This new edition of Elections USA gives a thorough account of the electoral process at all levels and in all branches of American government. The book also places current issues in the American political arena in context and gives substantial account to other important related themes: the history and nature of American political parties; the role of money in the US political system; the significance of the media in American politics; the importance of federalism; and the mechanics of legislative procedure are all covered and related to the conduct of US campaigns and elections. The text opens with an examination of the contemporary ballot, which is used to examine the underlying constitutional and historical principles of American government. An examination of the historical development of political campaigning over 200 years leads into a study of the geneaology and current status of America’s political parties. A review of the regulatory context of the modern political campaign and the entrepreneurial response of candidates, leads to separate analyses of elections at state and local, congressional and presidential levels.