Public Affairs: Basic Information
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A carefully selected collection of dictionaries, encyclopedias, guidebooks, almanacs, and other good sources of basic information about Public Affairs…
Quick Reference Resources
Quick Reference Resources is a thorough guide to many electronic resources available to authorized IUPUI computer users. It should be your first stop for general reference, including dictionaries and encyclopedias, databases, newspapers, and much, much more.
Encyclopedias
The Encyclopedia of American Political Parties and Elections (JK2261 .S218 2006, in reference)
Covering all presidential elections through 2004 and newer topics such as Internet voting, this volume contains more than 450 alphabetically arranged entries written by qualified scholars and practitioners on subjects ranging from Absentee voting to the Zapple Doctrine (the FCC policy requiring equal airtime for political candidates). A series of entries examines voter turnout by age, economic status, education, gender, and race, and the analysis of low voter turnout in the U.S. is intriguing. Entries cover terms, not persons, but the index allows the reader to find information on key individuals. Length of entries ranges from around half of a page to four pages. Available in paper version only
The Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right (JA61 .E54 2005, 2 volumes, in reference)
Although the distinction between the politics of the left and the right is commonly assumed in the media and in treatments of political science and history, the terms are used so loosely that the student and the general reader are often confused: What exactly are the terms left and right supposed to imply? This two-volume Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right contains over 450 articles on individuals, movements, political parties, and ideological principles, with those usually thought of as left in the left-hand volume (Volume 1), and those considered on the right in the right-hand volume (Volume 2).
The Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy (JK9 .E526 2004, in reference)
"The Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy contains a remarkably wide array of entries, ranging from current issues such as creation of a Department of Homeland Security to the checkered history of logical positivism in public administration. The contributors include many well-known authorities in the field, plus some new voices with timely and pertinent things to say. This publication should prove to be a timely and useful resource for the improvement of both undergraduate and graduate programs in public administration and public policy" --Dr. Ferrel Heady, University of New Mexico. Available only in paper in the reference area.
Directories
Congress.org
Congress.org allows you to Identify and contact elected leaders in Congress, the White House, and state legislatures. You can also have your representative's votes sent to you weekly via e-mail, or send feedback to your representatives.
United States Government Manual
Provides information on federal agencies of all branches—it lists the officials, provides phone numbers and describes programs and agencies. It also includes copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
NIRA World Directory of Think Tanks
Provides a systematic introduction to the world's most prominent and innovative public policy research institutes, better known as think tanks. It contains up-to-date information available on 320 specially selected think tanks from 77 countries and regions.
Dictionaries
Blackwell Dictionary of Political Science
The Blackwell Dictionary of Political Science provides students and general readers with a clear and lively introduction to the terminology of political science. The book comprises rigorous definitions and explanations of around 1000 key terms presented in an engaging style, cross-referenced, and easily accessible to readers new to the subject. It also includes a section of short biographies of the most eminent writers in the discipline - both classical and modern.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics
Written by a team of leading political scientists, sociologists, philosophers, and political economists, this is the most authoritative and up-to-date dictionary of politics available. Ranging from John Adams and the Young Hegelians to Additional Member System and zero-sum game, this comprehensive and entertaining work offers international coverage of major political institutions, thinkers, and concepts. All significant political thinkers and designers of political institutions in the West are included, and special attention is give to Muslim and Chinese political thought. There are many entries on new and thriving branches of the subject, such as international political economy, voting theory, and feminism. The dictionary also gives clear and precise definitions of technical terms such as Condorcet winner, Droop quota, and ultra vires.
Dictionary of Diplomacy
This dictionary includes all the basic jargon of the diplomatic world, as well as entries on legal terms, political events, international organizations and major figures who have occupied the diplomatic scene or have written influentially about it over the last half millennium.
Handbooks and Guides
Handbook of Public Affairs (HD59 .H266 2005)
"The Handbook is a landmark development in the field of Public Affairs, bringing together in a single volume contributions from key academics and practitioners in the field. It offers a comprehensive overview of the field for the first time and is an essential reference book to underpin practice, teaching and research in the discipline'"--Professor Andrew Lock, Leeds University Business School.
The Public Participation Handbook (JK1764 .C733 2005)
The Public Participation Handbook is a practical guide to designing and facilitating public participation of the public in environmental and public policy decision making. Written for government officials, public and community leaders, and professional facilitators, the Handbook is a toolkit for designing a participation process, selecting techniques to encourage participation, facilitating successful public meetings, working with the media, and evaluating the program. The book is also filled with practical advice, checklists, worksheets, and illustrative examples. Available in paper version only.
