Principles and Practice of American Politics : Classic and Contemporary Readings

Principles and Practice of American Politics is an engaging collection of readings that balances "classics" of political science with more contemporary analyses of current politics and public policy. Kernell and Smith have drawn from a variety of sources and schools of thought to present a coherent collection. In addition, many selections are drawn from rich political sources such as the CQ Weekly that comparable readers cannot offer.

Samuel Kernell is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego, where he has taught since 1977. Previously, he taught at the University of Mississippi and the University of Minnesota. Kernell's research interests focus on the presidency. His previous books include Going Public: New Strategies of Presidential Leadership (Third Edition, 1997, CQ Press), Strategy and Choice in Presidential Leadership, (Second Edition, 1983, Yale University Press) with Gary C. Jacobson, and The Logic of American Politics (2000, CQ Press), also with Gary C. Jacobson.

Steven S. Smith is Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota, where he has taught since 1987. Previously he served as a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and taught at Northwestern University and George Washington University. His research interests include American politics, congressional politics, Russian politics, positive theories of politics, and theories of institutional development. He is author or coauthor of Politics or Principle: Filibustering in the United States (1997), Committees in Congress, 3e (1997), The American Congress (1995), Call to Order: Floor Politics in the House and Senate (1989), Managing Uncertainty in the House of Representatives (1988), and The Politics of Institutional Choice: The Formation of the Russian State Duma (forthcoming).