Reading Essentials in United States Government

Develop your student's content-area reading skills with these social studies books aligned with the curriculum.

Features:

• A focus on nonfiction builds skills in content-area comprehension
• High-impact visual design captures interest and directs attention to critical textual elements
• Develops informational reading skills and technical vocabulary
• Builds understanding of informational text features such as headings, subheadings, photos, timelines, chart, and more
• Close correlation to National Council of Social Studies and state and national English/Language Arts standards
• The wide range of topics allows students to extend their learning through the books themselves, related Web sites, project ideas, and parent/home activities

Titles Include:

State and Local Government State and local governments have many layers and are responsible for the welfare of the state's citizens. They operate departments for education, health, transportation, and law enforcement.

Legislative Branch Headed by Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate are made up of congresspersons who represent the people. Laws are made when Congress votes for a bill and the president signs it into law.

Judicial Branch The U.S. court system includes the federal and state courts. Cases are heard in lower courts first. Decisions can then be appealed to higher courts. The U.S. Supreme Court includes nine justices who sit on the bench in Washington, D.C.

Elections and Political Parties More than 225 years ago, the framers of the Constitution described how the election process would work. Today the process is the same with only a few changes brought about through Constitutional amendments.

The Executive Branch The president heads the executive branch, which consists of the Cabinet, the Executive Office, and numerous independent agencies.