Includes glossary and index

Although the structure and tone of the first edition seem to have met with general approval, I have not hesitated to make changes in this editions, both to improve its coverage and update its analysis.
The advent of the Reagan administration poses something of a challenge to a text writer. The Reagan proposals are proficiency bold, and his conception of the role of the federal government is sufficiently different from that of his predecessors, to warrant extended discussion of his initiatives. On the other hand, the results of these initiatives are not yet clear. To deal with these I have completely rewritten the chapters on federalism and economic policy, both to reflect the intense debate occasioned by Reagan policies and to put into more readable form material that students often find difficult. I have also added, in five chapters, boxes, labeled "Reagan First Year," which summarize his major policy proposals and the congressional response thus far.

English text