Updated in its 8th edition, Approaching Democracy addresses the evolving nature of the American experiment in democratic government. It teaches readers the theory and basics of American political science and the nation"s political history. It provides the critical thinking skills needed to analyze these evolving relationships. Larry Berman and Bruce Allen Murphy are long-time teachers of the Introductory American Political Science course in both large and small public and private universities. Their goal was to write a book that offers a clear and relevant theme in an easily readable format.