Instructor Manual: Wilson et al, American Government: Institutions & Policies, 18e, 2026, 9798214146225; Chapter 1: The Study of American
Government
Instructor Manual
Wilson et al, American Government: Institutions & Policies, 18e, 2026, 9798214146225;
Chapter 1: The Study of American Government
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter......................................................................2
Cengage Supplements....................................................................................................2
Chapter Objectives........................................................................................................3
What's New in This Chapter........................................................................................3
Chapter Outline.............................................................................................................3
Additional Discussion Questions..................................................................................5
Additional Resources....................................................................................................6
Internet Resources......................................................................................................................................6
Suggested Readings and Primary Sources.................................................................................................6
Appendix.......................................................................................................................8
Generic Rubrics......................................................................................................................................... 8
Standard Writing Rubric............................................................................................................................ 8
Standard Discussion Rubric.......................................................................................................................9
© 2026 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 1
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wilson et al, American Government: Institutions & Policies, 18e, 2026, 9798214146225; Chapter 1: The Study of American
Government
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
This chapter provides a foundational understanding of American government by examining the nature of
political power, democracy, and the mechanisms that shape governance in the United States. It introduces
key concepts such as authority, legitimacy, and democracy, emphasizing their roles in influencing
political decision-making. The chapter explores various perspectives on power distribution, including
majoritarianism, pluralism, and elite theory, illustrating how different groups and institutions compete to
shape policy outcomes. Additionally, it highlights the policymaking process, detailing how societal
values, institutional actions, and political processes interact to address public issues. The chapter also
delves into the principles of American democracy, such as popular sovereignty, political equality, and
majority rule, while acknowledging the challenges that arise in a diverse and complex society.
Furthermore, it discusses the role of government in balancing individual liberties with collective interests
and ensuring the stability of democratic institutions. By analyzing these elements, the chapter equips
readers with a deeper understanding of the dynamics that define American politics and governance.
CENGAGE SUPPLEMENTS
The following product-level supplements provide additional information that may help you in preparing
your course. They are available at www.cengage.com in the Instructor Resource Center.
MindTap Educator Guide
o A detailed list of the activities and assets in your MindTap course.
Transition Guide
o A chapter-by-chapter list that highlights content changes and updates in the new edition
of the textbook and courseware design.
PowerPoints
o Ready-to-use and customizable visual presentations for each chapter that include
interactive activities and prompts to generate class discussion, promote comprehension
and foster student engagement.
Test Bank
o Test Bank content, offered in Blackboard, Moodle, Desire2Learn, and Canvas formats,
contains learning objective–specific multiple-choice and essay questions for each chapter.
You can import the test bank into your LMS to edit and manage questions and to create
tests.
Political Science Guide to Teaching Online
o A guide with technology and pedagogy tips for teaching your course online.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:
1-1 Explain how politics drives democracy.
1-2 Discuss five views of how political power is distributed in the United States.
1-3 Explain why “who governs?” and “to what ends?” are fundamental questions in American
politics.
1-4 Summarize the key concepts for classifying the politics of different policy issues.
© 2026 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 2
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wilson et al, American Government: Institutions & Policies, 18e, 2026, 9798214146225; Chapter 1: The Study of American
Government
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS CHAPTER
The following elements are improvements in this chapter from the previous edition:
Updated examples throughout the chapter to focus on recent events
Updated image captions to make clear the continuing relevance of the images
Added two new references to the “To Learn More” section
Note: This chapter does not require significant updates, as it introduces key concepts about power
and democracy, views of political power, underlying textbook questions, and Wilson’s policy
making classification
[return to top]
CHAPTER OUTLINE
The following outline organizes activities (including any existing discussion questions in PowerPoints or
other supplements) and assessments by chapter (and therefore by topic), so that you can see how all the
content relates to the topics covered in the text.
I. Politics and Democracy (LO 1-1, PPT Slides 5-7)
a. Power, Authority, and Legitimacy
b. Defining Democracy
I. Discussion of the definition of democracy and the type of democracy instituted
in the United States.
II. Discussion of how direct (or participatory) and representative democracy
drives politics in the United States.
II. Political Power in America: Five Views (LO 1-2, PPT Slides 8–13)
a. Five Views of American Democracy
i. Discussion of how scholars have offered different views on democracy in the
United States.
ii. Description of each perspective and how they differ.
III. Who Governs? To What Ends? (LO 1-3, PPT Slides 14-18)
a. Expanding the Political Agenda
b. Activity: Do a word cloud or poll to identify your class’s political agenda. If a word
cloud generator or online polling is not available, write the responses on the board. What
issues are most common? What issues were not prevalent? Discuss trends as a class.
c. Groups
d. Government Institutions
e. Media
f. State Action and National Policy
IV. The Politics of Different Policy Issues (LO 1-4, PPT Slides 19–26)
i. Opening Activity/Discussion. As a class, discuss how the federal government
responded/is responding to TikTok. Discuss the factors that influenced the
federal government’s desire/attempts to regulate TikTok. What are the
potential benefits of regulating TikTok? Who benefits? Which interest groups
might oppose regulation and why?
a. Four Types of Politics
© 2026 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 3
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wilson et al, American Government: Institutions & Policies, 18e, 2026, 9798214146225; Chapter 1: The Study of American
Government
b. Description of each type of benefit and discussion of how they differ. Majoritarian
Politics: Distributed Benefits, Distributed Costs
c. Interest Group Politics: Concentrated Benefits, Concentrated Costs
d. Client Politics: Concentrated Benefits, Distributed Costs
e. Entrepreneurial Politics: Distributed Benefits, Concentrated Costs
f. Policy Dynamics: Inside/Outside the Box
i. Why do some policies not fit “neatly” in a category?
ii. Challenge students to think of examples of policies that are “outside the box.”
g. Understanding Politics
i. Why is the study and understanding of politics important?
ii. Why is the study of politics dynamic (evolving), rather than a static
conversation about events?
[return to top]
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
The following are discussion questions that do not appear in the text, PPTs, or courseware (if courseware
exists) – they are for you to use as you wish. You can assign these questions several ways: in a discussion
forum in your LMS; as whole-class discussions in person; or as a partner or group activity in class.
1. Discussion: Balancing Rights and Safety. Duration 5–7 minutes.
a. Engage students in a discussion about protests around the country and the increasing
requests of government to intervene. Discuss this issue in the context of exploring the
concept of politics.
b. Do you think the federal government should be able to override sanctuary city policies, or
should local governments have the right to decide how they handle immigration
enforcement? Why? A sanctuary city is a city that limits local law enforcement’s
cooperation with federal immigration authorities to protect undocumented immigrants
from deportation.
c. How do protests reflect the concept of politics, and in what ways can they influence
government decisions?
d. What factors should the government consider when deciding whether to intervene in a
protest?
2. Discussion: Power Dynamics in American Politics. Duration 5 minutes.
a. Engage students about who they think holds the most power in American politics.
b. If you could choose one group or individual to have more influence in American politics,
who would it be and how do you think it would change the political landscape?
c. How do recent events, like Supreme Court rulings or major legislative decisions, show
the balance of power in the U.S. government?
d. In what ways do everyday people, such as voters and activists, shape political decisions
compared to elected officials and large institutions?
3. Discussion: Establishing a Policy Agenda. Duration 5–7 minutes.
a. Discuss and display on a screen or on a whiteboard the most important policy issues to
the class. Inform students that the list is now the class’s Policy Agenda.
b. How did you prioritize policy issues when identifying the most important ones for the
class agenda?
c. Which of the policy issues on the class’s agenda do you think would have the greatest
immediate impact if implemented, and why?
© 2026 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 4
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Government
Instructor Manual
Wilson et al, American Government: Institutions & Policies, 18e, 2026, 9798214146225;
Chapter 1: The Study of American Government
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter......................................................................2
Cengage Supplements....................................................................................................2
Chapter Objectives........................................................................................................3
What's New in This Chapter........................................................................................3
Chapter Outline.............................................................................................................3
Additional Discussion Questions..................................................................................5
Additional Resources....................................................................................................6
Internet Resources......................................................................................................................................6
Suggested Readings and Primary Sources.................................................................................................6
Appendix.......................................................................................................................8
Generic Rubrics......................................................................................................................................... 8
Standard Writing Rubric............................................................................................................................ 8
Standard Discussion Rubric.......................................................................................................................9
© 2026 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 1
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wilson et al, American Government: Institutions & Policies, 18e, 2026, 9798214146225; Chapter 1: The Study of American
Government
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
This chapter provides a foundational understanding of American government by examining the nature of
political power, democracy, and the mechanisms that shape governance in the United States. It introduces
key concepts such as authority, legitimacy, and democracy, emphasizing their roles in influencing
political decision-making. The chapter explores various perspectives on power distribution, including
majoritarianism, pluralism, and elite theory, illustrating how different groups and institutions compete to
shape policy outcomes. Additionally, it highlights the policymaking process, detailing how societal
values, institutional actions, and political processes interact to address public issues. The chapter also
delves into the principles of American democracy, such as popular sovereignty, political equality, and
majority rule, while acknowledging the challenges that arise in a diverse and complex society.
Furthermore, it discusses the role of government in balancing individual liberties with collective interests
and ensuring the stability of democratic institutions. By analyzing these elements, the chapter equips
readers with a deeper understanding of the dynamics that define American politics and governance.
CENGAGE SUPPLEMENTS
The following product-level supplements provide additional information that may help you in preparing
your course. They are available at www.cengage.com in the Instructor Resource Center.
MindTap Educator Guide
o A detailed list of the activities and assets in your MindTap course.
Transition Guide
o A chapter-by-chapter list that highlights content changes and updates in the new edition
of the textbook and courseware design.
PowerPoints
o Ready-to-use and customizable visual presentations for each chapter that include
interactive activities and prompts to generate class discussion, promote comprehension
and foster student engagement.
Test Bank
o Test Bank content, offered in Blackboard, Moodle, Desire2Learn, and Canvas formats,
contains learning objective–specific multiple-choice and essay questions for each chapter.
You can import the test bank into your LMS to edit and manage questions and to create
tests.
Political Science Guide to Teaching Online
o A guide with technology and pedagogy tips for teaching your course online.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:
1-1 Explain how politics drives democracy.
1-2 Discuss five views of how political power is distributed in the United States.
1-3 Explain why “who governs?” and “to what ends?” are fundamental questions in American
politics.
1-4 Summarize the key concepts for classifying the politics of different policy issues.
© 2026 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 2
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wilson et al, American Government: Institutions & Policies, 18e, 2026, 9798214146225; Chapter 1: The Study of American
Government
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS CHAPTER
The following elements are improvements in this chapter from the previous edition:
Updated examples throughout the chapter to focus on recent events
Updated image captions to make clear the continuing relevance of the images
Added two new references to the “To Learn More” section
Note: This chapter does not require significant updates, as it introduces key concepts about power
and democracy, views of political power, underlying textbook questions, and Wilson’s policy
making classification
[return to top]
CHAPTER OUTLINE
The following outline organizes activities (including any existing discussion questions in PowerPoints or
other supplements) and assessments by chapter (and therefore by topic), so that you can see how all the
content relates to the topics covered in the text.
I. Politics and Democracy (LO 1-1, PPT Slides 5-7)
a. Power, Authority, and Legitimacy
b. Defining Democracy
I. Discussion of the definition of democracy and the type of democracy instituted
in the United States.
II. Discussion of how direct (or participatory) and representative democracy
drives politics in the United States.
II. Political Power in America: Five Views (LO 1-2, PPT Slides 8–13)
a. Five Views of American Democracy
i. Discussion of how scholars have offered different views on democracy in the
United States.
ii. Description of each perspective and how they differ.
III. Who Governs? To What Ends? (LO 1-3, PPT Slides 14-18)
a. Expanding the Political Agenda
b. Activity: Do a word cloud or poll to identify your class’s political agenda. If a word
cloud generator or online polling is not available, write the responses on the board. What
issues are most common? What issues were not prevalent? Discuss trends as a class.
c. Groups
d. Government Institutions
e. Media
f. State Action and National Policy
IV. The Politics of Different Policy Issues (LO 1-4, PPT Slides 19–26)
i. Opening Activity/Discussion. As a class, discuss how the federal government
responded/is responding to TikTok. Discuss the factors that influenced the
federal government’s desire/attempts to regulate TikTok. What are the
potential benefits of regulating TikTok? Who benefits? Which interest groups
might oppose regulation and why?
a. Four Types of Politics
© 2026 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 3
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wilson et al, American Government: Institutions & Policies, 18e, 2026, 9798214146225; Chapter 1: The Study of American
Government
b. Description of each type of benefit and discussion of how they differ. Majoritarian
Politics: Distributed Benefits, Distributed Costs
c. Interest Group Politics: Concentrated Benefits, Concentrated Costs
d. Client Politics: Concentrated Benefits, Distributed Costs
e. Entrepreneurial Politics: Distributed Benefits, Concentrated Costs
f. Policy Dynamics: Inside/Outside the Box
i. Why do some policies not fit “neatly” in a category?
ii. Challenge students to think of examples of policies that are “outside the box.”
g. Understanding Politics
i. Why is the study and understanding of politics important?
ii. Why is the study of politics dynamic (evolving), rather than a static
conversation about events?
[return to top]
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
The following are discussion questions that do not appear in the text, PPTs, or courseware (if courseware
exists) – they are for you to use as you wish. You can assign these questions several ways: in a discussion
forum in your LMS; as whole-class discussions in person; or as a partner or group activity in class.
1. Discussion: Balancing Rights and Safety. Duration 5–7 minutes.
a. Engage students in a discussion about protests around the country and the increasing
requests of government to intervene. Discuss this issue in the context of exploring the
concept of politics.
b. Do you think the federal government should be able to override sanctuary city policies, or
should local governments have the right to decide how they handle immigration
enforcement? Why? A sanctuary city is a city that limits local law enforcement’s
cooperation with federal immigration authorities to protect undocumented immigrants
from deportation.
c. How do protests reflect the concept of politics, and in what ways can they influence
government decisions?
d. What factors should the government consider when deciding whether to intervene in a
protest?
2. Discussion: Power Dynamics in American Politics. Duration 5 minutes.
a. Engage students about who they think holds the most power in American politics.
b. If you could choose one group or individual to have more influence in American politics,
who would it be and how do you think it would change the political landscape?
c. How do recent events, like Supreme Court rulings or major legislative decisions, show
the balance of power in the U.S. government?
d. In what ways do everyday people, such as voters and activists, shape political decisions
compared to elected officials and large institutions?
3. Discussion: Establishing a Policy Agenda. Duration 5–7 minutes.
a. Discuss and display on a screen or on a whiteboard the most important policy issues to
the class. Inform students that the list is now the class’s Policy Agenda.
b. How did you prioritize policy issues when identifying the most important ones for the
class agenda?
c. Which of the policy issues on the class’s agenda do you think would have the greatest
immediate impact if implemented, and why?
© 2026 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 4
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
