This annual publication seeks to inform interested readers about issues currently confronting the United States. The introductory section briefly discusses the 101st Congress, members of the Bush administration, and the Supreme Court. The federal budget process is also discussed in this section. The section on domestic policy issues contains the following chapters: (1) "The Economy," (2) "Education," (3) "Civil Rights," (4) "Social Programs," (5) "Health Care," (6) "Immigration," (7) "Energy," (8) "Environment," (9) "Agriculture," and (10) "Crime." The chapters in the foreign policy issues section are: (1) "The Soviet Union," (2) "Defense," (3) "Central America," (4) "The Middle East," (5) "International Trade," (6) "Western Europe," (7) "Nuclear Proliferation," (8) "World Poverty and U.S. Foreign Aid," (9) "South Africa," and (10) "China." Each chapter poses some key questions, then provides an introduction, background information, a discussion of current issues, the outlook concerning the chapter topic, and a brief presentation of the pros and cons of the key questions posed at the beginning of the chapter. Numerous black and white photographs, charts, graphs, maps, and political cartoons are included. (JB)