Author Description

The American Political Process examines both the formal institutions of government and organisations such as political parties and pressure groups. It analyses how these bodies interact in the making of public policy in the United States in order to provide an understanding of contemporary American politics. The new seventh edition of the text has been thoroughly updated and substantially revised to take account of such important events as the 2000 presidential election, the terrorist attacks on the United States on 11 September 2001, the 2002 midterm elections and the war against Iraq. It looks at political development in the new century against the background of a long-established constitutional structure and a distinctively American political culture. Each chapter includes a variety of useful tables and figures as well as suggestions for further reading and there is an extensive glossary of terms in American politics which provides an easily accessible reference for the reader. New features of the seventh edition include details of relevant web sites, summaries of each chapter and questions designed to encourage thought and reflection on the key issues. The American Political Process will appeal to all those students who want a well-established and comprehensive introductory text that explains how American politics really works.