American Journal of Political Science Template
Get your American Journal of Political Science paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the American Journal of Political Science Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 30 July, 2026
Submitting to American Journal of Political Science goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the American Journal of Political Science guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the American Journal of Political Science Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to American Journal of Political Science. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the American Journal of Political Science journal page before you draft.
What's actually in an Am J Polit Sci submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the American Journal of Political Science guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the American Journal of Political Science guide for authors before you submit.
What does this American Journal of Political Science Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through Editorial Manager.
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for Am J Polit Sci.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the American Journal of Political Science guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through Editorial Manager.
American Journal of Political Science Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | Am J Polit Sci requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | 150 words maximum, unstructured (should provide concise summary of research stream, research topic, research strategy, results, and implications) |
| Main text | Articles: 10,000 words maximum; Research Notes: 4,000 words maximum; Correspondence: 4,000 words maximum; Response to Correspondence: 2,000 words maximum. Word count includes main body text, notes, parenthetical references, appendices intended for print, and headers/notes of tables and figures. Excludes title page, abstract, reference section, online supporting information, and mathematical notations |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Several keywords required (exact number not specified in guidelines) |
| References | APSA Style Manual for Political Science (revised 2018, updated 2023) or Chicago Manual of Style (18th edition) |
| Peer review | Double-blind |
| Submission | www.editorialmanager.com/ajps |
Quick Tips for Using the American Journal of Political Science Template
Read the American Journal of Political Science guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to American Journal of Political Science in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent Am J Polit Sci papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the American Journal of Political Science journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the American Journal of Political Science guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through Editorial Manager.
