By the People, Seventh Edition

By the People presents essential content in a compelling story embellished with historical examples and context geared for today’s students. This award-winning textbook engages students in the rich and important debates of our time and ensures they become thoughtful and informed citizens. This edition is fully updated with analysis of important current events, including substantive discussions of the 2024 presidential election outcome. By the People is now offered in Oxford Insight, a guided learning environment that delivers performance analytics, drives student engagement, and improves student outcomes.

Analysis of recent political events, including the 2024 presidential election, the Supreme Court’s extraordinary set of 2023–24 summer decisions, and the historic Congressional gridlock
Explorations of shifts in US culture, and their interplay with politics—including everything from the Harris campaign adopting Charli XCX’s distinctive Brat color and font for social-media platforms to blockbuster movies with surprisingly anti-capitalist messages
Expanded discussions in many chapters of the influence of Gen Z and younger millennials in terms of participation in politics and the policy issues they find most salient
Introduces dozens of new topics including proposed regulation of AI models; conservative governors sending migrants to liberal enclaves like DC/NYC; Biden’s student-loan forgiveness (& GOP pushback); potential regulation of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) college-athletics funding; protests over the Israel–Hamas war, especially on college campuses
New and updated statistics and figures in each chapter, tracking both long- and short-run political trends
Expanded international comparisons, recognizing that trends in U.S. government both shape and are influenced by events and policy decisions around the globe

Fully updated photos, charts, data, and references
Now available with Oxford Insight: Oxford Insight pairs best-in-class OUP content with curated media resources, activities, and gradable assessments, in a guided learning environment that delivers performance analytics, drives student engagement, and improves student outcomes

Videos supplement the text to show political concepts in the real world and offer short assessments to capture students’ understanding and application of key concepts
Concept Explainers (previously called Media Tutorials) teach key concepts and address important contemporary issues, each with quizzes at the end
Reading Review Quizzes for every chapter section ensure that students are understanding key terms, ideas, and concepts as they go
Chapter Quizzes offer students the opportunity to demonstrate their grasp of the entire chapter
Flashcards for each chapter allow students to practice essential vocabulary terms
In the News features discuss high-interest hot topics, directing students to articles from reputable news sources for a full understanding of the topic under discussion, with a quiz at the end
Government in Action simulations provide students with experiential learning activities in which they take on the role of political actors and decision makers responding to current political challenges

"Well organized, comprehensive, and accessible for an undergraduate audience. It balances institutional as well as behavioral topics successfully. The writing is clear and the research and narration is well done."

—Mark Milewicz, UNC Pembroke

"By the People is a text that comprehensively covers the content required for students to gain a strong working knowledge of American government. It does it in a highly engaging way that focuses on people, and helps students practice thinking deeply about what our government is, how it works, and what that means for all of us."

—Patrick Moore, Dallas College

"This is a great text. It is thorough, well-organized, and clear, and it contains thoughtful discussion questions. I think it would be particularly useful for those who are new to teaching an introductory course in American Government."

—James White, Concord University

By the People

About the Book

Oxford Insight

Praise

Oxford Digital Difference