This critical thinking approach to American government asks students to evaluate the quality of democracy in America today within a unique framework that offers a holistic view of our system. The seventh edition of this best-selling text has been completely updated through the 2004 Presidential Election. Continuing to offer a lively, critical thinking approach to the course, The Struggle for Democracy is organized around two themes: Using the Democracy Standard and Using the Framework. The first theme, woven throughout the narrative, asks students to evaluate the health and vitality of American democracy today against a carefully defined democratic ideal. The text's second theme, Using the Framework, asks students to look at the structures underlying our political system--such as the economy, society, cultural values, technology--and examine how these structures affect, and are affected by, our political system.