and Communities, by the University of Florida's Thomas R. Dye, uses comparative analysis and a political focus to explain the why as well as the what of American politics (Preface XV). Revised and expanded consideration of constitutional issues in the seventh edition "seeks to explain what is limited by constitutional government and what the differences are between representational and direct democracy (Preface XV). As the title indicates, Dye is interested in student understanding of politics, which he sees as the interpersonal process that shapes both who decides and what is decided in the public arena. That emphasis adds some drama to the standard textbook format withs its bulleted headings, illustrations and graphs designed to clarify the various levels of government and their interrelationships with each other.
Apparently designed to accompany a c
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