Gaming the System takes an active approach to learning about American government, using novel, exciting, and highly instructive games to help students learn politics by living it. These timeless games are the perfect complement to a core textbook in American government – covering key topics like the Constitution, the Presidency, the Supreme Court, Congress, political participation, campaigns & elections, and the federal bureaucracy – and can be applied to specific courses at other levels, as well.

For Instructors: These nine games are designed to be easily inserted into courses, with all but one fitting into one class session and all of them flexible enough to adapt or scale as needed, with productive, concrete scoring mechanisms. Games are designed so that students will be ready to play after minimal preparation and with little prior knowledge; instructors do not need to design or prepare any additional materials. An extensive instructor-only online resource provides the following helpful materials to accompany each game:

• summary and discussion of the pedagogical foundations on active learning and games








• instructions and advice for managing the game and staging under various logistical circumstances








• background on each game and its development/testing








• key terms and key lessons








• notes on topic to pair the game with

For Students: These games immerse participants in crucial narratives, build content knowledge, and improve critical thinking skills—at the same time providing an entertaining way to learn key lessons about American government while boosting motivation, engagement, and retention. Each chapter contains complete instructions, materials, and discussion questions in a concise and ready-to-use form, in addition to time-saving tools like scorecards and "cheat sheets." The games contribute to course understanding, lifelong learning, and meaningful citizenship.