Season3：2001-2002Cast：“NightFive”RobLowe，StockardChanning，DuléHill，艾莉森·珍妮，JanelMoloney，RichardSchiff，JohnSpencer，BradleyWhitfordandMartinSheenThethirdseason，whichcoverstheadministration'sthirdandfourthyearsinoffice，startsoffwithBartletannouncinghisintentiontorunforreelectionandisheavilydevotedtotheupcomingpresidentialelection.OtherprominentplotlinesincludeCongressionalinvestigationsintowhetherBartletcommittedelectoralfraudbyconcealinghisMS，adeaththreatagainstC.J.andtheensuingrelationshipshedevelopswithaSecretServiceagentassignedtoher，theQumaridefenseministerAbdulShareefplottingterroristattacksagainsttheUS，andatroublingmeetingbetweenTobyandthePresidentthatleavesBartletwithaboutofinsomniain Theseasonfinale，“PosseComitatus”closesseveralofthesestorylinesasBartletmeetshisopponentintheelectionsandreaffirmshiscommitmenttobeathim。該部分以總統最終決定暗殺謝里夫（這一行為在法律上值得懷疑）並下令暗殺 C.J. 的代理人 C.J.瓦斯考格立即威脅道。 “Fromweektoweek，youfeltlikeyouwerewritingtheshowhandcuffed，alittlebit.Ididn'tknowhowtowriteitanymore.ItwasaconstantsearchforwhatIwasn'tdoingthatusedtomaketheshowwork [...] Maybetherewasawaytomakeitwork。Thereprobablywas.Iwasn'tabletofinditintwenty-twoepisodes”ht.Fromacriticalperspective，seriescreatorAaronSorkinacknowledgedinOctober2002thattheterrorism-relatedplotsdesignedtokeeptheseriesrelevantafterthereal-life9 / 11attackswereawkwardattimes，說[1]然而，theshowwentontowinitsthird“傑出的戲劇”Emmyinarow。