The Seventh Edition of The Challenge of Democracy maintains the framework that explores two themes: freedom, order, and equality as political values; and the majoritarianism vs. pluralism debate, but also examines the impact that globalization has on the American political system. New features include in-text icons that integrate the Real Deal CD-ROM with the text and internet exercises to integrate web resources. Changes to the book's overall structure include a revised global policy chapter; end-of-chapter exercises that ask students to find, analyze, and apply political information they find on the Web; and thorough coverage of the 2000 Presidential and Congressional elections as well as the 2000-2001 Supreme Court term. New! Politics in a Changing World boxed features appear in every other chapter and highlight how American politics affect the world and how the world's politics affect the United States. New! Can You Explain Why? features challenge students to use critical-thinking skills to explain a political paradox, such as why Americans engage in more forms of political participation than people of other nationalities, yet don't vote as much. Politics in a Changing America features in every other chapter (alternated with Politics in a Changing World) highlight changes in the political opportunity and participation of minority groups. Compared with What boxes in every chapter ask students to evaluate facets of the American political system in relation to those of other countries.