This popular brief edition text for the one-semester or one-quarter American Government course maintains the framework of Wilson's complete text, emphasizing the historical development of the American political system, who governs, and to what ends. Completely up to date, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, BRIEF VERSION, TENTH EDITION offers new coverage of such key and emerging issues as the 2010 campaigns and elections; leadership of President Obama and the 111th Congress; the economic downturn and new policies to combat the crisis; healthcare reform; recent changes to the Supreme Court; same-sex marriage; and the war in Afghanistan.