With the advance of technological revolution public science and technology policy (PSTP) is playing an increasingly important part in the life of developed economies, the US including. In this context the significance of the analysis of political levers used by the public to stimulate progress of science and technology cannot be overestimated. To give an adequate description of the specific features and mechanisms of the US PSTP, the author uses methods of political science which have practically never been used before by Russian or foreign researches in the analysis of R & D policy. The author studies the theoretical foundation for public R & D policy, its structure, specific features, spheres and forms of its implementation. The political model of the US PSTP, with its characteristic features and means of implementation, is also analyzed. At the same time, considerable attention is given to the study of the main interest groups and political process actors and to the interrelation between them which forms the model of political action in the sphere of PSTP. The author traces the history of America’s R & D policy: from the moment it was taking shape to the year 2001 when the  «war against terrorism»  began. Particular attention is given to the last two decades of the 20th century when R & D policy underwent drastic changes. The author also studies the process of the elaboration of a new, post-bipolar model of science and technology policy which was formed after the end of  «Cold War».