Designed to meet the needs of high school and college students as well as members of the general public seeking clear explanations of basic government and political topics, Encyclopedia of American Government and Civics is a comprehensive resource that is divided into nine sections containing more than 400 essay-length entries. Articles in this new three-volume encyclopedia address not only basic subjects covered in American government--from the Bill of Rights through voting processes--but a wide range of contemporary issues as well, such as abortion, capital punishment, and Social Security.