着重于美国治理和政治制度体系的发展，这些制度与美国公民之间的关系以及公民的态度和行为。美国是世界上最大的经济和军事强国之一。它也是最古老的民主国家，拥有最古老的书面宪法。自18世纪以来，丰富多彩的选举，有力的司法机构，独立的国家立法机构，有意义的联邦制，种族多样性和冲突，频繁的大量移民以及美国政治生活的许多其他鲜明特征都吸引了政治学生。结果，许多有助于我们对其他国家的了解的中心理论概念都起源于美国政治和制度研究。
Focuses on the development of the U.S. system of governance and political institutions, the relationship between these institutions and U.S. citizens, and the citizens' attitudes and behaviors. The United States is one of the world's greatest economic and military powers. It is also the oldest democracy, with the oldest written constitution. Colorful elections, a powerful judiciary, an independent national legislature, meaningful federalism, racial diversity and conflict, frequent periods of heavy immigration, and a host of other distinctive features of American political life have fascinated students of politics since the 18th century. As a consequence, many central theoretical concepts that inform our understanding of other countries have had their origin in the study of American politics and institutions.