These kinds of reference books provide overviews that address major issues within a field of study. The authors not only discuss key content but provide a more sophisticated level of analysis and contextualization than you might find in a textbook or introductory study. The authors are chosen for their research areas and deliver authoritative essays. The material they choose to include in their bibliographies are good points of departure.
The following sources summarize political and legislative issues and provide a good overview of the national policy debate on political participation, social justice, and other topics. They provide an excellent resource for quickly identifying relevant legislation, key players, terminology, and points of view. To find how to obtain the related congressional reports, hearings, laws and other materials, see the tab for Data and Other Source materials.
Literature reviews are a particularly useful resource when doing research. They address the issues involved in a particular question and the debates among scholars. They map out the intellectual terrain succinctly and give you the major landmarks in terms of key authors and significant titles for greater understanding.
Check here for literature reviews devoted in whole or part to issues related to your topic: