The Oxford Guide to the United States Government
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  CollegeCopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.