Do you really know how the U.S. government operates? Most Americans have simply forgotten what they learned in their high school government class. Providing an updated history and comprehensive overview, Idiot''s Guides: U.S. Government & Politics, Second Edition, is written to help readers gain an understanding about the origins of the U.S government, in addition to its complex political system and key forces that drive a successful nation. Suitable reading for supplement coursework in high school government or civics classes or college political science classes, Idiot''s Guides: U.S. Government & Politics, Second Edition, details the three branches of the U.S. government, the political process in America, civil liberties and rights, and how public policy is formed.