Overview
Reference sources, like subject encyclopedias, reference guides and bibliographies can be extremely useful for any topic that extends over time. For events happening right now, reference sources can sometimes provide useful background on the broader issue.
- Oxford Bibliographies OnlineCombines overviews with lists of books and articles on a wide variety of topics. There isn't a bibliography for every topic, but when there is, you're in luck!
Search examples:
- "voting rights act;"
- "church committee" and congress;
- "election administration" and "united states;"
- "united states" and partisan;
- "fake news;"
- gender and politics and "united states;"
- "Health-Care Politics in the United States"
- "Women’s Legal and Constitutional Rights," especially the section on Reproductive Rights
- "electoral reform" and "united states"
(Don't be surprised to find non-US related entries, but check out "Electoral Reform and Voting in the United States"). - "Policy Responsiveness to Public Opinion"
- "Judicial Supremacy and National Judicial Review"
- The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Political and Legal HistoryAfter opening the link, scroll down to find "search within this source." Entries on "voting," "voting rights," "elections" "women," "labor's role in politics," and more. Think in broad terms when you are searching encyclopedias.
- Almanac of American PoliticsBeginning in 2024, with the 51st edition, published online by Oxford University Press. Includes profiles of every member of Congress and every governor; narrative descriptions of ALL 50 states and 435 House districts and how they have been changed by redistricting; Analysis of the most recent elections for Senate, House, and governor races, and how those results shape the public policy debates in Congress and the nation; A breakdown of the votes from the most recent presidential election for all states and districts (updated to account for new congressional districts), including primaries; Campaign finance data for all Senators and House members—plus their challengers--in the most recent election, including all-new listings of the “outside money” spent in those contests; Analysis of voter turnout in each state and new congressional districts; state and congressional district maps, the key votes cast by members of the House and Senate, interest group ratings' “Almanac Vote Ratings” on congressional members; and more.
For earlier years, see print editions.