On this page, you will find search tools and sources that can be used to research a variety of aspects of American politics, government, and public policy.
This page covers:
Resources specific for researching particular topics related to American politics and government can be found using the tabs on this page.
Topic covered in the guide:
Research in scholarly articles can provide valuable, high-quality information on American politics and government. The easiest way to find this research is using article databases. The ones below are great choices.
Books are great at providing in-depth overviews, deep dives into particular topics, or collecting multiple perspectives on a single topic together. Using the index or search in ebooks also allows you to find and pick out the most relevant pages of a book to what you want to know.
The Kent Library catalog searches print and electronic books available at Southeast. The MOBIUS catalog allows you to find and request books from colleges and universities across Missouri.
Reference books are good for early research. They cover basic facts, give quick overviews of a topic, help you understand what has and has not been researched about a topic, and often provide starting sources to use. These cover many aspects of American politics and government. Different sections of this guide will suggest more by topic.
American Politics: A Very Short Introduction by 
The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History by 
Vital Statistics on American Politics 2015-2016 by Both scholarly journals and books tend to lag behind what is presently happening in American politics and government. These sources can help you keep up with the day-to-day happenings.
These library resources are focused on news, journalism, and current events rather than scholarly research.
Compared to standard search engines, these are focused specifically on news sources and prioritize recent information. Both Google News and Bing News can send you news updates on topics you are interested in.
