Based on the full edition of American Government: Power and Purpose, this brief text combines concise and up-to-date coverage of the central topics in American government with compelling critical analysis. Offering an array of learning tools, the 2008 Election Update Edition uses a refined pedagogical apparatus to help students approach politics and government analytically. KEY FEATURES o More flexibility to assign supplementary readings. The Brief Tenth edition is the perfect choice for instructors who want the flexibility to assign readings that go beyond the textbook. Access to the Norton American Politics Online Reader is free with each new copy, offering an affordable way to provide students with a range of readings to complement the textbook. Special package prices are also available with Norton''s other readers in American government, The Enduring Debate and Faultlines. o More, and more thoughtful, pedagogy than other brief texts. Several helpful features appear in each chapter to help students learn and review. New ''Analyzing the Evidence'' units use bold graphics to show students ''how we know what we know'' about certain political phenomena. ''Core of the Analysis'' boxes on the first page of every chapter preview the chapter''s analysis. ''In Brief'' boxes are unique to the brief edition and at least one appears in each chapter. The boxes summarize fundamental material in the chapter and have proven invaluable in preparing for exams, according to reviewers. ''Key Terms'' are boldface in the text and defined in the margin. Numerous figures and tables appear in every chapter. New single-column design is easier to read. Online reader icons next to citations indicate works that are represented in the Norton American Politics Online Reader. STUDENT RESOURCES The Norton American Politics Online Reader American Government draws on contemporary research and key scholarship to present the field as political scientists understand it today. The Norton American Politics Online Reader includes over 100 important recent articles and foundational works cited in American Government. Perfect for supplementary reading assignments and special projects, an icon next to the citation in the text indicates that a reading is available in the online reader. Student StudySpace The StudySpace student Web site reinforces the analytical framework of American Government in a proven, task-oriented study plan. Each chapter is arranged according to the effective Organize, Learn, and Connect pedagogy: o Organize-This section contains: o Progress Reports to help students organize their study time. o Chapter Summaries and Outlines that help students prepare for readings and tests. o Links to the ebook, which integrates online review materials with the book. o Learn-This section contains: o Diagnostic Quizzes that help students study for midterms and finals. o Vocabulary Flashcards that reinforce knowledge of key terms presented in the text. o Connect-This section contains: o Politics in the News RSS Feed-A bi-weekly RSS feed of New York Times articles, annotated by Paul Gronke (Reed College) helps students keep up-to-date with the latest political news. o Analyzing the Evidence Exercises-These interactive exercises are based on the new ''Analyzing the Evidence'' units in the text, which explain the significance of the data and the basic methodology that political scientists use to analyze the data INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES PowerPoint Lecture Slides, Test Bank and an Instructor''s Manual.