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American Government: Institutions & Policies, 18th Edition

James Q. Wilson, John J. DiIulio Jr., Meena Bose, Matthew S. Levendusky

  • Copyright 2026
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2025-02-07T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $84.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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American Government: Institutions & Policies 18th Edition by James Q. Wilson/John J. DiIulio Jr./Meena Bose/Matthew S. Levendusky
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Overview

Updated with the latest scholarship and examples, Wilson/Dilulio/Bose/Levendusky's AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES, 18th Edition, equips students with a solid understanding of the U.S. government. Highlighting emerging issues, the text focuses on the importance of governmental institutions, the historical development of procedures and policies as well as who governs and to what end. Insightful debates on policy dynamics bolster comprehension. A proven pedagogy maximizes student engagement, while MindTap provides anywhere, anytime digital learning tools.

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Meet the Authors

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James Q. Wilson

James Q. Wilson taught at Boston College and Pepperdine University. He was Professor Emeritus of Management and Public Administration at UCLA and, before that, the Shattuck Professor of Government at Harvard University. He wrote more than a dozen books on public policy, bureaucracy and political philosophy. A former president of the American Political Science Association, Dr. Wilson is the only political scientist to win three of the four lifetime achievement awards presented by the APSA. In 2003, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. Professor Wilson passed away in March 2012 after battling cancer. His work helped shape the field of political science in the United States. His many years of service to this textbook remain evident on every page and will continue for many editions to come.

John J. DiIulio Jr.

John J. DiIulio Jr. is a professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania and has won each of Penn's most prestigious teaching awards. Previously professor of politics and public affairs at Princeton University, Dr. Dilulio has been a senior fellow and directed research programs at several leading think tanks, including the Brookings Institution. He has been honored with awards from the Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management, the American Political Science Association and other organizations. In addition, he has advised presidential candidates in both parties, served on bipartisan government reform commissions and worked as a senior staff member in the White House. He received his Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University.

Meena Bose

Meena Bose is executive dean for public policy and public service programs in the Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs at Hofstra University. She also directs Hofstra’s Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency and is the Peter S. Kalikow Chair in Presidential Studies and a professor of political science. The author or editor of several volumes in presidency studies and American politics, Dr. Bose teaches courses on the American presidency, presidential leadership and policymaking and American politics. She taught for six years at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and she is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Bose received Hofstra’s 2020 Teacher of the Year Award in the Kalikow School. She earned her Ph.D. from Princeton University and her B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University.

Matthew S. Levendusky

Matthew S. Levendusky is a professor of political science and the Stephen and Mary Baran Chair in the Institutions of Democracy at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He works broadly in political behavior, with a particular focus on political polarization. His work has been recognized with a number of honors, including the Jewell-Lowenberg Award for the best article published in LEGISLATIVE STUDIES QUARTERLY, the best paper award from the JOURNAL OF POLITICS, the Goldsmith Book Prize from Harvard University's Shorenstein Center and the Erik Erikson Early Career Award from the International Society of Political Psychology. He earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University and his B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University.

What's New

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  • New discussions of key developments such as growing educational polarization in the electorate, disinformation and the regulation of social media will engage students.

Features

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  • Data questions help students analyze and comprehend chapter charts and graphs, fostering informed and intelligent consumption of online statistical data.
  • Then and Now vignettes immerse students in real-world context by comparing topics from past and present, helping them see how events have shaped their current political world.
  • Updated media literacy activities help students learn this important new skill in our digital age.
  • Chapter features like Policy Dynamics and What Would You Do? questions establish links between political institutions, policymaking and emerging issues in US politics.
  • Policy Dynamics features give students an up-close look at policy dynamics, encouraging debate about where they fit within the texts politics of policymaking framework.
  • Landmark Cases summarize important Supreme Court cases, helping students understand the issues and far-reaching impacts of decisions from the nation's highest court.
  • "Landmark Cases" summarize important Supreme Court cases, helping students understand the issues and far-reaching impacts of decisions from the nation's highest court.
  • "Landmark Cases" summarize important Supreme Court cases, helping students understand the issues and far-reaching impacts of decisions from the nation's highest court.

Table of Contents

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Part I: THE AMERICAN SYSTEM.
1. The Study of American Government.
2. The Constitution.
3. Federalism.
4. American Political Culture.
5. Civil Liberties.
6. Civil Rights.
Part II: OPINIONS, INTERESTS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
7. Public Opinion.
8. Political Participation.
9. Political Parties.
10. Elections and Campaigns.
11. Interest Groups.
12. The Media.
Part III: INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT.
13. Congress.
14. The Presidency.
15. The Bureaucracy.
16. The Judiciary.
Part IV: PUBLIC POLICY AND AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
17. Domestic Policy.
18. Economic Policy.
19. Foreign and Military Policy.
20. American Democracy, Then and Now.

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MindTap Options

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MindTap
Each MindTap product offers the full, mobile-ready textbook combined with superior and proven learning tools at one affordable price. Students who purchase digital access can add a print option at any time when a print option is available for their course.

This Cengage solution can be seamlessly integrated into most Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, Brightspace by D2L, Canvas, Moodle, and more) but does require a different ISBN for access codes. Please work with your Cengage Learning Consultant to ensure the proper course set up and ordering information. For additional information, please visit the LMS Integration site.

Standalone Digital Access — Ultimate Value

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  • ISBN-10: 8214146283
  • ISBN-13: 9798214146287
  • RETAIL $84.95
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Textbook Only Options

Traditional eBook and Print Options

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  • ISBN-10: 8214146356
  • ISBN-13: 9798214146355
  • RETAIL $84.95

  • ISBN-10: 8214146224
  • ISBN-13: 9798214146225
  • RETAIL $259.95
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Supplements

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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR STUDENTS

MindTap for Wilson/Dilulio/Bose/Levendusky's American Government: Institutions & Policies, 1 term Instant Access

ISBN: 9798214146287
MindTap for Wilson/Dilulio/Bose/Levendusky's AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES, 18th Edition, is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives you complete control of your course to provide engaging content, challenge every individual and build their confidence. Empower students to accelerate their progress with MindTap. MindTap: Powered by You. MindTap activities like Why Does This Matter to Me? and Reconsider The Issue help students connect concepts to their daily lives while thinking critically about those concepts to explain how they have impacted their perspectives. Case Study and What Would You Do? activities help students develop and hone their critical thinking and application skills. MindTap gives you complete ownership of your content and learning experience. Customize the interactive syllabi, emphasize the most important topics and add your own material or notes in the eBook.