"Overall, a first-rate resource, and yes, pleasantly readable."
-School Library Journal


The Encyclopedia of U.S. Campaigns, Elections, and Electoral Behavior covers virtually everything one would want to know about American political campaigns. With more than 450 entries, these two comprehensive volumes present a significant array topics of campaigns, elections, and electoral behavior. The encyclopedia's diverse content shows that although the subject matter of campaigns, elections, and electoral behavior is inherently related, each topic has a distinct focus.



Key Features



Presents topics in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner, intentionally avoiding unnecessary technical language
Includes entries written by electoral behavior scholars from around the country
Focuses on American campaigns, elections, and electoral behavior but also provides a culturally and politically diverse perspective of American democratic practices and institutions
Offers a rich campaign history by looking at many colorful candidates, corrupt yet intriguing political machines, rapidly changing technologies, campaign organizations, and strategies
Provides a description and scholarly analysis for all presidential elections, including state and general elections
Presents and simplifies complicated election laws that govern federal, state, and local elections
Examines various efforts throughout the decades to reform elections, especially from social upheaval and the resulting political realignments
Includes extensive electoral research into the development of political opinions, attitudes, and ideologies in American voters



Key Themes



Ballot Issue Campaigns
Campaigns, Elections and the Law
Corruption in American Campaigns and Elections
Electoral Behavior of Various Groups
Local Campaigns and Elections
Media's Role in American Campaigns and Elections
People
Political Parties, Interest Groups, and American Campaigns and Elections
Political Theory and Democratic Elections in America
Polls, Public Opinion, and Campaigns and Elections
Presidential Campaigns and Elections
Reforming American Campaigns and Elections
Running Political Campaigns: Management, Organization, and Strategies
Social and Psychological Dynamics of Electoral Behavior
State and Congressional Campaigns and Elections: History and State Profiles



The Encyclopedia of U.S. Campaigns, Elections, and Electoral Behavior is an especially useful reference, published to coincide with the 2008 presidential election. This informative yet intriguing resource is a welcome addition to any academic or public library.