Guide to Sources in Political Science

Location of Materials

All titles listed in this guide are located in the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL) Reference Collection unless otherwise noted. The location SSHEL RCC indicates the item is held in the SSHEL Reference Circulating Collection.

Call Numbers

Call numbers are groups of numbers and/or letters that classify library items by subject. Items are arranged on bookshelves by call number. The Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL) uses both the Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress classification systems.

Article & Journal Databases

Databases are structured sets of information, stored in print or online. Often, databases are online collections of journal article citations and full-text. Find articles about a specific topic by using keywords, subject headings, authors, and more.

PAIS International (formerly Public Affairs Information Service). 1914-. (online)
This index covers topics related to public affairs, policy, and politics. Includes publications from over 120 countries including articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, and conference papers.

Worldwide Political Science Abstracts. 1975-. (online)
Citations, abstracts, and indexing of international journal literature in political science and its complementary fields, including international relations, law, and public policy.

ProQuest Congressional (Congressional Universe). 1998-. (online)
Full-text of legislative histories, member information, bills, hearings, laws, and Congressional Research Reports from the Congressional Research Service. Also contains information about the ways in which everything comes together in today’s Congress.

International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS). 1951-. (online)
This bibliography contains nearly two million bibliographic references to journal articles, books, reviews, and selected chapters within social science and interdisciplinary research. Updated quarterly, this resource incorporates over 100 languages and countries and is continually adding full-text availability to references

Background Information: Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, & Handbooks

Background information can be found in print and online reference sources, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks. Dictionaries contain brief definitions, usually only a sentence or two in length. Encyclopedias provide more in-depth descriptions, usually a few paragraphs in length. Handbooks contain descriptions that can be multiple pages and describe the development and future of a subject.

*NOTE: There are several political encyclopedias and dictionaries that focus on specific nations and geographic regions. They are generally located in the 320.9 Dewey Call Number range, as well as in the 900s. Items with Library of Congress call numbers are generally located in the JZ1464-2060 range.

Dictionaries

Oxford Dictionary of Political Quotations. 4th ed. 2012. (online)
This searchable volume contains quotations from almost 1,500 politicians and other public figures, arranged alphabetically by first name or first initial of the quoted individual. In cases where more than one quotation is cited for a person, the quotations are displayed in chronological order. Basic biographical information is provided. Entries are cross-listed where individuals are mentioned by other quoted individuals.

The Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Diplomacy. 3rd ed. 2012. (online)
Gives brief explanations of words, phrases, events, titles, names of people and places, and organizations pertinent to, and in the context of, diplomacy. Includes the articles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and a bibliography.

Encyclopedias

Elections A to Z. 4th ed. 2012. (online)
Provides comprehensive coverage of campaigns and elections in the United States; the fourth edition has been updated with information on the most current elections. Succinctly defines important terms in the election process, and delves more deeply into issues within the voting process such as the right to vote, turnout trends, and the history of elections at all levels of U.S. government. Content is searchable and articles are organized alphabetically by title.

HV6322.7 .E532 2005
Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity. 3 vols. 2005. (Oak Street and online)
Global perspectives on events defined as genocide and crimes against humanity. Looks at events and consequences both for individual countries and the world at large. Examines laws that attempt to end genocide and profiles both the perpetrators and intercessors in each situation. Includes many depictions, manifestations, and explanations for genocide, such as propaganda, sociological and philosophical explanations, literature, and film. Content is searchable and articles are organized alphabetically by title. Includes table of contents, book index, and list of illustrations.

Q. 323.403 En2009
Encyclopedia of Human Rights . 5 vols. 2009. (Main Stacks and online)
This work covers major areas of human rights history, theory, law, and practice. Includes country profiles, cases of human rights abuses, an overview of the development of the human rights movement, and influential organizations and people, both historical and contemporary. Also covers aspects of economics, religion, government, and journalism as they relate to human rights issues.

320.03 En192
Encyclopedia of Political Theory. 3 vols. 2010. (Oak Street and online)
This encyclopedia provides an introduction to important topics in political theory – including significant figures, concepts, and theoretical constructs – with an emphasis on current scholarship. Each of the 475 entries is signed, cross-referenced, and contains a list of further readings, a brief definition of the term, and a more detailed discussion of its history and importance. Entries are arranged alphabetically and cover topics such as Karl Marx, life, and absolutism, in categories such as ancient thought, liberal theory, and self and community. Contains a list of entries, reader’s guide, and index.

Q. 320.03 En194
Encyclopedia of Politics : The Left and the Right. 2 vols. 2005. (Oak Street and online)
Over 450 entries about individuals, movements, political parties, and ideological principles are divided into two volumes titled The Left and The Right. While emphasizing the current era, there are many entries for significant thinkers and issues of the 19th and 20th centuries. Also covered are the topics of education, healthcare, and the media. Additionally, there is a timeline of politics and a reader’s guide which lists people, countries, laws, parties, issues, and movements.

From Suffrage to the Senate: America’s Political Women: An Encyclopedia of Leaders, Causes, and Issues. 4th ed. 2019. (online)
Chronicles the American woman’s quest for political power and social equality. Includes biographies of the American women who have served in the U. S. House and Senate, the judiciary, and the U. S. Cabinet. The second volume contains a special documents section of texts and speeches, statistics on women government officials at both the state and national level, and a detailed chronology of women’s political progress over the past 150 years. Includes biographical references and a comprehensive index.

Latinos in the American Political System: An Encyclopedia of Latinos as Voters, Candidates, and Office Holders. 2 vols. 2019. (online)
Entries provide information about the evolution of Latinos/as engaging in U.S. politics and offer coverage of individuals, organizations, cultural forces, political issues, and legal decisions made at the local, state, and national levels of government. Resource also includes in-depth essays, primary documents and an appendix of Latino organizations, as well as a bibliography and index.

LGBTQ Americans in the U.S. Political System: An Encyclopedia of Activists, Voters, Candidates, and Officeholders. 2 vols. 2020. (online)
Entries provide information about the evolution of gay Americans engaging in U.S. politics and offer coverage of individuals, organizations, cultural forces, political issues, and legal decisions made at the local, state, and national levels of government. Resource also includes a chronology, in-depth essays, primary documents, and an appendix of annotated list of LGBTQ organizations, as well as a bibliography and index.

The Presidency A to Z. 5th ed. 2013. (online)
Provides both historical and modern information about the role of the presidency in the United States. Covers the origins, powers, and limitations of the office as well as analyses of policies made by each president and their historical impact. Includes biographical information for each president and other individuals important to the office. Appendices include a listing of presidents and vice presidents, election summaries, presidential cabinets, the Constitution, and a selected bibliography.

The Sage Encyclopedia of Terrorism. 2nd ed. 2011. (online)
Offers brief descriptions and analyses of the most serious and influential terrorist personalities and organizations, as well as the most significant motivations and victims of terrorism. While focused on modern terrorism, occasional historical examples are used. Includes a timeline of major acts of terrorism from 1946 to 2011, a day-by-day record of the U.S. and international reaction to September 11, 2001, bibliography, and index.

The Supreme Court A to Z. 5th ed. 2012. (online)
Provides basic information, historical and modern, needed to understand the role of the Supreme Court and justices in shaping American society. Includes biographical information for each justice (past and present), exploration of the issues surrounding landmark cases, and explanations of constitutional principles and legal concepts which guide the Supreme Court’s decision-making processes. Appendices include a listing of historical milestones, Supreme Court nominations, seating chart of the justices, how to read a court citation guide, the Constitution, and a selected bibliography.

Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations. 13th ed. 5 vols. 2012. (online)
This set focuses respectively on the United Nations, Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, and Europe. The encyclopedia presents easy-to-understand information on countries and dependencies from around the world. Entries discuss a variety of topics in detail, from banking and securities to climate, from government data to demographic statistics. Also includes biographical essays on national leaders.

Handbooks

Q. 320 T918
21st Century Political Science: A Reference Handbook. 2 vols. 2011. (Oak Street and online)
This handbook for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students presents a two-volume set of 99 political science articles and chapters organized by topic. The topics in the first volume include: general approaches in political science, comparative politics, and international relations. The second volume covers works in political science methodology, political thought, and American politics. The articles and chapters were chosen by prominent political science scholars from a variety of sub-disciplines in the field and explore topics, issues, and debates relevant to political science students in the 21st century.

Handbook of Research on Examining Global Peacemaking in the Digital Age. 2018. (online)
This handbook contains the latest research findings on the utilization of peacemaking in media, leadership, and religion. Intended for graduate-level students, universities and colleges, policymakers, and organizations seeking research, this volume is divided into the following eight sections: the problem of peacemaking, main threats to world peace, social actions as a solution, the problem of media, the problem of leadership, the problem of government repression, the problem of religion, and solutions for peace in the digital age. A list of references is included with each chapter and an index is provided at the end.

Illinois Handbook of Government. 2023-2024. (online)
Lists current office holders with a description of the structure and functions of Illinois state government. Also includes some historical information.

The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Political Theory. 2020. (online)
With a focus on global, rather than Euro-American political thinking, this handbook is broken into five thematic sections: Geographies of Thought, The Presence and the Past, Translatability Across Time and Space, Political Authority and its Legitimation, and Discipline and Dissent.

The Oxford Handbook of Electoral Systems. 2018. (online)
This handbook provides a comprehensive insight into the origins and effects of electoral systems, as well as how they shape connections between citizens, government, and policy. Divided into eight parts, this volume focuses on the following topics: foundations of electoral systems, issues and representation, electoral systems and the wider political system, electoral systems and research design, holding elections, electoral systems in context, electoral systems in the context of reform, and electoral systems in the context of new democracies. A list of references is included with each chapter and an index is provided at the end.

The Oxford Handbook of Historical Institutionalism. 2016. (online)
Historical institutionalism is the study of how temporal processes and events influence the origin and transformation of institutions that govern political and economic relations. This volume includes 38 chapters that analyze the historical institutionalism research tradition and detail an expanding array of topics in the study of comparative, American, European and international politics.

The Oxford Handbook of Political Institutions. 2008. (online)
Following an introductory essay, three sections cover the characterizations of institutionalism, a study of various political institutions, and reflections on the state of institutionalism in the world. A list of references is included with each essay. Name and subject indexes, as well as a list of contributing authors, are also included.

The Oxford Handbook of Political Networks. 2016. (online)
This volume is “a foundational resource on the study of networks in politics”. Its content revolves around three questions: What is political network analysis? How does it provide insight into important political phenomena? Why is it crucial for all political analysts to in engage in network analysis?

The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations. 2008. (online)
This handbook offers a comprehensive analysis on the structure and activities of the United Nations. It presents varying perspectives on the UN’s work and the historical, legal, political, and administrative details of the organization’s multiple roles. Appendices list suggested readings, a map of the UN system, the United Nations Charter, the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Also included are subject and personal name indexes.

The Palgrave Handbook of Sociocultural Perspectives on Global Mental Health. 2017. (online)
Explores challenges and opportunities that exist in efforts aimed at addressing inequities in mental health provision across the globe. The three sections draw on various disciplines across the humanities, psychology, and social sciences in order to chart the emergence of Global Mental Health as a field of study and critically engage with the current discourse. The third section consists of case studies of innovative mental health policy and practice, which are presented from a variety of different perspectives.

Political Handbook of the World. (online)
Discussion of governments, regional issues, and the intergovernmental organizations of the world. Indexed by geographic location, organizational name, and personal name. A chronology of major international events is also included.

The SAGE handbook of political science. 2020. (online)
Providing an overview of the past, present, and future of political science, this three-volume handbook is divided into seven parts: Political Theory, Methods, Political Sociology, Comparative Politics, Public Policies and Administration, International Relations, and Major Challenges for Politics and Political Science in the 21st Century.

United States Government Manual. (online)
Provides complete information on agencies in all three branches of the U.S. government, as well as semi-official agencies and international organizations in which the U.S. participates.

Almanacs & Yearbooks

Almanacs are a compilation of useful data and statistics relating to countries, personalities, events, and subjects. Yearbooks are an annual compilation of facts and statistics on a particular subject for the preceding year.

328.73 AL62
The Almanac of American Politics. (Main Stacks, Oak Street, and online)
Excellent, concise coverage of current elected U.S. officials. Covers the presidency, senators, representatives, and governors. Cites election results, individuals’ records, and committee memberships. Organized by state, indexed by topic and personal name.

CQ Voting and Elections Collection: Expert Analysis, Demographics, and Data. (online)
Contains analyses and historical material on the American voter, major and minor political parties, campaigns and elections, and historical and modern races for Congress, the presidency, and governorships. Updated continuously.

Europa World Plus. (online)
Comprehensive, up-to-date source for general information on countries and international organizations. This resource includes demographic and economic statistics and statistical surveys, as well as several directories with contact information for organizations around the world. Directory entries are organized alphabetically and are divided into the following sections: international organizations, government and politics, society and media, and business and commerce. Available online as “Europa World Plus.”

341.67 St6
SIPRI Yearbook: World Armaments and Disarmament. (SSHEL Stacks, Oak Street, and online)
A comprehensive list regarding international security and armed conflict. Covers global peace and conflict, military spending and arms production, and chemical and biological materials. A list of abbreviations and conventions is also included. The most recent publication is located in SSHEL.

Supreme Court Yearbook. (online)
Provides coverage and analysis of every decision from the nation’s highest court since the 1989-1990 term.

Research Methods & Writing Guides

Research guides provide suggestions for finding and using information. Writing guides can help manage and create citations, develop a research plan, and write specific types of articles or papers.

APSA Style Manual for Political Science. 2018. (online)
Produced by the American Political Science Association, this manual is geared specifically to writing in the field of political science. Illustrative examples and sample entries are included throughout the manual. Covers writing style, formats, and guidelines for citing references. Includes suggestions for submitting works for publication.

The SAGE Handbook of Research Methods in Political Science and International Relations. 2020. (online)
Designed for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and practicing academics, this handbook provides an overview of the field of political science and relevant research methods therein. It is split into seven sections: Formulating Good Research Questions and Designing Good Research Projects, Methods of Theoretical Argumentation, Conceptualization & Measurement, Large-Scale Data Collection & Representation Methods, Quantitative-Empirical Methods, Qualitative & “Mixed” Methods, EITM & EMTI.

320.18 Sh66c 2011
The Craft of Political Research. 8th ed. 2011. (SSHEL Stacks and Main Stacks)
Provides an introduction to political science research methods for undergraduate students with information on how to conceptualize and conduct research. Chapters cover topics such as political theories and research topics, problems of measurement, and an introduction to statistics. As selected bibliography and index are included.

808.06632 B146w 2012
Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods. 2nd ed. 2012. (Oak Street)
This book aims to fill the void in the literature on research and writing in the field of political science in the context of a research paper. Chapters are organized in the order of steps that should be taken to write a research paper. Chapters include topics such as definition of a research paper, proper citations, literature review, effective arguments, revisions, and protecting yourself from criticism. Each chapter features a suggested calendar, exercises, and checklist.

Directories

Directories are a list of organizations, groups, people, places, or other data systematically arranged, often alphabetically or by location.

Official Congressional Directory. (online)
Biographies of U.S. senators and representatives. Includes addresses and committee memberships. Also contains maps of congressional districts, profiles of diplomatic agencies, and personal name and subject indexes.

Washington Information Directory. (online)
Provides verified and updated mailing addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mails and websites, contact names, and descriptions for more than 10,000 federal government offices, regulatory agencies, congressional committees, judicial offices, public interest groups, nongovernmental organizations, and international organizations.

Statistical Sources & Datasets

Statistical sources contain numerical facts or data. A dataset is a collection of data.

Data – Census Bureau (formerly American FactFinder) (online)
The go-to source for demographic information about the United States. Browse or search for statistics by topic, geography, years, surveys, or industry codes. Covers data from the 21st century with an emphasis on the 2020 census.

ICPSR. (online)
The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) contains a data archive of more than 250,000 files of social and behavior science research. Users can browse data by topic, series, thematic data collections, and subject terms, as well as search statistics by studies, variables, and publications. Users can also see the newest data releases, the most popular search terms, the most downloaded files, and countries using ICPSR data.

The Military Balance. 1961-. (online)
This volume is an authoritative resource containing information about military capabilities and defense economics around the world. Published annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), this volume provides A-Z entries listing each country’s military organization, personnel members, equipment inventories, and relevant economic and demographic data. It is primarily intended for individuals performing serious, in-depth research on security policy and military affairs.

OECD iLibrary. 1960s-. (online)
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) iLibrary contains books, papers, and statistics with OECD data. This resource also provides content published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), the OECD Development Centre, Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), and the International Transport Forum (ITF). Users can search by theme, country, theme and country, and statistics, as well as through the catalogue for books, papers, statistics, or glossaries.

Sage Data (formerly Data-Planet) (online)
Includes all statistical publications issued by the U.S. government back to 1973 through American Statistics Index and 1,000 statistical publications of private and state government sources from 1980 forward through Statistical Reference Index. It also provides database access to the American Statistics Index, the Statistics Reference Index, and the International Index of Statistics.

World Bank Open Data. (online)
This resource provides free and open access to global development data. Users can browse by country or indicator, and data can be downloaded as CSV, XML, or Excel files. Data can also be viewed in tables, charts, and maps through the DataBank visualization tool.