This short, accessible text introduces us to American politics. Organized around a game metaphor, The Basics of American Politics describes the history, structure, and current affairs of the eight major "players" in the game of American politics: the president, the bureaucracy, Congress, the Supreme Court, voters, political parties, interest groups, and the media. Professor Wasserman then discusses the "rules" of the game as defined in the Constitution.

He concludes with a chapter on the much debated question about the game: "Who Wins, Who Loses?" Case studies like "Federalism at 55 MPH" help students apply concepts to real-life scenarios and enhance their understanding of the material. A student favorite for 20 years, this edition has been updated to reflect Newt Gingrich's Congress, the evolving nature of federalism, and the budget battle.