The American Political Process examines both the formal institutions of government and organizations such as political parties and pressure groups. It analyses how these bodies interact in the making of public policy in the United States in order to provide an understanding of contemporary American politics. The new 7th edition of the text, published for the first time by Routledge, has been thoroughly updated and substantially revised to take account of such important events as the 2000 presidential election, the terrorist attacks on the United States on 11th September 2001, the 2002 midterm elections and the war against Iraq. It looks at political developments in the new century against the background of a long-established constitutional structure and a distinctively American political culture. Each chapter includes a variety of useful tables and diagrams as well as suggestions for further reading and there is an extensive glossary of terms in American politics, which provides an easily accessible reference for the reader. New features of the 7th edition include details of relevant websites, summaries of each chapter and questions designed to encourage thought and reflection on the key issues. The American Political Process will appeal to all those students who want a well-established and comprehensive introductory text that explains how American politics really works.