In its first two editions, We the People confronted the trend toward political apathy and cynicism by underscoring the direct impact of government on students" lives and the vital importance of political engagement in a democratic society. More than ever before, the Third Edition—along with the outstanding Web site that accompanies it—embraces the theme of political participation and encourages students to get involved, whether it be in their communities or at the national level. A new chapter, "Political Participation and Voting," draws from a large body of research on political participation to explore forms of political participation—most importantly, voting—as well as the rationale behind political participation and the importance of participation to American political values. Woven throughout the text and the Web site are examples of student participation and activism, allowing students to see how easily the theories and ideas presented in the text can be put into practice. We the People, Texas Edition contains the full contents of the standard edition. An additional nine chapters cover politics in Texas.