Find Background Information

Use encyclopedias for an overview of your topic, for definitions and explanations, and for list of suggested readings

Reference area (first floor)

Current Issues — 306.0973 C976
- Thorough entries on topics such as Activism, Campaign Finance, Civil Disobediance, Gun Control, Electoral System, Constition, etc. Includes background information and offeres different points of view.
Activists, Rebels, & Reformers — 303.484 ENG
- Thorough biographies of American political, environmental, activists and organizations. Explains the issues the person/organization was involved with. Entries include Ralph Nader, Black Panther Party, Cesar Chavez, SNCC, Alice Paul, Malcom X, etc.
Encyclopedia of American Political Parties & Elections — 324.27303 S113e
- One stop source for quick overviews of American political system. Entries include Campaign Finance Laws, Democratic National Committee, Internet Voting, Run-off Primaries, Voter Turnout, etc.
Almanac of American Politics — 328.73005 A445 2006
- Senators, Representatives, Governors: their Records, election results, about their states and districts.
Handy Politics Answer Book -- 320.473 M678h
- Answers to some of the most popular political questions: What was the Mayflower Compact? What is the worst act of domestic terrorism in US history? What is the role of NATO? What was Whitewater?
Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties -- 342.73085 E562
- Short entries on many issues including: conservativism, campaign finance reform, affirmative action, political people such as John Ashcroft, major supreme court cases, some primary documents.
Political Corruption in America: An Encyclopedia of Scandals, Power, and Greed -- 973.03 G878p
- Entries on political scandals, court cases, impeachments, expulsions, and the people involved. Includes: Whitewater, Watergate, Pardongate, Iran-Contra Affair, etc.
Conspiracy Theories in American History -- 973.03 C7555
- Thorough entries on many scandulous topics in U.S. poltical history including: watergate, Whitewater, Civil Rights Movement, Libertarianism, Anarchists, Democratic-Republican Societies, and more.
The Evolving Constitution: How the Supreme Court Has Ruled on Issues from Abortion to Zoning -- 347.7326 LIE
- Provides an analysis of the Constitution, an overview of how the Supreme Court decides cases, and short entries on thousands of topics about the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and historical Supreme Court decisions. Topics include: separation of powers, power of the president, prayer and Bible reading, contraception, civil disobediance, etc.
A Statistical Portrait of the US Social Conditions & Trends -- 317.3 STA
- Many charts and graphs showing voter patterns, economic conditions, and more.
Political Theories for Students -- 320 POL
- Thorough entries on many political theories including: communism, federalism, liberalism, conservatism, etc.

Find Books & Videos at the Landmark College Library

This list is selective! Use Webcat to search for other books, ebooks, and films at the Landmark College Library.

Ask a librarian if you need help.

Book stacks (second floor or LD Library)

Weapons of Mass Destruction —2006-- Mary Byrd Davis & Arthur H. Purcell — 358.3 D263w
The Disputed Presidential Election of 2000 — 2003 -- E.D. Dover — 324.973 D743D
Living History — 2003 -- Hillary Clinton — 973.929092 C642L
America Held Hostage: The Iran Hostage Crisis and the Iran-contra Affair — 1991-- Don Lawsoni — 973.927 LAW
One Nation, Uninsured: Why the US Has No National Health Insurance — 2005-- Jill Quadagno— 362.10425 Q1O
The Cigarette Century -- 2007-- Allan M. Brandt -- 338.4764 B821C
Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial Political Issues -- 2005-- George McKenna-- 320.973 T136 2005
Gun Control -- 2005 -- Harry Henderson-- 344.7305 H496G
Democracy at Risk: How Political Choices Undermine Citizen Participation and What We Can Do About It -- 2005-- Stephen Macedo-- 323.042 D383
After the People Vote: A Guide to the Electoral College -- 2004 -- John C. Fortier-- 324.63 A2583
Advertising-- Opposing Viewpoints Series-- 2006-- Laura K. Egendorf-- 659.1 A2447
The Faith Factor: How Religion influences American Elections-- 2007-- John Clifford Green-- 322.10973 G796 F
America's Constitution: A Biography -- 2005-- Akhil Reed Amar-- 342.7302 A485A
Guns, Gun Control & Elections: The politics & policy of firearms -- 2006-- Harry L. Wilson -- 363.3309 W748g
New Campaign Finance Sourcebook -- 2005 -- Anthony Corrado, et. al. -- 324.7809 N532

EBooks (Find others in WebCat)

Religion in Politics: Constitutional and Moral Perspectives -- 1999-- Michael J. Perry
The Triumph of Campaign Centered Politics -- 1999-- David Menefee-Libey

Videos in our collection (second floor)

Vote for Me: Politics in America [VHS] — 324.7 VOT Guide
Bowling for Columbine [DVD]-- 363.3309 B787
Great Speeches of the 20th Century [sound recording] -- 815.508 GRE
Key Constitutional Concepts [DVD] -- 342.73 S9585K
Our Constitution: A Conversation [DVD] -- 342.73 S9585O
News War [DVD] -- on order, ask at front desk
Who Counts? Election Reform in America [DVD] -- on order, ask at front desk
Watergate Plus 30: Shadow of History [DVD] -- on order, ask at front desk

Find Books & Videos Available from Other Libraries

Search in WorldCat for materials available from other libraries.
Bring a print out of the book you want to the front desk of the library.
Allow up to two weeks (average is one week) for the materials to arrive.

Find Articles

Have a Citation for an Article?

Search for the title of the journal in Serials Solutions to see if the full text is available in one of our databases.
If the full text is not available bring the citation to the front desk of the library. They will get the article from another library.

Databases

Issues & Controversies

Opposing points of view on the most prominent and hotly debated issues of the day.
For example, see the entries for Electoral College or Voting Machines under Access All Topics. Follow the links to the many Related Articles.

Issues & Controversies in American History

Articles on the most contentious issues in American history. Includes biographies, timelines, primary documents, pro and con articles, and more.
For example, see entries for Presidential Elections or US Political Parties.

General OneFile

Scholarly articles from journals, magazines, and newspaper reports.
Hint: Make sure you click on the Academic Journals tab!!
Try a Subject Guide Search and use the Subdivisions to narrow your topic. Hint: use only one very broad term Example: Elections

OR

Try an Advanced Search and search for keywords. Hint: search for more than one term at a time. Put each term on a different line. Example: Voting, student

Lexis Nexis

Very current newspaper articles from US and international newspapers.
Hint: Use more than one term when searching. Ask us for help!

Websites

Use the Website Evaluation Checklist to evaluate your web sources.

Project Vote Smart http://vote-smart.org
- An independent political research organization. See biographical information on state and federal level candidates, politicians, their campaign finances, interest group ratings, their voting records, and public statements. Use the site index to browse to what you're looking for.
Open Secrets.org http://www.opensecrets.org
- Your guide to money in U.S. Elections. See how much money a politician's campaign has raised, who the donors are, and how the money is spent. Data is avialable in charts and graphs.
Thomas http://thomas.loc.gov/
- Information on current legislation and legislators.
USA.gov http://www.usa.gov/
- Links to a wealth of information about government offices.
- See Elections & Voting.
Harvard University Institute of Politics http://www.iop.harvard.edu/index.php
- The Harvard Institute of Politics regularly polls college students on their civic engagement and political views. Take their Political Personality Test to see where you stand. Read their article Beyond Voting: College Students and Political Engagement.
The Heritage Foundation
- Conservative Think-Tank. Search by key word for articles on political issues.
The Brookings Institute
- Centrist/Liberal Think-Tank. Search by key word for articles on political issues.

Citations

Use the Landmark College Citation Guide

Need Help??

Contact your class librarian Elizabeth Dolinger extension 1628
Or the Main Desk of the Library extension 1648

Please fill out the Library Instruction Evaluation form!!