Keeping the Republic draws students into the study of American politics, showing them how to think critically about "who gets what, and how" while exploring the twin themes of power and citizenship. Throughout the text and its features, authors Christine Barbour and Gerald C. Wright reveal how to effectively apply critical thinking skills to the political information encountered every day. With students living through one of the most challenging periods in American life, the Twelfth Edition is a much-needed resource to help them make sense of politics in America today and become savvy consumers of political information.