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Suggested Books for American Government
All titles are available from ACTC Libraries. This is not an exhaustive list.
American Constitutional Law: The Structure of Government by Ralph A. Rossum; G. Alan TarrThe study of the Constitution and constitutional law is of fundamental importance to understanding the principles, prospects, and problems of America. American Constitutional Law, Volume Iprovides a comprehensive account of the nation's defining document, comparing how its provisions were originally understood by those who drafted and ratified it with contemporary constructions. The authors examine the constitutional thought of the founders, as well as interpretations of the Constitution by the Supreme Court, Congress, the President, lower federal courts, and state judiciaries to provide students with a sense of how the law has been interpreted over the years. Now fully updated, the ninth edition of this classic volume features several new cases including National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, Arizona v. United States,and Caperton v. A. T. Massey Coal Company.
ISBN: 9780813347455
Publication Date: 2013
American Constitutional Law: The Bill of Rights and Subsequent Amendments by Ralph A. Rossum; G. Alan TarrThe study of the Constitution and constitutional law is of fundamental importance to understanding the principles, prospects, and problems of America. American Constitutional Law, Volume II provides a comprehensive account of the nation's defining document, comparing how its provisions were originally understood by those who drafted and ratified it with contemporary constructions. The authors examine the constitutional thought of the founders, as well as interpretations of the Constitution by the Supreme Court, Congress, the President, lower federal courts, and state judiciaries to provide students with a sense of how the law has been interpreted over the years. Now fully updated, the ninth edition of this classic volume features several new cases including Caperton v. A. T. Massey Coal Company, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, Perry v. Brown, Snyder v. Phelps, and Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project. Visit westviewconlaw.com for instructor resources, including recently decided cases, material from prior editions, and a glossary.
ISBN: 9780813347486
Publication Date: 2013
Dictionary of American Government and Politics by Duncan WattsThis Dictionary offers a fresh, up-to-date look at US government and politics, explaining and where necessary demystifying the key terms used in discussion of the political system.Major figures, events, ideas, movements and Supreme Court cases relevant to a study of the American politicalsystem are included with the aim of allowing readers to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the area. The Dictionary also raises key issues and areas of contention and academic debate.Coverage is comprehensive, with c.400 entries, each providing analysis of the subject. Terms are presented in an A-Z format with cross-referencing where appropriate.
Official website for the President of the United States, including information about the White House, current and former administrations, news, issues, and policies.
Official website of the Library of Congress. The largest library in the world, the main research arm of the U.S. Congress, and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.
Official website of the National Archives. Serves as the nation's record keeper by preserving documents that are important for legal or historical reasons. Provides access to military service records and houses America's Founding Documents (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights).
Suggested Library Resources for American Government
To access off-campus, use your KCTCS user name (jsmith0001) and password when prompted by the proxy server. Please note that not all databases provide full-text access. Please use the Library's online Interlibrary Loan Request form to request the full-text of articles for which our databases only provide citations.
Journal of politics, economics, education, foreign policy, labor, law and other social issues, literature and the arts. Full-text available 01/11/1975 to present.
Journal that provides first hand reports on national, international, and cultural affairs with focus on Washington and other political hot spots. Full-text available 01/17/1975 to present.
Find in-depth background information on controversial and current issues. Browse Recent Reports or By Topic to paper topic ideas. Reports written by CQ staff writers.
Academic Search Complete is the world's most valuable and comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database, with more than 8,500 full-text periodicals, including more than 7,300 peer-reviewed journals. In addition to full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for more than 12,500 journals and a total of more than 13,200 publications including monographs, reports, conference proceedings, etc. The database features PDF content going back as far as 1887, with the majority of full text titles in native (searchable) PDF format. Searchable cited references are provided for more than 1,400 journals.
Comprehensive, scholarly, multi-disciplinary, full-text database. Covers a wide variety of topics.
Academic OneFile is a comprehensive, up-to-date and easy-to-use resource for academic research. Home to nearly 13,000 indexed journals, Academic OneFile is available 24/7 and effortlessly delivers quality content for faculty, students, scholars and other researchers. Extensive coverage of the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects makes Academic OneFile both authoritative and comprehensive. With millions of articles available in both PDF and HTML full-text with no restrictions, researchers are able to find accurate information quickly. International in scope and unparalleled in breadth and depth, Academic OneFile is a one-stop resource for academic research in all disciplines.
Comprehensive, scholarly, multi-disciplinary, full-text database. Covers a wide variety of topics.
A nonpartisan tool that allows learners of all ages to engage with the text of the Constitution, discover how experts agree and disagree about its history and meaning, and explore arguments on all sides of the constitutional debates at the center of American life.
APSA brings together political scientists from all fields of inquiry, regions, and occupational endeavors within and outside academe to deepen our understanding of politics, democracy, and citizenship throughout the world.
The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization — a think tank — dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.
The United Nations is an international organization that can take action on the issues such as peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, disarmament, terrorism, humanitarian and health emergencies, gender equality, governance, food production, and more.
It is currently made up of 193 Member States and also provides a forum for its members to express their views in the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and other bodies and committees. By enabling dialogue between its members, and by hosting negotiations, the Organization has become a mechanism for governments to find areas of agreement and solve problems together.