The books in this series contain reprints of articles, excerpts from books, addresses on current issues, and studies of social trends in the United Sates and other countries. There are six separately bound numbers in each volume, all of which are usually published in the same calendar year. Numbers one through five are each devoted to a single subject, providing background information and discussion from various points of view and concluding with a subject index and comprehensive bibliography that lists books, pamphlets, and abstracts of additional articles on the subject. The final number of each volume is a collection of recent speeches, and it contains a cumulative speaker index.

Part 1.The evolving American presidency -- The American monarchy / Frank Prochaska -- The character of George Washington / Richard Brookhiser -- Lincoln and leadership / Thomas E. Schneider -- FDR's place in history / William J. vanden Heuvel -- The 1980s and the age of Reagan / Glen Jeansonne -- Part 2. Electing a president : from the campaign to the electoral college -- The caucuses / Todd S. Purdum -- An abridged history of the NH presidential primary / Michael McCord -- My vote means nothing / David Greenberg -- Do political conventions matter? / Peter Grier -- Degrees of democracy / David I. Wells -- The old (electoral) college cheer / Michael M. Uhlmann -- Part 3. The separation of powers : congressional influence on the "imperial presidency" -- Commanding heights / Charlie Savage -- Taming big government / Michael M. Uhlmann -- The contemporary presidency / Andrew Rudalevige -- When Congress stops wars / William G. Howell and Jon C. Pevehouse -- Part 4. Checks and balances : the Supreme Court and the president's executive power -- The idea of America / Morghan Transue -- Who cares about executive supremacy? / Lincoln Caplan -- High court limited presidential power / Joan Biskupic -- Executive power in the war on terror / John O. McGinnis -- Part 5. Too early to tell? : the legacy of George W. Bush -- Reckoning : the economic consequences of Mr. Bush / Joseph E. Stiglitz -- Bush's greatness / David Gelernter -- HNN poll : 61% of historians rate Bush presidency worst / Robert S. McElvaine -- The stellar legacy of President George W. Bush / Joan Swirsky -- Part 6. Who will it be? : the 2008 campaign, the candidates, the issues -- The world according to John McCain / Michael Hirsh -- Destiny's child / Ben Wallace-Wells -- On Iraq War anniversary, candidates stake out their differences / Adam Nagourney -- The candidates' plans to fix the economy / Jane Sasseen -- Candidates diverge on health care plans / Julie Appleby.