This study is an examination of black and white preadults' cognitive and affective orientations to their nation, social power, government, authority, and laws. The data were collected by means of tape recorded interviews with 96 students attending public schools in Buffalo, New York, which were transcribed, coded, and analyzed in an attempt to chart developmental patterns in preadults' orientations to politics. The results reveal that preadults' orientations are influenced by the level of cognitive development attained by that individual. Piaget's theory of cognitive development is shown to be useful in interpreting most of the major changes that take place in the preadult's developing orientations to politics. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for curriculum development and classroom teaching in the social studies area. Appendices include the interview schedule, code book, a nation-nationality master code, government master code, authority leadership master code, and law master code. (Author/KSM)