Politics

The United States Constitution was written to include a variety of checks and balances to restrict any one of the three branches of government from becoming too powerful. The Executive Branch, or...

Before the American Revolution began, the need arose for an administration to oversee the treasury of what-would-become the United States. After the foundation of the American government, the...

Tips on how to know what bills and legislation is currently being considered in Congress. Many Americans are affected by legislation every year, and never knew what was even being considered. Stay...

Members of Congress pay Social Security payroll taxes along with the vast majority of American workers. Most federal lawmakers also participate in one of two federal retirement plans with the tab...

When Barack Obama took office in 2009, he became the 44th president of the United States. He and the previous 43 presidents have helped shape who we are as a nation. There have been good...

The United States government is run by three branches: the legislative, the executive and judicial. The separation of powers is defined in Articles I, II and III of the Constitution. Each branch...

You can testify in front of Congress on all types of community and business subjects that Congress is making a decision on. If you would like to bring your cause to the attention of Congress you...

The GI Bill of Rights, officially the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, offers economic aid to veterans of the U.S. armed forces. Since its creation in 1944, the law has helped millions of veterans...

A Congressman in the House of Representatives or a Senator in the Senate introduces a proposed bill during a morning session. The bill is assigned a number, designating the chamber of origin - HR...

When the Founding Fathers created the U.S. Constitution, they evinced a deep distrust of placing too much power in any one person's hands. Accordingly, they set up the federal government using an...

Congress considers hundreds of bills during every session. Before each proposed bill becomes a law, it must survive many steps. Every successful bill has sponsors and co-sponsors to support it...

Americans elect their members of Congress in order to represent their views. One way to have your views heard are through writing a letter to your elected officials. Here are some tips to make...

I hear over and over how "it doesn't make any difference" to worry about politics and that "they're going to do whatever they want anyway." The recent town hall meetings held...

Anyone who has ever been part of a highly disciplined, close-knit organization understands how such organizations insulate themselves from outside scrutiny and criticism. This reality is...

The original idea behind a bill can come from many sources. Officially, however, members of Congress are the only people who can introduce a bill to be considered. A member of Congress becomes the...

The phrase "checks and balances" can be defined as "to divide power." To "check" in this instance, means to counter. When one interest, party, or person wields a significant amount of power, if no...

The United States government differs in organization from many other western democracies. The Founding Fathers applied the notion of checks and balances to their government organization. Congress...

The U.S. Congress is made up of two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each state is allotted two Senators while the number of representatives each state has is determined...

In order to serve in one of the highest public roles in our society, as a member of Congress, there are certain qualifications that the United States Constitution demands interested candidates...

It has been called the most difficult job on Earth. The president of the United States is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for four consecutive years. The job is extremely stressful. ...

The word "Congress" refers to both the House of Representatives and the the Senate, which are both elected by direct election. "Congress" also refers to state legislators who make up a house of...

The President is the United States' highest elected official, serving as both head of state and head of the government. As such, the president has an array of duties and responsibilities,...

An omnibus bill is a lengthy piece of legislation that tries to package a disparate set of measures into one bill. Budget legislation is an example of an omnibus bill. Although omnibus bills have...

Getting your voice heard is an amazing feeling and accomplishment. If you want to write a letter to your local congressman or government - you want to make sure you do it correctly. Some people...

The United States Congress is the legislative branch of American government, responsible for proposing, voting on and reviewing laws. Congress is a bicameral legislature, which means it is...

The U.S. democracy's ability to fend off dictatorship and tyranny of the majority depends on maintaining a separation and balance of power in the federal government among the legislative,...

Members of Congress act as trustees for constituents by voting on legislation and helping constituents receive services from the federal government. Attend town meetings with a member of Congress...

Members of the congress from the house of representatives are elected every two years, while senators are elected for six years. Learn about special elections and appointments that take place when...

While it would be difficult to send an open letter to all congressional leaders, contact information for your local member of congress and senators can be found at House.gov and Senate.gov. Send...

If you feel passionate about a particular subject, or simply feel that it should be addressed in Congress, creating a bill can be a good way to draw attention to the issue. Here are the steps...

If you want to propose a bill to Congress, you need to have the ear of your congressional representative or someone on the representative's staff. Only a member of Congress can propose a bill on...

If you want to get Congress to change a law, get involved in the process. Begin by contacting your members of Congress. Remember, they represent you; letting them know where you stand on an issue...

Ever wondered what it takes to amend the Constitution? Or perhaps you've taken note of the controversy surrounding discussions regarding proposed amendments for hot topics like same-sex marriage...

The United States government is a democracy, meaning that it is a government run by the people of the country. United States citizens elect their governmental officials and help to create laws....

Congress is one of the three branches of the United States federal government. The three branches of the federal government are the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The president...

A presidential inauguration is the formal swearing in of the president of the United States. The constitution requires that each president must make an oath prior to beginning a new presidential...

The United States legislative system may seem a bit arcane to the average person. The procedure of a bill becoming a law is one that is central to the legislative system's job, making for a...

When you teach children about Congress, you help them understand the importance of the political process and get them involved in the running of our country. This education is especially important...

While Congress is supposed to represent the people, it can sometimes be difficult to get officials to listen to you. There are several ways to make your arguments more effective, whether you are...

A search through the 30 million cataloged items in the Library of Congress can be intimidating. Luckily, the Internet allows you to search the database easily so you can conduct research with...

When you write letters to Congress, you help elected officials understand which policy issues are important to the public. Writing a letter is a fairly straightforward process, although there are...

You can visit members of Congress to gain insight into how our political process functions or to make a case for a special issue or bill that is coming up to vote. It's fairly easy to see your...

The State of the Union address is an annual address given by the President of the United States regarding the status of the nation. This address is given in front of both the House of...

The term "separation of powers" was made famous by French thinker Baron de Montesquieu, but is more commonly referred to as checks and balances within the United States. Within the United States...

The United States Constitution establishes all three branches of government and lays out a plan of checks and balances, ensuring that one branch doesn't become too powerful. The ability of the...

Passing a federal law in the US is no easy task. Miles of red tape and complex bureaucratic procedures make this a difficult objective to accomplish. With some expertise and knowledge of the maze...

Paying attention to legislative bills as they pass through Congress is important in order to stay on top of the laws our elected officials are passing. Typically, most of our knowledge comes from...

A visit to the Capitol of the United States in Washington, D.C., can be an awe-inspiring experience. It is a great learning opportunity for both adults and children. Plan well and plan ahead and...

The legislative branch of the United States government is comprised of the U.S. Congress which includes both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress "all...

Explore the House of Representatives to learn about the United States government. See how laws are made that affect the entire nation. Learn about Congressional districts and find who represents...