Ford/Bardes/Schmidt/Shelleys AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY equips you with the knowledge to make informed choices and the tools to play an active role in the decision-making process in your community. Bringing chapter concepts to life through engaging examples of politics, politicians and policies in action, the 19th edition is completely up to date and covers the 2020 primary and general elections, COVID-19, civil liberties in quarantine, climate change, gun violence, race and gender dynamics, migration and immigration, recent court decisions and social medias prominent role in politics. The text also explores the roots of political polarization, its impact on civil discourse and shared governance, and the consequences when our divisions prevent us from solving public problems.