Background Information
Books & Videos Available at the Landmark College Library
Article Databases
Websites

President

Elections

Legislation & Law

Political Parties

Politics: International Subject Guide

U.S. Politics Course Guides

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Find Background Information

Use reference books for an overview of your topic, for definitions and explanations and for lists of further readings.  This list is selective!

Ask a librarian for others.

Reference area (first floor)

• Political Theories for Students-- 320 POL 19
  • Political theories and systems explained & analyzed 
  • Biographies of important political figures

• Encyclopedia of American Political Parties & Elections -- 324.27303 S113e
• Key concepts in US Politics 
• Every Presidential Election from 1792-2004 

 

• Almanac of American Politics -- 328.73005 A445
  • Profiles of every governor & member of Congress, district maps, campaign expenditures, their voting records, census data and more. 
    

 

• U.S. Supreme Court -- 347.7326 U84

• Subjects related to the US Supreme Court, the role of the Court in the US political system, and its changing interpretation of the Constitution.
• Volume 3 has a subject index. 
  

 

• Encyclopedia of the American Presidency -- 353.031303 ENC

• Biographies of every President up to and including Bill Clinton.
  

 

• Encyclopedia of the US Congress -- 328.73003 ENC

• History & characters of the US Congress, its constitutional powers, rules & procedures, committees, poltical parties, etc. 

 

Find Books & Videos at the Landmark College Library

Use WebCat to search for other books, ebooks, and films at the Landmark College Library.

Ask a librarian if you need help. 

Browse the political science collection in the 320's on the second floor.

 

Videos in our collection (second floor)

 

There are many videos available in the collection on political topics. 

Browse the 320's section of the videos on the second floor. 

Ask a librarian for others.

• Unconstitutional: The War On Our Civil Liberties -- 342.73085 U545

• Who Counts? Election Reform in America -- 324.973 W6285

• Hacking Democracy -- 324.70973 H122

• John Locke -- 320.512 J655

• Adam Smith -- 330.153 A193

• Greatest Speeches of All Time -- 815.5 G786

 

 

Find Articles

Ask a librarian if you need help. 

Databases

CQ Researcher

• Reports on issues in the news: social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy. 
• Background and chronology; an assessment of the current situation; tables and maps; pro/con statements of opposing positions; and bibliographies of key sources.

Issues and Controversies

• Shorter reports than CQ Researcher.

• Opposing points of view.
• See the entries for Electoral College or Voting Machines under Access All Topics. Follow the links to the many Related Articles.

Issues & Controversies in American History

• Articles on the most contentious issues in American history.
• Includes biographies, timelines, primary documents, pro and con articles, and more. 
• For example, see entries for Presidential Elections or US Political Parties.

 

Websites

USA.gov

http://www.usa.gov/

• A portal to all US government information. 
• Includes links to local, tribal, state, U.S. territory, and federal government official web sites, federal departments, agencies, and organizations.

State and County QuickFacts

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html
(from the U.S. Census Bureau)

• Look for People, Business, and Geography quick facts by state and by county.

National Archives

http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/

• Copies of the original documents such as: The U.S. Constitution, The Bill Of Rights, etc.

 

President

President of the United States

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/

 

Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the U.S.

http://www.bartleby.com/124/

• Full text of Presidential Inaugural Adrresses from Washington to G.W. Bush.

 

Elections

Project Vote Smart

http://vote-smart.org/

• Information on political candidates for office as well as current political office holders. 
• Includes biographies, issue positions, campaign finance, voting records, etc.

 

Opensecrets.org

http://www.opensecrets.org/

• "Your guide to money in politics."
• Find out where candidates and politicians receive their funding from; who the special interest groups are supporting.

Federal Election Commission

http://www.fec.gov/

• Campaign finance data.
• Find out which area of the country supports a specific party or candidate. 

 

Legislation & Law

Thomas, Legislative Information on the Internet

http://thomas.loc.gov/

• Search for Bills of the House and Senate, find roll call votes, etc. 

Oyez.com

http://www.oyez.org/

• Search for Supreme Court cases.

Robert's Rules of Order

http://www.bartleby.com/176/

• Rules of the Congress and public meetings.

 

Political Parties

• Democrats
• Republicans
• Green Party
• Libertarians
• Reform Party
• Natural Law Party
• Socialists
• Democratic Socialists
• Social Democrats
• Communists
• Constitution Party
• New Party

 

U.S. Politics Course Guides

Introduction to Political Science (SS1411)

Need Help??

Contact the Political Science Librarian,  Elizabeth Dolinger, extension 1628
Or the Library front desk, extension 1648

 

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