What is the theme in Q Clearance by Peter Benchley?

Politics is a central theme in this book. Because the setting is Washington, D.C., the most obvious theme is related to the political maneuverings that occur in that city. The novel takes a particularly humorous take on the American political system and pokes fun at the ways that important decisions are made. Timothy Burnham's rise to power is based on silly misunderstandings and his fall from grace is equally affected by coincidences that show the haphazard nature of the political system.