U.S. Government & Politics

Overview As an academic field, American government encompasses not only the study of the systems, institutions, and policies of the United States government but also the political ideals and beliefs of the American people. The field falls within the broader discipline of political science, the study of government and power. Students and scholars of American government try to answer questions concerning the political culture, the distribution of power, decision-making processes, government policies, and laws, among other issues and behaviors. American government and political science often overlap with other social sciences, including economics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology.