The government of the United States represents its citizens to the people of the world. What does government stand for? What does government represent?

So begins the Constitution of the United States. But who are "We the people"?

A study of American government lends itself to asking questions about ideas and issues often taken for granted. Quick — What's a democracy? What's the difference between liberty and freedom? Are liberty and equality the same? Does the Electoral College look at SAT scores?

While pondering those questions, we welcome you to the Beyond Books exploration of American Government. In this program we explore the foundations of American government, how the various branches of government operate, the Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches of the federal government, the factors that go into making up national and local political policies, what the rights of citizens of the United States are, how politics works on the state and local levels, even how the bureaucracy does (or doesn't) work.

Along the way, we answer some fundamental questions about the nature of democratic government in the United States. However, if this program is successful, you'll emerge with more questions than when you started.

When the people of East Timor voted to break away from the Indonesian government in August of 1999, it sparked riots that lasted for months, forced 800,000 people to become refugees, and destroyed 70% of the nation's buildings. People across the world fight for the freedoms that Americans take for granted every day.

There are nuts and bolts kinds of questions such as: What's a Standing Committee? Who succeeds to the Presidency if the President and Vice President cannot serve or die in office? How does a bill become law? What rights are granted by the First Amendment of the Constitution and what does that mean to us?

There are also more personal questions that are raised by this program. For instance, Should administrators at your school be allowed to search your locker any time they please? No? What if they receive an anonymous tip that you have fireworks in your locker? No? Well, while deciding what your rights are (as well as the school's rights), why not take a look at the Constitution and judicial opinion to help you fully understand what's at stake.

After you do, you'll have the chance to express your opinion regarding searches and read what others think of the issue.

Then there are questions that have been asked since the founding of the United States. Is there equal justice for the poor and minorities? Does Congress represent the will and wishes of all the people? What is a fair rate of taxation? Does the federal government have too much authority over individual states or not enough?

The questions go on and on. Why not get started and see if you can start finding answers — and more questions!

1. The Nature of Government
   1. The Purposes of Government
   2. Types of Government
   3. What Is a Democracy?
   4. Democratic Values -- Liberty, Equality, Justice
2. Foundations of American Government
   1. The Colonial Experience
   2. Independence and the Articles of Confederation
   3. Creating the Constitution
   4. The Bill of Rights
3. Federalism
   1. The Founders and Federalism
   2. Tipping the Scales Toward National Power
   3. Federal-State Relations Today: Back to States' Rights?
4. American Political Attitudes and Participation
   1. American Political Culture
   2. What Factors Shape Political Attitudes?
   3. Measuring Public Opinion
   4. Participating in Government
   5. Voting: A Forgotten Privilege?
5. How Do Citizens Connect With Their Government?
   1. Political Parties
   2. Campaigns and Elections
   3. Interest Groups
   4. The Media
   5. The Internet in Politics
6. Congress: The People's Branch?
   1. The Powers of Congress
   2. Leadership in Congress: It's a Party Matter
   3. The Importance of Committees
   4. Who Is in Congress?
   5. How a Bill Becomes a Law
7. The Presidency: The Leadership Branch?
   1. The Evolution of the Presidency
   2. All the President's Men and Women
   3. Selection and Succession of the President
   4. The President's Job
   5. Presidential Character
8. The Bureaucracy: The Real Government
   1. The Development of the Bureaucracy
   2. The Organization of the Bureaucracy
   3. Who Are the Bureaucrats?
   4. Reforming the Bureaucracy
9. The Judicial Branch
   1. The Creation of the Federal Courts
   2. The Structure of the Federal Courts
   3. The Supreme Court: What Does It Do?
   4. How Judges and Justices Are Chosen
   5. The Power of the Federal Courts
10. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
    1. Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
    2. First Amendment Rights
    3. Crime and Due Process
    4. Citizenship Rights
11. Policy Making: Political Interactions
    1. Foreign Policy: What Now?
    2. Defense Policy
    3. Economic Policy
    4. Social and Regulatory Policy
12. State and Local Governments
    1. State and Local Governments: Democracy at Work?
    2. Financing State and Local Government
    3. Who Pays for Education?
13. Comparative Political and Economic Systems
    1. Comparing Governments
    2. Comparing Economic Systems
    3. A Small, Small, World?