This is a summary and statistical analysis of nationwide data on women holding elective office in the United States during 1974 and 1975. It is intended to increase knowledge about women's participation in American politics and government. In response to a mailed questionnaire, women incumbents in the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, county commissions, mayoralties, and municipal and township councils provided information about themselves. The report is divided into six major parts. Part I treats numbers and location of women in office describing the small proportions of officeholders who are women, the representation of minority women, variations among the states in the numbers of women in office, and variations in the size of the populations of the districts in which women serve. Part II examines selected demographic characteristics of women in office comparing women in office with the general population of women in the United States and asking whether female officeholders differ from other women. The family situation of women officeholders is explored in Part III. Part IV examines the organizational affiliations of officeholders. The political experience and characteristics of women in office are treated in Part V. The concluding section, Part VI, discusses briefly some of the broader implications of research findings, speculating about what the future holds in light of current patterns and ongoing trends. Findings are conclusive that women are not well integrated with the political life of the nation. Further, the few women who do hold office are found most frequently in positions with little potential for affecting broad segments of the population. (Author/RM)