Research Guides: Political Science: Databases

Political Science Resources

Alt-PressWatch This link opens in a new window Full text database of selected newspapers, magazines, and journals of the alternative and independent press.
Alternative Press Index Archive This link opens in a new window This database serves as a companion to Alternative Press Index which indexes articles from alternative, left, and radical publications. It is the Archive and provides coverage from years 1969-1990.
Ethnic NewsWatch This link opens in a new window Contains newspapers, magazines, and journals of the ethnic and minority press. It also provides historical coverage of Native American, African American, and Hispanic American periodicals from 1959-1989.
GenderWatch This link opens in a new window GenderWatch contains archival material dating back to 1970. This database includes journals, magazines, newsletters, regional publications, books, booklets and pamphlets, conference proceedings and governmental NGO and special reports devoted to women's and gender issues.
HeinOnline This link opens in a new window Database of legal resources, including laws, regulations, some trials and court reports, treaties, monographs, and a variety of other materials covering United States and foreign law. Coverage includes private and public international law, intellectual property and legal history. Includes full text image-based searchable database of legal periodicals. Database coverage for each periodical is from the beginning issue to the most current allowed under contract.
Left Index This link opens in a new window The Left Index covers the literature of the left, with an emphasis on political, economic, social and culturally engaged scholarship both inside and outside of academia.
This database only allows 5 simultaneous users.
PAIS Index This link opens in a new window The PAIS Index covers global public affairs, public and social policies, international relations, and world politics. It includes international sources such as journal articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, conference papers, web content, and more. Newspapers and newsletters are not included.
Web of Science (WoS) This link opens in a new window Global citation database provides access to the Science Citation Index expanded from 1900 to the present, Social Sciences Citation Index from 1956 to the present, and Arts & Humanities Citation Index from 1975 to the present.
Worldwide Political Science Abstracts This link opens in a new window Provides citations, abstracts, and indexing from political science literature, as well as international relations, law, and public administration/policy.
ProQuest Congressional This link opens in a new window A collection of historic and current congressional information. This database includes the full text of congressional publications, a bill tracking service, public laws, regulations, news and social media, nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports, hearings, and historical context summaries. Coverage also includes information about Congress, including member biographical and committee assignment information, voting records, and financial data.

Multidisciplinary Databases

Google Scholar
more...less...
Google Scholar's algorithm searches across academic disciplines - An accessible database for scholarly literature search

Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new window A scholarly, multidisciplinary database that provides access to journal articles covering a range of topics, including archaeology, area studies, astronomy, biology, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering, ethnic & multicultural studies, food science & technology, general science, geography, geology, law, mathematics, mechanical engineering, music, physics, psychology, religion & theology, women's studies, and other fields. It also indexes monographs, reports, and conference proceedings.
Annual Reviews This link opens in a new window Annual Reviews offers comprehensive, timely collections of critical reviews written by leading scientists. Content spans disciplines within the biomedical/life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, and economics.
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window Index and full text of graduate dissertations and theses from North American and European schools and universities, including the University of California.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window Provides access to scholarly journals, primarily in the humanities and social sciences. In addition to journal articles, users can access book chapters, ebooks, and primary source documents.
Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window Provides full-text access to U.S. federal and state statutes, regulations, court cases, administrative agency decisions, law reviews, to selected court briefs and pleadings, and legal news sources. Also includes international, national, local newspapers, and wire services, as well as radio and television transcripts. Business, medical, industry, and legislative magazines, journals, and newsletters and various directories are also available. Wide geographic coverage and translations from foreign-language sources, as well as news services like the Associated Press, Agence France Press, El Pais.
Sociological Abstracts This link opens in a new window Sociological Abstracts indexes social and behavioral sciences journal articles, book reviews, books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers. It also covers topics such as culture and social structure; health, medicine and law; policy and planning; religion and science; and women's studies.
Web of Science (WoS) This link opens in a new window Global citation database provides access to the Science Citation Index expanded from 1900 to the present, Social Sciences Citation Index from 1956 to the present, and Arts & Humanities Citation Index from 1975 to the present.

Legislation and Influence

Bill & Laws, ProQuest Congressional *
more...less...
A bill is a legislative proposal brought before Congress in either the House or the Senate. Bills introduced in the House are assigned sequential numbers in the order in which they are introduced and are preceded by "H.R.". Bills introduced in the Senate are assigned sequential numbers preceded by "S.".
Congress.gov
more...less...
Congress.gov is the Library of Congress' search platform for bills and other congressional records. (Replaces Thomas.gov).
GovInfo
more...less...
govinfo is free U.S. Government information for all govinfo is a service of the United States Government Publishing Office (GPO), which is a Federal agency in the legislative branch. govinfo provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.
GovTrack.us
more...less...
GovTrack tracks the United States Congress. Follow the status of federal legislation or learn about your members of Congress -- GovTrack has information on all bills and votes going back over a decade, etc. ...
Legislative Process, Congress.gov
more...less...
Overview of the Legislative Process: "Article I of the U.S. Constitution grants all legislative powers to a bicameral Congress: a House of Representatives and a Senate that are the result of a “Great Compromise” seeking to balance the effects of popular majorities with the interests of the states. Our system currently provides for a two-year term of office for House members from the 435 population-based districts. In the Senate, voters of each state elect two Senators, who serve 6-year terms that overlap (such that only one-third of the chamber is up for election in any given election cycle)..."
MapLight
more...less...
"Revealing Money's Influence on Politics -- MapLight is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that reveals money's influence on politics. Elected officials collect large sums of money to run their campaigns, and they often pay back campaign contributors with special access and favorable laws. This common practice is contrary to the public interest, yet legal..."
Open Secrets
more...less...
"Mission: Inform, Empower & Advocate.
The Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the organization aims to create a more educated voter, an involved citizenry and a more transparent and responsive government."
ProQuest Congressional *
more...less...
All federal congressional documents from the birth of the United States Congress to the present are now searchable full text on a single research platform at UCI.