The system of courts in the United States serves to enforce the laws of the nation as well as act as a check to make sure the other branches of government obey the powers set forth by the Constitution. Through a series of landmark court cases, chronicled in this book with an explanation of their lasting impact, the judiciary has shaped the laws of the nation. In addition to the powers of the judiciary and information on important Supreme Court Justices, landmark cases such as Marbury v. Ma...

Concerned more with rationality, human nature, and human interaction with society and the world than the theological questions of the Middle Ages, contemporary philosophy has advanced study of the limits of the human mind. This insightful volume traces the evolution of present-day Western philosophy and the diverging methods of inquiry that continue to inform a wide range of disciplines.

The Legislative Branch, created by Article I of the Constitution, is comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. This book not only studies the powers of the legislative branch and the organization of both houses of Congress, but also examines the legislative process and how a bill ultimately can become a law. This book gives readers a detailed look at how their government really works to both create and pass lasting legislation...

The founders of the Constitution created the office of the President to be the Chief Executive of the United States, as well as an important figure the nation could turn to. This book covers the role and duties of the executive in the office of President, describing how those duties have changed and evolved throughout the history of the United States. There is also plenty of helpful information detailing the complicated election process, from the caucus to the Electoral College, helping to...

In many ways, modern economics can be seen as the sum total of the works of leading thinkers in the field. Including Adam Smith with his groundbreaking study of capitalism and Paul Krugman’s study of international trade patterns, economists have continued to increase our understanding of the principles of the world’s economic systems. Engaging profiles of the most notable contributors to economic thought are provided and the impact they continue to have throughout the world today is examin...

Complementary and mutually reinforcing, political science and political philosophy lie at the heart of the study of governance. The concept of how government could or should operate in the abstract is the province of political philosophy, while political science concerns itself with the concrete. Readers will chronicle the history and development of both fields and introduces readers to the major thinkers—including Aristotle, Machiavelli, and Weber—whose works have informed the study of po...

Banks and businesses today often deal with so many different operations, it may be seem difficult to see the purpose of each and how they relate to each other or how they relate to our daily lives. Like individuals, businesses rely on banks, and when banks are not practical, they find other means for financing, or raising and managing funds. Readers examine the role of banks and the process of business financing as insightful text breaks down such terms as interest rate, capital, dividend,...

Although one of the shortest written constitutions in the world, the U.S. Constitution, designed to embody the rights, laws, and guiding principles of a diverse and ever-changing populace, remains an enduring document. Since its ratification in 1787, the Constitution has been applied to a broad range of legal and political questions and, while often the subject of much debate, continues to serve as a stalwart reminder of the country’s social and legal strides. This detailed volume breaks d...

Money can be paper or metal, can come in dollars, euros, pesos, or one of many other forms of currency, and can be used to pay for goods and services. Explanations of topics such as how we determine value, what exactly capital is and how it relates to money, and more are examined through accessible text. The gold standard, various currencies from around the world, and interest theory are also covered.

Governance is a complex process, often divided among various structures and institutions. Local, regional, national, and even supranational entities each have their own formal and informal institutions that comprise a political system. Readers will use this comprehensive volume to examine the various types, structures, and functions of government around the world, as well as the evolution of political systems and the factors contributing to their rise and fall.

Although individuals and countries, for centuries, have exchanged goods and services for money, the formal field of economics—the study of wealth and how it is produced and distributed—is relatively young. Since Adam Smith’s pioneering work in the 18th century, economics has developed a great deal, and with it, so has our understanding of market systems, such as capitalism and centrally planned systems. A detailed explanation of the scope of economics, historical development, and the stren...

One of the greatest economic crises in history, the Great Depression of the 1930s caused much hardship both in the United States and throughout the world. The economic impact of this difficult period was reflected not only in the job market of the era but in its art, society, and politics as well. Illuminating information allows readers to examine the economic causes and effects of the Great Depression, as well as the federal and global responses to the crisis, and gives an in-depth look a...