This book illustrates how and why knowledge of verbal behavior is important to an understanding of politics by analyzing and describing verbal behavior studies pertaining to politics. Chapters in the first part of the book discuss the various characteristics of verbal behavior: the importance of verbal behavior in politics, construction of political messages, functions and effects of verbal behavior, inferences drawn from verbal behavior, and analysis and measurement of verbal behavior. Chapters in part 2 analyze behavior in selected political settings, each chosen because of its intrinsic political importance and because it illustrates a different facet of verbal behavior (e.g., political elites, public assemblies, and small bargaining groups). A bibliographical essay provides a brief guide to the sources likely to prove the most helpful to a reader delving more deeply into various aspects of verbal behavior in political contexts. Author and subject indexes are included. (JM)