The Oxford Guide to the United States Government - Hardcover

Patrick, John J.; Pious, Richard M.; Ritchie, Donald A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 019514273X ISBN 13: 9780195142730

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2001

Synopsis

The Oxford Guide to the United States Government is the ultimate resource for authoritative information on the U.S. Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court. Compiled by three top scholars, its pages brim with the key figures, events, and structures that have animated U.S. government for more than 200 years.
In addition to coverage of the 2000 Presidential race and election, this Guide features biographies of all the Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Supreme Court Justices, as well as notable members of Congress, including current leadership; historical commentary on past elections, major Presidential decisions, international and domestic programs, and the key advisors and agencies of the executive branch; in-depth analysis of Congressional leadership and committees, agencies and staff, and historic legislation; and detailed discussions of 100 landmark Supreme Court cases and the major issues facing the Court today. In addition to entries that define legal terms and phrases and others that elaborate on the wide array of government traditions, this invaluable book includes extensive back matter, including tables of Presidential election results; lists of Presidents, Vice Presidents, Congresses, and Supreme Court Justices with dates of service; lists of Presidential museums, libraries, and historic sites; relevant websites; and information on visiting the White House, the Capitol, and Supreme Court buildings.
A one-stop, comprehensive guide that will assist students, educators, and anyone curious about the inner workings of government, The Oxford Guide to the United States Government will be a valued addition to any home library.

About this title

About the Author

John J. Patrick is Director of the Social Studies Development Center, Professor of Education, and Director of the ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education at Indiana University. He is the author of two textbooks, American Political Behavior and History of the American Nation. Richard M. Pious is Professor of Political Science at Barnard College and the Graduate Faculties of Columbia University. He is the author of The American Presidency; The President, Congress and the Constitution; the textbook American Politics and Government; and a biography of Richard Nixon. Donald A. Ritchie is the Associate Historian of the U.S. Senate Historical Office and the author of Press Gallery: Congress and the Washigton Correspondents (which won the Richard Leopold Prize of the Organization of American Historians), A Necessary Fence: The Senate's First Century, The Senate, The U.S. Constitution, and James M. Landis: Dean of the Regulators.

Reviews

This guide to the history and politics of the federal government is not a tool for finding and using government services and resources; instead, editors Patrick (director, ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education, Indiana Univ.), Richard Pious (political science, Barnard Coll.), and Donald Ritchie (associate historian, U.S. Senate Historical Office) present important concepts, events, individuals, laws, and even nongovernmental organizations in this research-oriented book. Included are biographies of every president, vice president, chief and associate justice of the Supreme Court, many leaders of the House and Senate, and four first ladies. The book also supplies articles on women and minorities in Congress; issues such as "Campaign Financing, Congressional," "Rights of the Accused," and "Test Cases"; and historically important events, terms, and traditions, such as "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution," "Bunk," and "Snuff." Departments and agencies of the executive branch, procedures and practices of all three branches of the federal government, major pieces of legislation, congressional committees and administrative units, and 100 of the most significant Supreme Court cases are all well covered. "Presidential Historic Sites and Libraries" and "Table of Congresses" are two of seven appendixes. The more than 900 articles are arranged in one alphabetical format and vary in length, from a few sentences to several pages. Most have bibliographical sources and cross references to related articles. An index would have been useful for finding subjects within the articles, but this solid reference work is highly recommended for public, academic, and high school libraries. Charles L. Lumpkins, Pennsylvania State Univ., State College
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In this alphabetical encyclopedia on topics relating to both the present activities and history of the U.S. government, entries include biographies of presidents and vice presidents, selected First Ladies and members of congress, and all Supreme Court justices who have ever served. Other types of biographical entries are those of unofficial groups of people who have played important roles in American government and history, such as Carpetbaggers. There are also articles on the various departments of the federal government; important historical events (Camp David peace talks, Watergate); issues and concepts (Capital punishment, Freedom of speech); laws and decisions; and Supreme Court cases. In addition, the volume covers the various powers, procedures, and practices of the president, congress, and the courts. There are some miscellaneous entries as well, including one for Bean Soup, which describes (complete with recipe) the tradition of serving bean soup every day in the House and Senate restaurants. Results of the 2000 presidential elections are included.

Entries run from several paragraphs to several pages. Each includes bulleted high points related to the event or person, as well as see also references and a list of sources used. There are six appendixes which cover the U.S. Constitution; presidents and vice-presidents in chronological order (ending with Bill Clinton); presidential election results; tables of congress giving majority and minority parties; terms of Supreme Court justices; justice appointees and their presidents; tips on visiting the branches of the federal government; and a list of presidential historic sites and libraries.

Although most of the information may be found elsewhere in encyclopedias and almanacs, having it in one, inexpensive, convenient volume recommends purchase for most libraries.

RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 019514273X
• ISBN 13: 9780195142730
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 816