Inside Guide: Civics

Elections are important events in democratic governments, and voting is a right and a responsibility. Being educated about the election process in an important part of becoming an informed citizen. This book explores the election system, key elections that happen in the United States, and the historic path to securing elections for all. Readers will learn about the ways people work together to ensure elections are free and fair today. Each chapter presents crucial aspects of elections supported by corresponding photographs, related sidebars, and fascinating fact boxes. Your readers are asked questions about what they've read to strengthen comprehension and critical-thinking skills.

Laws and legal systems have existed around the world for thousands of years. These rules give a country structure and keep people safe. However, laws can also be challenged and changed. This volume examines the legal system in the United States, navigating its origins, key players, and modern history. It also challenges readers to think critically about laws through discussion questions. Easy-to-understand language, engaging photographs, interesting sidebars, and fact boxes give readers a comprehensive introduction to one of the most important aspects of modern civics.

Every person has rights and responsibilities they should understand to be an informed and active citizen. This inside guide to an essential civics topic highlights the meaning of rights and responsibilities, how rights and responsibilities relate to a person's values, and ways rights and responsibilities can change. Easily comprehensible text pairs with engaging photographs to explore key concepts that deliver an overview of this aspect of social studies curricula. Readers explore various rights and responsibilities for citizens of the United States through sidebars, fact boxes, graphic organizers, and questions that encourage critical thinking.

The system of checks balances between the branches of the U.S. government is written into the Constitution, but it isn't always clearly understood. How does each branch keep the others from getting too powerful? The answer is waiting for readers to discover in this inside guide to an essential civics concept. Through age-appropriate text, photographs, sidebars, and fact boxes, readers explore the meaning of checks and balances and how the system works. They're also encouraged to discuss ways it's been used in the past and the benefits and disadvantages of checks and balances.

Taxes have been part of the United States since its very beginning. Taxes on food, property, and income are often in the news and are often discussed and debated by adults, but young people also need to know the basics about taxes. This guide to an important part of civics education comprehensively explores the definition of taxes, the U.S. tax system, and key taxes affecting modern society. Through photographs, sidebars, fact boxes, and engaging text supplemented with discussion questions, readers will fully understand the role of taxes in government and ordinary life today.

Citizenship is an important issue, and becoming a more informed and active citizen is part of growing up. This guide examines what it means to be a citizen in the United States. It explains the ways people become citizens, the responsibilities of a citizen, and the rights of U.S. citizens. Readers can form their own opinions on citizenship by reading engaging discussion questions, sidebars, and fact boxes. In addition, they can better understand the workings of citizenship through corresponding vibrant photographs and graphic organizers that highlight this basic social studies curriculum topic.