Introduction to American National Government

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Social Sciences Reference Librarian
phone: x3552
email: jarson [at] muhlenberg [dot] edu
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Selected Reference Materials

De Conde, Alexander, ed. Encyclopedia of American foreign policy: Studies of the principal movements and ideas, 2nd ed. New York: Scribner, 2002.
Reference 327.73003 E56o v.1-3

Greene, Jack P., ed. Encyclopedia of American political history: Studies of the principal movements and ideas. New York: Scribner, 1984.
Reference 320.973 E56 v.1-3

Hawkesworth, Mary, and Maurice Kogan, eds. Encyclopedia of government and politics. London; New York: Routledge, 1992.
Reference 320.03 H392e

Kravitz, Walter. Congressional quarterly's American congressional dictionary, 3rd ed. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2001.
Reference 328.73003 K91c

Kurian, George Thomas, ed. A historical guide to the U.S. government. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Reference 328.73 K96h

Lipset, Seymour Martin, ed. The encyclopedia of democracy. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1995.
Reference 321.803 L767e v.1-4

Robertson, David. A dictionary of modern politics, 3rd ed. London; New York: Europa Publications, 2002.
Reference 320.03 R649d

Shafritz, Jay M. HarperCollins dictionary of American government and politics. New York, NY: HarperPerennial, 1992.
Reference 320.97303 S525h

Shafritz, Jay M., ed. International encyclopedia of public policy and administration. Boulder: Westview Press, 1998.
Reference 351.03 I61e v.1-4

Silbey, Joel H., ed. Encyclopedia of the American legislative system. New York, NY: Scribner, 1994.
Reference 328.7003 E56o v.1-3

Utter, Glenn H., and James L. True. Conservative Christians and political participation: A reference handbook. Santa Barbara, CA : ABC-CLIO, 2004.
Reference 323.042 U93c

Wetterau, Bruce. Congressional Quarterly's desk reference on American government. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1995.
Reference 320.473 W312c

Issue/Policy Specific -- Examples

Cordes, Joseph J., Robert D. Ebel, and Jane G. Gravelle, eds. The encyclopedia of taxation & tax policy, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press, 2005.
Reference 336.2003 E56o

Miller, E. Willard, and Ruby M. Miller. United States immigration: A reference handbook. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1996.
Reference 304.873 M652u

Mink, Gwendolyn, and Alice O'Connor. Poverty in the United States: An encyclopedia of history, politics, and policy. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2004.
Reference 339.460973 M665p v.1-2

Staudinger, Jeff. The environmental guidebook: A selective reference guide to environmental organizations and related entities. Menlo Park, CA: Environmental Frontlines, 2002.
Reference 363.70025 S798e

Sullivan, Thomas F.P., ed. Environmental law handbook, 17th ed. Rockville, MD: Government Institutes, 2003.
Reference 344.73046 S952e

Finding Books

TREXLER LIBRARY

Search the Trexler Library Catalog to find out what books, government publications, journals, videos, etc. the library owns.

GETTING THERE:
Use the shortcut search box on the Library Homepage or Library Homepage  --  Books, Videos, Music, ... (in Find box)  --  Trexler Library Catalog

For tips on searching the catalog, use the Help link above the search boxes.

OTHER LIBRARIES

WorldCat. To find books held by other libraries, search WorldCat, a database of over 60 million library records from around the country and world. Use the ILL button to request a book from another library. (ILL can take 10-14 days.)

GETTING THERE:
Library Homepage  --  Books, Videos, Music, ... (in Find box)  --  Other Library Catalogs -- WorldCat

E-ZBorrow. For quick delivery of books from many Pennsylvania and area academic libraries (including University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, University of Pittsburgh, and many more), use E-ZBorrow. (E-ZBorrow takes 2-4 business days.)

GETTING THERE:
Library Homepage  --  Books, Videos, Music, ... (in Find box)  --  Other Library Catalogs -- E-ZBorrow

TIP: Because E-ZBorrow books can arrive so quickly, check the E-ZBorrow catalog for any books you find in WorldCat. If not available there, then request via the ILL button in Worldcat.

LVAIC. You can borrow books directly from LVAIC (Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges) Libraries.

GETTING THERE:
Library Homepage  --  Books, Videos, Music, ... (in Find box)  --  Regional Libraries  -- LVAIC Libraries

For more information on Interlibrary Loan options, see http://www.muhlenberg.edu/library/more/ill/index.html or ask for help.

GETTING THERE:
Library Homepage  --  ILL (in the Services & Forms box)

Finding Government Documents

Muhlenberg College receives about 25% of all materials published by the Federal Government. These items cover a wide range of subject areas--from legal materials and the records of Congress to health and education information and in-depth research conducted by the Smithsonian. All of the government documents that we receive have records in the Trexler Library Catalog.

GPO Monthly Catalog
The most complete single source listing of Government Printing Office publications. It covers the period 1976 to present and includes a wide range of publications types including agency reports and congressional documents, providing the Superintendent of Document Number (SUDOC).

Google U.S. Government Search
Google's search tool for state and federal webpages.

LexisNexis Congressional
Provides access to detailed information about Congress. It includes The Congressional Record, congressional hearings, legislation, legislative histories, etc., from 1969 to the present.

Documents Center (University of Michigan Library)
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/
"The Documents Center is a central reference and referral point for government information, whether local, state, federal, foreign or international. Its web pages are a reference and instructional tool for government, political science, statistical data, and news."

Finding Articles: Databases & Indexes

SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES

See a list of all databases at via the Library Homepage  --  Articles A-Z (in the Find box).

PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service)
Top source for International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Public Affairs resources. Indexes select articles, books, conference proceedings, government documents, statistical directories, 1972 to present. Especially useful for research on the environment, demographics, human rights, arms control, etc.

Academic Search Premier
 Large and diverse database that covers most academic disciplines, including International Relations and Comparative Politics. Contains both scholarly and non-academic resources. Includes many articles in full text.

OmniFile (WilsonWeb)
Multi-disciplinary database providing the complete content–indexing, abstracts, and full text–from six of Wilson's full-text databases.

LexisNexis Academic Universe
Indexes and provides full-text of major national and international newspapers, newswires, select journals and magazines, and legal publications. Updated daily. Coverage from as early as 1980 to the present.

GETTING THE ARTICLES

  1. When searching for articles, you may find the full-text of an article linked in the database.

  2. If not, you need to search the Trexler Library Catalog to see if we own the journal in which the article is published.
    • Most databases have a Get It! link embedded. Click the link to check our holdings.
    • Otherwise, search the catalog by journal title. Verify that we have online, print, or microform access to the year/volume you need.
  3. If we do not own the journal you need, request the article via Interlibrary Loan.
    • Some databases have a Request on Interlibrary Loan link embedded. Click the link to fill out the form. Click Submit.
    • Otherwise, use the Interlibrary Loan Journal Article Request Form (Library Homepage  --  ILL (in the Services & Forms box)  --  Articles request form). Fill out the form with as much information as possible. Ask for help, if you have questions.

Finding Statistical Information

Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.bls.gov/

Chadwicj, Bruce A., and Tim B. Heaton, eds. Statistical Handbook on the American Family, 2nd ed. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1999.
Statistics Reference 306.85 C432s

Fedstats: The Gateway to Statistics from Over 100 U.S. Federal Agencies
http://www.fedstats.gov

Gallup Poll Briefing
This title has changed names through the years. The following list summarizes Trexler Library's holdings.
To find the databases mentioned, click LexisNexis Statistical Universe and PAIS or follow Library Homepage  --  Articles A-Z (in the Find box).

  • Gallup Poll Briefing 2006- (available in Periodicals section, Level C)
  • Gallup Poll Tuesday Briefing 2002-2005 (available in Periodicals section, Level C and via LexisNexis Statistical Universe; indexing via LexisNexis Statistical Universe)
  • Gallup Poll Monthly 1989-2002 (available in Periodicals section, Level C; some indexing via PAIS)
  • Gallup Report 1981-1989 (available in Periodicals section, Level C; some indexing via PAIS)
  • Gallup Opinion Index 1973-1981 (available in Periodicals section, Level C; some indexing via PAIS)

Historical Statistics of the United States (online)
Search the library catalog by title or click here.

Internet Resources for Urban Affairs and Public Policy (University of Delaware Library)
http://www2.lib.udel.edu/subj/urba/internet.htm

Kurian, George Thomas. Datapedia of the United States 1790-2000: America Year by Year. Lanham, MD: Bernan Press, 1994.
Statistics Reference 317.3 K96d
Note: An updated version (Datapedia of the United States 1790-2005: American History in Numbers) has been ordered and should arrive soon.

LexisNexis Academic Universe (for polls and surveys)
Follow Library Homepage  --  Articles A-Z (in the Find box). From the General Search--Easy Search screen in LexisNexis, choose the Power Search tab , then select Public Opinion Location Library/Public Opinion Online in the Select Sources drop-down screen. Add relevant keywords and select appropriate date range.

LexisNexis Statistical Universe
Follow Library Homepage  --  Articles A-Z (in the Find box).

Littman, Mark S., ed. A Statistical Portrait of the United States: Social Conditions and Trends. Lanham, MD: Bernan Press, 1998.
Statistics Reference 306.0973 S797p

National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
http://nces.ed.gov/

Policy Links and Resources (American Political Science Association, Policy Section)
http://apsapolicysection.org/links.html

Political Science Resources on the Web / Think Tanks (University of Michigan Library, Documents Center)
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/psthink.html

PollingReport.com: Public Opinion Online
http://www.pollingreport.com/

Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 1886- .
Statistics Reference 317.3 U58 2006 (Latest edition)
Government Documents C 3.134:886- (Older editions)
Also available online. Search the library catalog by title or click here.

Statistical Resources on the Web (University of Michigan Library, Documents Center)
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html

US Census: http://www.census.gov/
     • American Factfinder: http://factfinder.census.gov/

Interest Groups

Lobbying (Google Directory)
http://www.google.com/Top/Society/Politics/Lobbying/

Lobby Watch (Center for Public Integrity)
http://www.publicintegrity.org/lobby/

Political Advocacy Groups: A Directory of United States Lobbyists (California State University, Chico)
http://www.csuchico.edu/~kfountain/

Public interest group profiles, 2006-2007. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2006.
Reference 322.4302573 P976i

Federal Lobbyist Registration (U.S. Senate Office of Public Records)
http://sopr.senate.gov/
Searchable database of registered lobbyists.

Citing Your Sources

For help using Chicago Style, consult the following resources:

The Chicago manual of style, 15th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.
Reference Desk Reserve 808.027 C632m (at Reference Desk)

Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.
Reference Desk Reserve 808 T929m 1996 (at Reference Desk)

Trexler Library handout on using Chicago style: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/library/reshelp/chicago_example.pdf
This and other style guide handouts available from the library website.  Library Homepage --  Citation Guides (in the Research Help box).

Writer's Handbook (Writing Center, University of Wisconsin--Madison)
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocChicago.html

© Muhlenberg College
Last modified: 11 February 2008