This volume offers a broad introduction to US government. As well as looking at institutions such as the Presidency, Congress and the Supreme Court, the book looks at the social and cultural context within which political issues are discussed. It also surveys controversies and arguments. Should, for example, the institutions created in the US constitution be seen as too weak or too strong? Can the US still be seen as a federal nation, or are all significant decisions taken in Washington, DC? Is the American law-making process in the grip of lobbyists. The book also includes ways of taking the subject further by listing follow-up reading, identifying useful Internet sites and providing a guide to relevant cinema films.