This text offers a general survey of elements in political study. It is directed to students who are just beginning a consideration of what political life means. The sections are organized about the major spheres in which political concerns are addressed. After considering some general elements in the Introduction, the text reflects upon political dimensions of individual existence, the family, communal relationships, the marketplace, the state, and the world arena. The material considered in this text is a result of almost twenty years of teaching, thousands of introductory level students and their fascinating questions, and a number of differnet formats and approaches in the presentation of issues. Kent Moors is Professor of Political Science at Duquesne University.