Politics in Action

Gary Wasserman has shaped a career in teaching, public service, political consulting, and writing. He recently wrote The Doha Experiment about his eight years as a Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar. The 18th edition of his co-authored classic The Basics of American Politics was published in 2026. He now lives in Portland, Oregon.

"Gary Wasserman’s Politics in Action: Cases From the Frontline of American Government has been published, and if political science professors across the country aren’t using it in their classrooms, more’s the pity. “The emphasis is on storytelling,” Wasserman writes, and over 15 chapters he presents succinct but “in-depth” cases designed to stimulate class discussions, drawn from the whole sweep of American political history."Alan Pell CrawfordThe American Conservative"Professor Wasserman's Politics in Action volume captures the complexities and challenges of American politics and governance that have been with our democracy since its founding. The cases engage students and readily connect contemporary political issues and policymaking to the past. This is an excellent addition to an introductory course on American government."Kathy Wagner Hill, Johns Hopkins University

• Preface Part I: The Foundations 1.The Constitution:The Art of Compromise:The Meal Deal of 1790 that established Washington, D.C. 2.Federalism: Partisan Federalism:The States Battle Over Immigration. 3.Civil Rights:Affirmative Action to D.E.I:The University Admissions Debate and Beyond 4.Civil Liberties:Freedom of Speech on Campus:The Fight over Fighting Words Part II: The Public 5.Public Opinion:A Surprising Stability: The Public, Partisans and Politics of Abortion 6.Elections:How Gender Matters:A Woman for President? Female frames in Presidential politics 7.Campaigns:Playing the Campaign Game: A Political Pro’s Insider Views 8.Political Parties:The 2020 Georgia Election ‘Steal’:The limits of party loyalty. 9.Interest Groups: Guns Rule: Intense Interests vs a Mellow Majority 10.Media: Trump vs the Media: A War of Words Part III: The Institutions 11.Congress:Re-presenting the Climate: Acts One and Two—Tragedy and Hope 12.The President:9/11: Presidential Power in a Crisis 13.Foreign Policy:The Best and The Brightest in The Afghanistan Disaster 14.The Bureaucracy:The Space Shuttle Disasters:Organization Groupthink. 15.The Supreme Court:Watergate and U.S. v Nixon:The Supreme Court Referees