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Political Science

Collection Policy Statement Index

(Classes J-JX and Z7161-Z7164)

I. Introduction
II. Scope
III. Research strengths
IV. Comparison with other major research collections
V. General Policy
VI. Collection levels for Political Science

I. Introduction

This Collections Policy Statement refers to materials pertaining to the study of political science, which is generally divided into six major fields: 1) political theory and philosophy, 2) comparative government, 3) American government and politics,4) public administration, 5) international relations, and 6) political behavior. Political Science generally falls within Class J of the Library of Congress classification system; it also includes many topics variously classed in history (Classes D, E, and F, under such subheadings as political history, diplomatic history, etc.), sociology (Class HX, socialism, communism and utopianism), state and local history, and law.

II. Scope

Political science, the "study of the processes, principles, and structure of government and of political institutions" (American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd College Edition), is treated in Classes J through JX in the Library of Congress classification system. This policy statement covers the field on a world-wide basis. In broad terms, these classes cover: JC (political theory)
JF (general works, comparative works)
JK (constitutional history and administration United States)
JL, JN, JQ (constitutional history and administration foreign countries)
JS (local government)
JV (emigration and immigration)
JX (international law, international relations)

Given the structure of the LC classification system, the present statement considers only political science as treated in Classes J-JX and relevant parts of Z7161-Z7164. Class J which is the second oldest class (1910) in the LC classification, was revised in 1997 for the Subclass JX, along with a parallel development for the law schedule Subclass KZ (Law of Nations). Subclass JX was restructured to organize materials relating to International Relations and Diplomacy as Subclass JZ and thus become a valid subclass of Class J. Although important to political scientists, political science materials in classes other than Classes J-JX are out of scope for purposes of this Statement. Publications of the United Nations and other International organizations are treated in the CPS "International Organizations."

III. Research strengths

The political science collections of the Library of Congress are extremely distinguished. The collection dealing with the study of American political science is by far the largest national collection of its kind. The Library has also acquired extensive holdings of works on political science from all over the world, as well as collections of foreign official documents at both national and subnational levels, and serves as a depository for many international organizations, including, especially, the United Nations and its many affiliates. The Scope of these various collections is both wide-ranging and deep; their coverage historical as well as current. They fall into a wide range of classes within the Library's classifications system, a fact of which researchers should be aware in searching for them.

Among the collections on American political science, U.S. Government documents, particularly those issued by the Congress, are virtually exhaustive and held in long historical runs. Collections of Congressional hearings in the Main Reading Room are complemented by collections in the Law Library, the Federal documents depository (Serial and Government Publications Division), as well as in several commercially published microform collections.

Valuable materials on American political science exist in many of the specialized collections within the Library. The Manuscript Division has custody of the papers of twenty- three U.S. presidents, the papers of more than nine hundred past and present members of Congress, and many Supreme Court Justices. The Rare Book and Special Collections Division has several collections dealing with U.S. presidents. The Prints and Photographs Division houses relevant collections such as the Washington Press-Photo Bureau (government officials); photographic collections of the New York World-Telegram and Sun and Look Magazine; and the Brady-Handy collections (members of Congress); recording of well-known U.S. political figures exist in the Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division.

The Library's general collections in the field of international relations are very extensive. Special collections in this field of study are also notable and include the Manuscript Division's holdings of the papers of individuals who served as Secretary of State from the first Secretary, Thomas Jefferson, to Alexander Haig; the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room (Serial and Government Publications Division); United Nations depository materials; and other relevant collections in the Library's Microform Reading Room.

IV. Comparison with collections of other major research centers

The Library has always devoted special attention to political science because of its position and special mission within the legislative branch of the Federal Government. Through its broadly inclusive acquisitions programs, the Library has assembled a wide-ranging collection of political science materials of truly international scope. The Hoover Institution and the New York Public Library, have particularly distinguished world-wide political science collections.

Owing to the Library's major interest in U.S. history and civilization and its primary mission to serve the Congress, its collections in the field of U.S. political history, as already noted, are particularly strong. Several university libraries also have vary strong collections in individual political science subfields. These libraries include the University of Illinois, Cornell University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of California at Los Angeles, and Yale University. The National Archives and the affiliated Presidential Libraries have essential primary documentation of American politics and government, although this material may be available at the Library of Congress as well, in the form of commercially produced microform collections. As for political science collections dealing with the individual states, most state libraries have more comprehensive collections of their own local official documents and works about their particular areas than does the Library of Congress.

V. General policy

The Library's aim to maintain its collections in the field of political science overall at the research level (level4). (see "Collecting Levels.") It collects all the important current reference works, monographs and serials in all languages in the field of political science, which comprises Class J of the Library of Congress Classification. It acquires all substantial subject bibliographies and other research-level general works and collections. These include periodicals, yearbooks, encyclopedias, the publications of societies ands congresses, treatises, works on the theory, method, Scope and history of political science, works related to the study and teaching of political science, and biographies of authorities in the field. Political science materials are acquired in all formats.

The Library acquires the following categories of publications at the research level (level4): American textbooks on political science written for college use; texts published in the U.S. on the methodology of teaching political science below the college level; and non-fiction juvenile titles dealing with U.S. - related political science topics. The Library also collects at the instructional level (level 3) elementary and secondary school-level textbooks on U.S. government in order to document changing approaches to presenting the subject to students below the college level in this country. The Library collects foreign textbooks on political science on a highly selective basis, primarily as examples of significant trends in teaching methods, ideological doctrine, etx.

VI. Collecting intensity levels for Political Science (Classes JC,JF, JK, JL-JQ, JS, JV, JX and Z7161-Z7164)

The following list is arranged according to the major subclasses of JC,JF, JK, JL-JQ, JS, JV, JX and Z7161-Z7164. A number of subclasses in this list carry the intensity level4+, indicating that collecting is at the high end of the research level, just short of the comprehensive level.

NOTE:

The policies regarding the acquisition of U.S. and foreign government documents, such as those classed in Subclasses J and JS1-JS37, are provided respectively in Government Publications-U.S. and Government Publications- Foreign.

A. General works (Class JA)
The Library maintains a research level collection (intensity level4) of current general works and collections in the field of political science. These include periodicals, yearbooks, encyclopedias, the publications of societies and congresses, treatises, works on theory, method, Scope and history of political science, works related to the study and teaching of political science, and biographies of authorities in the field.
B. Political theory (theory of the state)
Class	Subject	Intensity	Comments
JC1-JC301	The state from primitive to modern times	4
JC311-JC323	Nationalism	4
JC348-JC497	Forms of the State	4
JC501-JC628	Purpose, functions and relations of the state	4
C. Constitutional history and administration (General)
Class	Subject	Intensity	Comments
JF31-JF36	History	4
JF45-JF101	Treatises	4
JF201-JF786	Government (organs, functions)	4	Works on judiciaries4+
JF800-JF1191	Political rights and Guarantees (citizenship, Voting, etc.)	4
JF1321-JF2111	Administration (special topics, territorial administration, the military, federal districts, political parties, etc.)	4	Works on administrative law4+
D. Constitutional history and administration United States
Class	Subject	Intensity	Comments
JK1-JK9	Periodicals, societies collections, annuals dictionaries	4+
JK11-JK277	Constitutional history, including collected documents, charters and constitutions; works on legal aspects; collections of cases	4+
JK310-JK325	Federal and state relations	4+
JK401-JK9501	Government and administration, including works on the judiciary and on state constitutions; governments of states and territories	4+
JK9801-JK9975	Confederate states	4+
E. Constitutional history and administration foreign countries (Classes JL,JN,JQ)
In general, the Library seeks to maintain a research-level collection of current reference works, monographs and serials on the constitutional history and administration of foreign countries. The Library aims, however, for coverage at the high end of level4 for current histories and treaties on foreign judiciaries and current works on laws and legislation concerning political rights (citizenship, voting, etc.). Poplar and minor works on political rights are acquired selectively (level 3). The Library acquires a copy of each country's current official constitutuion.
F. Local government
Class	Subject	Intensity	Comments
JS	Local government	4	Works about municipal documents in general.
JS13-JS37	Municipal documents (U.S. and international)	4
JS39-JS46	Periodicals, societies, exhibitions, collections	4
JS55-JS67	History	4
JS75-JS89	Treatises	4
JS101-JS123	Special constitutional questions4
JS141-JS231	Municipal government	4	Works on municipal courts4+
JS241-JS285	Local government other than	4	Works about local government in general. For municipal publications produced by local governments, see relevant sections of CPSs on U.S. and Foreign government publications
JS301-JS1583	Local government United States	4+	Minor works, general reform literature4. Publications issued by local governments within the U.S. are acquired in accordance with CPS Government Publications-U.S.
JS1701-JS8429	Local government foreign	4	Codes, compilations of law, works on municipal courts4+. Publications issued by local governments outside the U.S. are acquired in accordance with CPS on Government Publications-Foreign
G. Colonies and colonization (JV1-JV5299)
The Library maintains a research-level collections of current materials on colonization and the colonial history of particular nations. The library acquires selectively (level 3) retrospective materials on colonization and the colonial history of individual countries. Laws relating to colonization, including international and comparative codes, compilations and legal periodicals on the subject, are acquired at the high end of the research level (4+).
H. Emigration and Immigration
Class	Subject	Intensity	Comments
JV6001-JV6018	Periodicals, associations congresses, collections	4
JV6021-JV6033	History	4
JV6035-JV6049	Treatises	4
JV6045-JV6049	Law (general collections and international law)	5
JV6094-JV6127	Emigration causes and effects	4
JV62211-JV6348	Immigration-economic, social, and political effects	4
JV6278-JV6348	Immigrants-restriction and exclusion, distribution, promotion and assistance, assimilation	4
JV6403-JV7127	Emigration and immigration United States	4
	Emigration and immigration foreign countries	4	Guides and manuals 3
I International Law. International Relations
Class	Subject	Intensity	Comments
JX1-JX54	Periodicals, yearbooks, societies, congresses and conferences	4+
JX63-JX1195	Collections of documents cases and treaties	4+
JX1245-JX1255	Theory, Scope, relations and sources	4+
JX1261-JX1268	Codification to international law	4+
JX1291-JX1299	Study and teaching	4
JX1305-JX1598	History of foreign Relations and the development of International law	4
JX1625-JX1894	Diplomacy, the diplomatic service	4	U.S. manuals, yearbooks, diplomatic lists and documents (including cases) high4+; others4
JX1901-JX1995	International arbitration, world peace,	4	Arbitration treaties, works on international courts, arbitration cases, U.N. document high 4+
JX2001-JX5771	International law	4
JX6001-JX6953	Private international law etc.	4+
J Subject Bibliography
The Library seeks to maintain a comprehensive collection (level 5) of subject bibliographies in the field of political science covered by Subclasses Z7161-Z7164 (general political science and specific political science topics or subfields not covered elsewhere).

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