invaluable resource for students, teachers, and anyone interested in the workings of US democracy. Combining historical context with practical advice, the book covers everything from the separation of powers to the structure of local government. With engaging writing and insightful analysis, this is an ideal textbook for any course on American government or civics. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.