Patterns in Politics: Readings in American Government

Patterns in Politics offers a balanced mix of historical documents on American politics, readings on American political history, and recent political data. This text is designed to frame questions about American Government within a broader context of how people in societies manage their relationships and resolve conflicts. A wealth of current and historical data on public opinion and political behaviors is utilized to give instructors the opportunity to develop a wide range of open- and closed-ended questions. They also facilitate critical thinking about changing patterns in American politics and government. The selected historical documents present a respectful view of the role religion and faith played in the founding period, in addition to providing unique insights into American political culture during this time.

Patterns in Politics examines a wide range of contemporary political topics, including political freedom, ideology, voting behavior, campaign contributions, and public opinion polling. Data source links are included to give both students and instructors access to the most recent sets of data as they become available. This text is geared toward introductory courses in American Government; it is suited for use in both the classroom and online courses.

Peter W. Wielhouwer (Ph.D., University of Georgia), Associate Professor of Political Science at Western Michigan University, specializes in mobilization politics, campaign strategy, religion and politics, and racial politics. He has taught at Spelman College and Regent University's School of Government, where he directed the graduate program in campaign management and the nonpartisan Center for Grassroots Politics. His research has appeared in the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, and in The Oxford Handbook of Religion and American Politics (Oxford, 2010). He is an occasional political consultant, and regularly speaks on faith & politics and American politics for academic, professional, and faith-based organizations.