Includes bibliographical references (p.673-708) and indexes.

Studying the dynamics of democracy, conflict, rules, and change -- The Constitution -- The social context of American politics -- Civil liberties -- Civil rights -- Public opinion -- Voting and participation -- The news media -- Political parties -- Interest groups -- Congress -- The Presidency -- The Federal bureaucracy -- The courts -- The Federal system and state government -- The Federal budget -- Domestic policy -- Foreign policy -- Appendixes: The Declaration of Independence; The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union; Federalist No.10; Federalist No.51; Antifederalists and the Constitution; Letter from Birmingham jail; Race and the U.S. Constitution; The Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States; Presidential election results, 1789-1996; Party control of the Presidency, Senate, and House of Representatives, 1901-1997; Twentieth-century justices of the Supreme Court; Presidential general election returns, by state, 1996; Portrait of the electorate, 1984-1996; American political parties since 1789 -- Contract with America -- Glossary.