Introduction to the U.S. System

Overviews

• Outline of U.S. Government
  A publication of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs. This book explains what makes U.S. government uniquely American...its Constitution, the separation of powers, the concept of "checks and balances," the decentralized roles of state and local governments, and a citizenry with wide opportunity to be part of it all.
  
  
• Our American Government
  A popular introductory guide from the U.S. Congress for those who seek a greater understanding of our heritage of democracy. The question-and-answer format covers a broad range of topics dealing with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of our Government as well as the electoral process and the role of political parties.
  
  
• American National Government: An Overview
  This report from the U.S. Congressional Research Service looks at the distribution of power in the federal government as derived from the constitution and the balance and separation of powers. January 2001.
  
  
• Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons
  A study guide from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, organized in a question and answer format. The pamphlet covers basic information on U.S history, the organization of the U.S. government and how it functions.
  
  
• The Formation of a National Government
  The history of the formation of the national government in the U.S., from 1783 - 1814, from the Outline of U.S. History, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, 2005.
  
  
• The World Factbook: United States
  A brief summary of key facts and statistics about the U.S., extracted from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook.
  
  
• U.S. Government Manual
  Official handbook of the Federal Government, which provides comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
  
  
• More Than Elections: How Democracies Transfer Power
  Democracy requires more than holding elections. Healthy democracies are defined by the expectations of citizens and the common rules, understandings, and trust they build. This eJournal USA explores the contours of civil society and political legitimacy within which peaceful transitions of power can occur.
  
  
• Significant Events in U.S. Foreign Relations
  Focusing on a number of seminal world events, this issue of eJournal USA: Foreign Policy Agenda offers a framework for examining how U.S. foreign relations have evolved over the past century, influenced by the legacy of America's founding ideals of protecting individual rights and freedom. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, April, 2006.
  

Guiding Principles

Democracy

• Democracy Papers
  12 essays on democracy-building covering the following topics: Root Principles of Democracy, Constitutionalism, Democratic Elections, Federalism and Democracy, Creation of Law in a Democratic Society, Role of an Independent Judiciary, Powers of the Presidency, Role of a Free Media, Role of Interest Groups, The Public's Right to Know, Protecting Minority Rights, and Civilian Control of the Military. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, 2001.
  
  
• Principles of Democracy
  Explains fundamental principles that contribute to making a democratic government work effectively. This series of one-page primers provides the reader with a concise definition of democracy and expands on supporting elements such as good governance and the rights and responsibilities of people living in democracies. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, March 2005.
  
  
• Basic Readings in U.S. Democracy
  A collection of documents, including speeches, letters, court decisions and presidential decrees, that define the American quest for democracy. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs.
  
  
• Foundations of Democracy
  This Department of State electronic journal focuses on several key components of genuine democracies and the experiences of various nations in fashioning the form of democracy that suits their cultures, protects minority populations, and helps all citizens fulfill their aspirations. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, December 2005.
  
  
• Constitutionalism and Emerging Democracies
  This Department of State electronic journal presents several perspectives on constitutionalism, key components of a successful constitution, and the experiences of various nations throughout history in crafting constitutions uniquely their own. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, March 2004
  
  

Federalism

• American Federalism, 1776 to 1997: Significant Events
  An analysis of key events related to the question of "What powers, privileges, duties, and responsibilities does the Constitution grant to the national government and reserve to the states and the people?". Eugene Boyd, Congressional Research Service, 1997.
  
  
• Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power
  This Congressional Research Service report, dated February 1, 2008, was written by Kenneth R. Thomas.
  
  
• Reinventing American Federalism
  This Department of State electronic journal examines changes in the alignments and balances of responsibilities between the federal, state and local governments from a variety of perspectives. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, 1997.

Separation of Church and State

• Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
  Based on objects in the collection of the Library of Congress, this online exhibit explores the role religion played in the founding of the American colonies, in the shaping of early American life and politics, and in forming the American Republic.
  
  
• The Law of Church and State: U.S. Supreme Court Decisions Since 2002
  This Congressional Research Service report, dated October 30, 2007, was written by Cynthia M. Brougher.
  

Transparency

• Transparency in Government: How American Citizens Influence Public Policy
  Discusses the importance of opening government deliberations and rule-making processes to the public and of making government documents available to concerned citizens. Ellen M. Katz, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, 1999.
  
  
• Information Management: Acquisition of the Electronic Records Archives is Progressing
  U.S. Government Accountability Office report on the status of the National Archives and Records Administration's development of an electronic records archive system. U.S. GAO, July 2005.

Rights of the People

• Rights of the People: Individual Freedoms and the Bill of Rights
  A history of American law and justice governing individual liberties, focusing on the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution, and the legal interpretations, that refined and expanded the Bill of Rights. Melvin Urofsky, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, 2003.
  
  
• We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident
  From the earliest Americans, individual freedoms and liberties were highly valued. This chapter from "Introduction to Human Rights" written by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, describes the evolving development of these freedoms and links them to major historical documents.
  
  
• The Critical Balance: Individual Rights and National Security in Uncertain Times
  An essay on balancing civil liberties with national security requirements necessary to prevent another terrorist attack. From "September 11 One Year Later", U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs by Mark Blitz, Fletcher Jones Professor of Political Philosophy, Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California.
  
  
• Freedom of Conscience
  This article discusses the value that freedom of religion provides to a healthy democracy.
  
  
• Law and Race in the United States: An Outline for Understanding
  The Constitution of the United States provides the framework for all of our laws, and is the most fundamental statement of the rules which govern our society. This outline provides an overview of major legislation and the history behind laws that have shaped the legal landscape of the United States and its treatment of minorities.
  
  
• A Citizen's Guide on using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request Government Records
  A Congressional report and citizen's guide to the Freedom of Information Act.
  
  
• Libel Law in the United States
  A review of the history of libel which is a legal term that describes a written form of defamation. Steven Pressman, from An Unfettered Press, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs, 2001.
  
  
• Privacy: An Overview of Federal Statutes Governing Wiretapping and Electronic Eavesdropping
  This 2009 Congressional Research Services report provides a general overview of the federal statutes that proscribe wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping and of the procedures they establish for law enforcement and foreign intelligence gathering purposes.
  
  
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Statutory Language and Recent Issues
  The Americans with Disabilities Act gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.
  
  
• Americans with Disabilities Act: Questions and Answers
            
  
• ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments
            
  
• A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
  Released by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, this guide provides an overview of Federal civil rights laws that ensure equal opportunity for people with disabilities, 2005.
  
  

Founding Documents

• The Declaration of Independence
  Full text of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
  
  
• Constitution of the United States of America
  Transcription of the Constitution in its original form, amendments, and items that have been superseded.
  
  
• About America: The Constitution of the United States of America with Explanatory Notes
  Includes the complete text of the U.S. Constitution and explanatory notes.
  
  
• The Bill of Rights: Amendments 1-10 of the Constitution
  Full text of the Bill of Rights, which includes Amendments 1-10 of the Constitution..
  
  
• The Constitutional Amendment Process
  Summary of the multi-layered process required to make changes to the U.S. Constitution.
  
  
• The Mayflower Compact
  Full text of the Mayflower Compact, which established the foundation for laws in the United States.
  
  
• Benjamin Franklin: Poor Richard's Almanack, 1733-1758
  Sections of Benjamin Franklin's famous "Poor Richard's Almanack".
  
  
• Common Sense
  Full text of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense".
  
  
• The Federalist Papers
  Links to all 85 of the Federalist Papers, essays outlining how the proposed government would operate and why this type of government was the best choice for the United States of America.
  
  
• The Emancipation Proclamation
  Full text of the document that clearly and irrevocably notified the South that the Civil War was being fought not just to preserve the Union, but to put an end to the institution of slavery.

Speeches

Famous Presidential Speeches

• Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents
  
  
• Patrick Henry: Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death, 1775
  
  
• The Farewell Address of President George Washington, 1796
  
  
• Abraham Lincoln: The Gettysburg Address, 1863
  
  
• Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address
  
  
• F.D. Roosevelt: Four Freedoms, 1941
  
  
• Dwight D. Eisenhower: The Chance for Peace, 1953
  
  
• President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Farewell Address ("Military-Industrial Complex"), 1961
  
  
• John F. Kennedy: Address to Southern Baptist Leaders, 1960
  
  
• Lyndon B. Johnson: The American Promise, 1965
  
  
• Jimmy Carter: Human Rights and Foreign Policy, 1977
  
  
• Ronald Reagan: Words at the Brandenburg Gate Before the People of the City of West Berlin ("Tear Down This Wall", 1987)
  
  
• George H.W. Bush Announces U.S. Attack on Iraq, 1991
  
  
• William Jefferson Clinton: "A Time of Healing" (after the Oklahoma City bombing), 1995
  
  
• George W. Bush Addresses the Nation, September 11, 2001
  
  
• Barack Obama's State of the Union Speech, 2010
  
  

The Budget Process

• The Annual Budget Process
  Explanation of the multi-level process involved in producing the U.S. annual federal budget.
  
  
• Introduction to the Federal Budget Process
  Briefly delineates the federal budget process.
  
  
• A Brief Introduction to the Federal Budget Process
  Outlines the federal budget process including a glossary of terms, time tables and stages.
  
  
• Congressional Budget Process: A Brief Overview
  Congressional Research Service report, 2004
  
  
• Congressional Budget Process Timetable
  Congressional Research Service report, 2008
  
  
• The Budget Reconciliation Process
  Provides an overview of the process utilized when Congress issues directives to legislate policy changes in mandatory spending (entitlements) or revenue programs (tax laws) to achieve the goals in spending and revenue contemplated by the budget resolution.
  
  

Government in the Age of Technology

• E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. Law 107-347
  Full-text of the E-Government Act of 2002, Public Law 107-347.
  
  
• A Primer on E-Government: Sectors, Stages, Opportunities, and Challenges of Online Governance
  Congressional Research Service report, 2008.
  
  
• Botnets, Cybercrime, and Cyberterrorism: Vulnerabilities and Policy Issues for Congress
  Congressional Research Service report, 2008.
  
  
• GAO: National Cybersecurity Strategy: Key Improvements Are Needed to Strengthen the Nation's Posture
  GAO report dated March 10, 2009.
  
  
• The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace
  A national framework to encourage Americans to secure the interdependent network of information technology infrastructures known as cyberspace.
  
  
• FY 2008 Report to Congress on Implementation of The E-Government Act of 2002
  Office of Management and Budget report, May 1, 2009.