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Rational choice theory is the prevailing point of view in political science today. It serves as the paradigm by which political behavior is explained and the parameters of research and publication defined. Whether it deserves its exalted status is much debated. Its advocates see it as a victory of science and reason over prejudice and irrationality, and as a major contribution to the "intellectual flourishing" of the discipline (Booth, p. 1). Some critics see it as failed science. Others fear it as successful propaganda. The works reviewed here are representative of this range of assessments. Read individually, each offers a competing image of the role rational choice theory plays in political science. Read together, they constitute a dialogue that tells the story of the contemporary discipline and its relationship to the object of its study.

Constitutional Law in the United States is a clear and focused discussion of the key elements of constitutional law. Part one analyses the structure and authority of the U.S. government. Part two covers the regulation of the economy, and part three assesses the individual and civil rights under the Constitution. Several cases have been added to this third edition, nearly doubling the size of the text. The structure of the work is only slightly modified. The number of chapters remains the same, but they are now grouped under but two divisions: 'The Structures and Powers of Government' and 'Civi