> U.S. Government

What Is The FAA?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for ensuring the safety of civil aviation; it is functions as agency within the US Department of Transportation.

Closed Sessions of the House of Representatives
The House of Representatives may hold closed or secret sessions to discuss business confidentially. Since the War of 1812, the House has held six such session.

US Senate Committee On The Judiciary
The US Committee On The Judiciary (Judiciary Committee) is one of the original standing committees of the Senate; it was authorized on 10 December 1816. Three days later, Senator Dudley Chase of Vermont became the first Chairman.

US Senate Committee On The Judiciary
The US Committee On The Judiciary (Judiciary Committee) is one of the original standing committees of the Senate; it was authorized on 10 December 1816. Three days later, Senator Dudley Chase of Vermont became the first Chairman.

Religion and The Presidency
There have been 42 men in the office of the Presidency. What have been their views on religion?

Presidents
Terms of office, political affiliation, and brief bios of the Presidents of the United States.

State Politics At A Glance : California
California became the 31st state on 9 September 1850 and was admitted as a free state. California had become a US territory after Mexico surrendered the land under the Treaty of Guadalupe. In 1890, Congress established Yosemite National Park; John Muir helped form the Sierra Club, in part to protect it. The state nickname is The Golden State, a reference to the gold rush. Today, California has 5…

The Gang of Eight
The Gang of Eight refers to eight members of Congress who must be briefed by the executive branch on matters of intelligence.

Congressional Intelligence Committees
History of the House and Senate Select Committees on Intelligence, established in 1976 and 1977. Reviews subsequent developments and tension between the legislative and executive branches of government.

Public Holidays In The United States
What are the nationwide public holidays in the United States and how is a holiday born?

US Senate Select Committee On Intelligence
The US Select Committee on Intelligence (Intelligence Committee) was created by to Senate Resolution 400, 94th Congress.

Measures of Economic Health - Comparison Among Presidents
Measures of Economic Health - Comparison Among Presidents.

Measures of Economic Health - Comparison Among Presidents
Measures of Economic Health - Comparison Among Presidents.

Profiles, US Senate
Profiles of past and current members of the US Senate. There are 100 seats in the Senate; one-third of the membership is elected every six years. Each state has two Senators.

Profiles, US House of Representatives
Profiles of past and current members of the US House Representatives. There are 435 seats in the House; members are re-elected every two years and represent a district in their state, each with a population of approximately 646,952, per the 2000 US Census. All districts are

US Senate
Description and history of the United States Senate and the powers granted the Senate by the Constitution. The Senate and the House of Representatives jointly create the United States Congress.

US Attorneys General
Bios of US Attorney General from 1980-2007.

US Attorneys General
Bios of US Attorney General from 1980-2007.

Statistics on Cloture Motions - 93rd-110th Congresses
Statistics on Cloture Motions in various Congresses

Signing Statement
A signing statement is an addendum issued by the President that accompanies the signing of a law. Those that deal with how the executive branch plans to enforce the law -- those that are de facto line item vetos -- are often controversial. In the US, their legal status remains uncertain.

Executive Privilege - Political Terminology
Presidents of the United States -- beginning with George Washington -- have claimed that the Constitutional principle of separation of powers grants the Executive Branch the right to resist some Congressional or Judiciary requests for information.

How to Contact your U.S. Congressman and Senators
How to get in touch with your U.S. congressman.

Historical Presidential Approval Ratings - End Of Term
Chart of end-of-term Presidential Approval ratings.

Party Division - Congress and Presidency - 1945 - 2008
Table showing the party in power in eadh of the three branches of government, from 1945-2006.

Controversial Presidential Pardons
The President derives the power of pardon from Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution.

The Hatch Act
Passed in 1939, the Hatch Act restricts the political activity of executive branch employees of the federal government, District of Columbia government, and some state and local employees who work in connection with federally funded programs.

The Hatch Act
The Hatch Act restricts the political activity of executive branch employees of the federal government, District of Columbia government and some state and local employees who work in connection with federally funded programs.

US Senate Select Committee On Intelligence
Overview of responsibility and membership of the US Senate Committee On Intelligence.

Continuity of Government Plans
The Continuity of Operations Plan - or Continuity of Government Plan - ensures that United States federal government operations can continue in the case of catastrophic events. It is an outgrowth of Cold War era legislation and executive order.

Regulating Food
The Food and Drug Administration develops standards of identity for food products. Here's how.

Salaries of US Federal Officials
Current salaries for members of the U.S. Congress as well as the White House and the Courts.

Filibuster and Cloture
Overview of Senate procedural Rule 22, filibuster and cloture .

Filibuster
Overview of Senate procedural Rule 22, filibuster and cloture.

Oaths of Office For Federal Officials
Details the oath of office for members of the three branches of the US government: executive, legislative, judiciary.

Milestones In Politics For American Women
As Nancy Pelosi assumes leadership of the US House of Representatives, let's look at other milestones for women in politics in the United States.

National Intelligence Estimate
The National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) is at the center of the debate on US action in Iraq. The 2002 NIE was used to justify the US invasion. Subsequent analysis suggest intelligence was flawed and contrary opinions given short shrift in the final report.

US Civil Rights Act - 1964
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964

Presidential Vetoes
Quick facts about Presidential vetoes

US Freedom of Information Act - 1966
Text of the US Freedom of Information Act - 1966.

The Freedom of Information Act
Background and text of the Freedom of Information Act

US Freedom of Information Act - 1966
Text of the US Freedom of Information Act - 1966.

US Civil Rights Act - 1964
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964.

US Civil Rights Act - 1964
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964.

Civil Right Act
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964.

Civil Right Act - Title 11
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 11.

Civil Right Act - Title 10
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 10.

Civil Right Act - Title 9
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 9.

Civil Right Act - Title 8
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 8.

Civil Right Act - Title 7
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 7.

Civil Right Act - Title 6
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 6.

Civil Right Act - Title 5
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 5.

Civil Right Act - Title 4
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 4.

Civil Right Act - Title 3
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 3.

Civil Right Act - Title 2
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 2.

Civil Right Act - Title 1
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 1

How To Amend the Constitution
How to amend the Constitution of the United States.

The Bill of Rights - US Constitution - Amendments 1 - 10
History of the Bill of Rights; first 10 amendments to the US Constitution.

The Grand Jury in the United States
The Grand Jury in the United States: an historical overview with details on selection, reponsibilities, secrecy, subpoena power, and indictments.

What is a Recess Appointment?
Explanation and history of recess appointments in the United States.

US Supreme Court
An overview of the federal court system in the United States, with profiles of US Supreme Court Justices.

US Senate : Filibuster
Overview of Senate procedural Rule 22, filibuster and cloture.

Federal Election Commission
The FEC was established in 1975 to administer and enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), which regulates federal campaign finance. There are six commissioners, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. By law, no more than three Commissioners can be members of the same political party.

Federal Legislative Information from Thomas
Use this Library of Congress search tool to obtain information about any current or past legislation : bill history, text, amendments, sponsors. Easy to use if somewhat obscurely named (it's named for Thomas Jefferson) relative to its function.

House Democratic Caucus
Use this site to find Democratic Representatives or the current Democratic House policy agenda. This service-oriented organization for House Democrats first met in 1796.

House Democrats
In addition to the expected information about issues and a directory of House Democrats, the site provides background information on every state in the country: capitol, population, date admitted to the union, and news related to current issues.

House Republican Conference
This web site provides access to Republican members of the House as well as Republican positions on a select list of issues. "Committee Central" provides an overview of upcoming and past legislative actions.

Senate Democratic Leadership Committee
Check this site for a directory of Democratic Senators or specific information on jobs/outsourcing, education and health care.

House Republican Policy Committee
Established by Congress in 1946, the Policy Committee "serve(s) as a formal council to meet regularly with the Executive, to facilitate the formulation and carrying out of national policy, and to improve relationships between the executive and legislative branches of the Government."

Senate Democratic Policy Committee
Established in 1947 by an Act of Congress, the DPC is the research arm of Senate Democrats. Find DPC Reports on issues and proposed legislation.

Senate Republican Conference
The formal organization of the Senate Republicans, it provides a full range of communications services including graphics, radio, television, and internet. Check here for information on the Republican agenda, which includes defense, education, energy, jobs/economy and faith/community.

Senate Republican Policy Committee
Like its Democractic counterpart, this Committee was established by law in 1946. The site contains policy papers (all PDF) as well as an application form for those interested in working in the Senate.

Senate Glossary
From "act" to "yield time" -- this page introduces you to the terminology of Senate law and procedure.