Basic American Government

 If you want to study American government from a limited government, strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution, this is the book for you. Author Clarence B. Carson makes no bones about his belief that limited government is beneficial, while a growing, encroaching government can be quite dangerous.  While the book contains all the information that a textbook would, it is not in the form of a textbook; there are no review and discussion questions or tests.    Chapter 1 introduces “The Political Crisis” which, as Carson sees it, is ignorance about the nature and character of government, and how to limit, restrict and restrain it. Chapter 2 overviews the Constitution and highlights of our governmental system. The next five chapters discuss various ideas on political thought; this covers Judeo-Christian, Greek, and Roman ideas and experiences as well as those from the Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment. A chapter is devoted to the British concepts of government. Then we learn about the experiences of the American colonies, and finally the process by which our federal government came into being. Section III traverses the 19th century, setting up a working government, the rise of political parties, Jeffersonian and Jacksonian ideas, establishment of the Supreme Court, state and local government, and changes brought about by the Civil War and Reconstruction. In the 20th century, big government continues to grow and extend its reach into more and more areas. Key documents from our history are also provided.