American political process/ by Charles R. Adrian and Charles Press

The writing of a new textbook introducing American government would seem to require some justification. We rest the case for our attempt on a belief that available empirical data from all the social sciences should be used in seeking to explain the political aspects of the social process. In our admittedly ambitious under taking, we make no claim to having found time- or thought-saving shortcuts to an understanding or to a new and improved general theory of politics. We are not confident that we have used every major piece of relevant research, but we have tried to utilize avail able relevant resources, many not previously used in introductory books, without neglecting conventional materials. We have not endorsed any of the general theories of politics currently in vogue among the avant garde, for none has adequate empirical support or professional acceptance. Instead, we have concentrated on an alyzing the social functions of political institutions and the social roles of participants in the political process, emphasizing the con ceptual framework on which these functions and roles are based.

In writing this book, we have begun with the assumption that the reader can comprehend materials at the freshman or sopho more level in college.