本書是面向讀者的一本基本工具書，載錄了美國政治制度的最基本的資料。後面還附有1787年憲法以及蘊含美國基本原理的聲明──獨立宣言和林肯的葛底斯堡演講。這些文件中貫穿著確定的主題；如果你認真地研讀，而不是像大多數人那樣匆匆瀏覽，你就會發現許多有關美國當前政治的基礎理論。
每一章後面都附有一個有關該章所強調的不同論題的參考書目。有些是經典著作，而有些則是最近才問世的。這些只是每年出版的上千種關於美國政治的書籍中的極小的一部分，是我們認?有用、有趣或者甚至是令人振奮的一些作品。並不是所有的書都出自政治學家之手。有一些──不能算多數──最好的政治作品是由政治學界之外的學者創作的。
對於那些在政治學方面需要更多基本參考資料，或需要瞭解更多知識或更多些書目，以下書目可建議作?主要參考書：
建議讀物
American Leaders
1789-1991. Congressional Quarterly, 1991.
William G. Andrews, ed. International Handbook of Political Science.
Greenwood, 1982.
Arthur S. Banks, ed. Political Handbook of the World. CSA Publications,
1988. Extensive information on the countries of the world and on international
organizations.
Michael Barone and Grant Ujifusa. The Almanac of American Politics:
1992. National Journal. Yearly publication, with lots of data, biographies,
etc.
Vincent Buranelli and Nan Buranelli. Spy/Counterspy: An Encyclopedia
of Espionage by the Government Printing Office.
CQ Weekly Report. Detailed information about congressional and other political
activity, published by Congressional Quarterly.
Dorsey Dictionary of American Government and Politics. Dorsey Press,
1988.*
Fred I. Greenstein and Nelson W. Polsby. Handbook of political
Science. Addison - Wesley, 1975.*
Fred I. Greenstein and Nelson W. Polsby. Handbook of Political
Science. Addison -Wesley, 1975.*
Frederick L. Holler. Information Sources of Political Science.
4th ed ABC-CLIO,1986.
Janet Buttolph Johnson and Richard A. Joslyn. Political Science
Research Methods. 2d ed. Congressional Quarterly, 1991.
Jeffrey M. Elliot and Sheikh R. Ali. The Presidential - Congressional
Political Dictionary. ABC-CLIO,1984.*
Jeffrey M. Elliot and Sheikh R. Ali. The State and Local Government
Political Dictionary. ABC-CLIO,1987.*
Michael Kidron and Ronald Segal. The New State of the World
Atlas rev. ed. Simon & Schuster, 1987.*
National Party Conventions 1831-1988. Congressional Quarterly, 1991.
Chronology, platforms, voting.
Jack C. Plano and Milton Greenberg. The American Political
Dictionary. 8th ed. Rinehart and Winston, 1989.*
Jack C. Plano et al. The Dictionary of Political Analysis. 2d
ed. ABC-CLIO, 1982.
Presidential Elections since 1789. 5th ed. Congressional Quarterly, 1991. Candidates,
statistics, biographic data.
Walter J. Raymond. Dictionary of Politics. Brunswick, 1978.
William Safire. Safire』s Political Dictionary. Ballantine, 1980.*
Richard M. Scammon and Alice V. McGillivany. America Votes;
A Handbook of Election Statistics. Congressional Quarterly, 1991.
Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi. Vital Statistics on
American Politics. 3d ed. Congressional Quarterly, 1991.* Trends and Figures
for major institutions and activities, from Congress to PACs.
The Statesman』s Yearbook, St. Martin』s Press. Updated yearly.
James B. Whisker. A Dictionary on Concepts of American Politics.
Macmillan, 1980.*
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*Available in paperback.