Research > Homework Center > Government & politics

Government & politics

Government & politics megasites
Branches of Government
Campaign finance
Census
Elections & voting
Foreign governments & leaders
Foreign policy
Government agencies
Historic documents

Government & politics megasites

Branches of Government: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/branches.html

This site for grades 3-5 introduces and explains the three branches of US government.
Branches of Government: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/government/branches.html

This site for grades 6-8 introduces and explains the three branches of US government.
Branches of Government: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/government/branches.html

This site for grades 9-12 introduces and explains the three branches of US government.
Budget of the United States Government: Main Page: http://www.access.gpo.gov/usbudget/

Search or browse the full text of present or past budgets.
CascadeLink: http://www.cascadelink.org/

Local, state and federal government, regional city profiles, elections, jobs, libraries, education, organizations, neighborhoods, parks and recreation, transportation, and arts and entertainment and more!
Fedstats: http://www.fedstats.gov/

One-stop-shopping for all your federal government statistics. Statistics from more than 100 federal agencies organized in a subject-based A-Z Index. A search engine currently lets you search more than 70 agencies. Also organized by Agencies, Geographic Areas, and by state.
Government 101: http://www.vote-smart.org/resource_govt101_01.php

Learn how a bill becomes a law, the roles of the President and Congress, the election process, and more.
Welcome to Multnomah County, Oregon: http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/

County information such as elected officials, cities, towns and neighborhoods, regional transportation, non-profit organizations, schools and universities and more.
Project Vote Smart: http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm

Learn more about US federal, state and local government, including courts and laws, how state government works, governor biographies and contact information for public officials.
State Government Information: http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/stategov/stategov.html

Information about each state's government, plus maps of states and some information about local governments.
The United States Government Manual: Main Page: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual/

For the current and past few years, this site contains up to date information on officials, their addresses, and more.
United States Patent and Trademark Office Kids Page: http://www.uspto.gov/go/kids/

Learn how to patent or trademark something here.
USA.Gov: http://www.usa.gov/

This is a searchable database of over 500,000 Web pages from the U.S. Government and Military. Since it only searches sites that have a .gov or .mil Internet domain, irrelevant sites are automatically eliminated from your search results.

Executive Branch

Congress for Kids: The Executive Branch: http://www.congressforkids.net/Executivebranch_index.htm

Learn about the president's job, his cabinet, the president and Congress and impeachment.
The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

The official Web site for the White House.
The White House for Kids: http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/

What kids want to know about the White House.

Judicial Branch

An Anatomy of a Criminal Trial: http://www.nolo.com/lawcenter/ency/article.cfm/objectID/07BA0993-2B75-48E6-8AD65D205B6A39CE

This site explains the different components of a criminal trial.
Anatomy of a Murder: http://library.thinkquest.org/2760/homep.htm

Take a trip through our nation's justice system by following along or participating in a fictional murder trial. Go to this site to find out how you can participate!
Federal Judiciary Homepage: http://www.uscourts.gov/

Information from and about the Judicial Branch of our Federal Government. Includes a very thorough overview of the federal judicial system.
FindLaw: US Supreme Court Opinions: http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme.html

Search this database by case or by topic.
An Introduction to the Courts of Oregon: http://www.ojd.state.or.us/aboutus/courtsintro/index.htm

A description of the different kinds of courts in Oregon.
Oyez: http://www.oyez.org/

Don't miss this site about the U. S. Supreme Court ! Take a virtual tour of the Supreme Court building. Search by case title, subject or date. The site offers the facts that brought the case to court, provides a summary of the constitutional question at hand, and describes the conclusion of the case. Audio of some case arguments is available. RealPlayer plug-in is needed for the tour.
Supreme Court of the United States: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/

This site presents the supreme court's traditions, procedures, biographies of judges, and information about the building.This site also includes the court's docket, oral arguments, court rules and more.Much information is in pdf format. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view documents.

Legislative Branch

Tying It All Together: Learn about the Legislative Process: http://www.house.gov/house/Tying_it_all.html

From the US House of Representatives, this site summarizes the legislative process.
Thomas: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas2.html

How the US legislature functions, status and summary of bills being discussed, committee reports, and more!

How Laws are Made

How A Bill Becomes a Law: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/workingwithleg/bill2law.htm

From the Washington state legislature, this page simply explains how a bill becomes a law in nine steps.
How Laws Are Made: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/lawmaking/

This site for grades 6-8 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains what laws are, who makes laws, and how they are made.
How Laws Are Made: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/lawmaking/

This site for grades 9-12 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains what laws are, who makes laws, and how they are made.
How Our Laws Are Made: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html

From the United States House of Representatives, this site clearly explains how laws are made in the US.
What Is a Law?: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/lawmaking/

This site for grades 3-5 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains what laws are, who makes laws, and how they are made.

Campaign finance

Campaign finance: http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Campaign_Finance_Reform

From the League of Women Voters, this site provides news and information about campaign finance and reform issues.
Presidential Campaign Finance: http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapApp.do

The Federal Election Commission site provides campaign finance information for the 2008 presidential election.
Race for the White House: http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.asp?cycle=2008

The Center for Responsible Politics maintains this interesting page where visitors can see a breakdown of funds raised, spent and on hand for each of the Democratic and Republican candidates. Clicking on a candidate's name takes you to detailed graphs and charts showing exactly where the money came from.

Census

U.S. Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov

This Web site from the US Census Bureau connects you with statistics and facts about people, jobs, and business in the US.

Crime & Justice

CIA's Homepage For Kids: https://www.cia.gov/kids-page/index.html

CIA has a site especially for kids with grade-specific links and games.
FBI Kid's Page: http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/kidsk5th.htm

Check out the FBI site for kids in grades K-5, including safety tips, information about working dogs, games and more.
FBI Youth: Grades 6th - 12th: http://www.fbi.gov/kids/6th12th/6th12th.htm

Check out the FBI site for youth in grades 6-12, including FBI investigations, history, games, safety, a special agent challenge, and more.
History of the FBI: http://www.fbi.gov/libref/historic/history/historymain.htm

A short history of the FBI.
Inside the Courtroom: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/kidspage/

Information about the US government's Department of Justice. Go inside a courtroom and discover what prosecutors do.

Defense & National Security

Center for Defense Information: http://www.cdi.org/

CDI is a non-profit, nongovernmental military research organization that analyzes military spending, policies and weapons systems. A good site for non-biased information regarding this topic.
Selective Service System: Registration Information: http://www.sss.gov/regist.htm

Learn what the Selective Service is about and how it works.
United States Department of Defense: http://www.defenselink.mil/

Official site of anything related to U.S. Defense.

Elections & voting

Campaign 2008
Campaigns of the Past
Election Process
Electoral College
Voting

League of Women Voters: http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

League of Women Voters national Web site keeps voters informed.
League of Women Voters of Portland, Oregon: http://www.lwvpdx.org/

League of Women Voters local Web site provides local voter information.
Multnomah County Elections Division: http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dbcs/elections/index.shtml

Keep up on current elections in the county, including measure and candidate information. Read the voter's pamphlet online.
Oregon Elections Division: http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/

Keep up on current elections in the state, including measure and candidate information. Read the voter's pamphlet online.
Project Vote Smart: http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm

This site provides you with the tools you need to understand government officials, the current candidates and the issues in national and local elections.
US Presidential Election Maps: 1860-1996: http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/

This site presents US maps showing which presidential candidate each state voted for from 1860 to 1996. Maps for both the popular vote and electoral vote are here.

Campaign 2008

Vote 2008: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2008/

The PBS Online NewsHour's election site includes pages on the candidates, the issues and an interactive electoral map (in the Politics 101 section).

Campaigns of the Past

The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials, 1952-2004: http://livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us

Watch presidential candidate commercials from Eisenhower, Nixon, Carter, Kennedy, Reagan and more. How did the face of television change the public perception of the president of the United States?

Election Process

Election Process: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/election/

This site for grades 3-5 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains the United States election process.
Election Process: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/election/

This site for grades 6-8 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains the United States election process.
Election Process: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/election/

This site for grades 9-12 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains the United States election process.
Elections... the American Way: http://learning.loc.gov/learn/features/election/home.html

At this Library of Congress site for grades 6-12 learn about the election process, what is required to run for president, who can vote, what are political parties, what is the election process and the electoral vote, and how issues change and influence elections.

Electoral College

Alexander Hamilton Defends the Electoral College in Federalist No. 68: http://www.avagara.com/e_c/reference/00012601.htm

This is Hamilton's March 14, 1788 statement to the people of New York. This document helps explain the protections and functions of the Electoral College.
Electoral College System: http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepolitcalsystem/a/electcollege.htm

About.com explains the history and functions of the Electoral College, including how a candidate can win the popular vote but lose the election.
Finding Precedent: Hayes vs. Tilden: http://elections.harpweek.com/controversy.htm

The electoral college controversy of 1876-77 provided by Harper's Weekly.
McPherson v. Blacker (1892): http://laws.lp.findlaw.com/getcase/us/146/1.html

States can select Electors by Congressional district, or any other way they choose. (Includes a history of the early electoral process.)
Proposed constitutional amendment for direct election of the U.S. President (1977): http://www.avagara.com/e_c/reference/00012501.htm

This page from the US Electoral College Web Zine provides the text for the once-proposed constitutional changes for a direct election in 1977.
Ray v. Blair 343 U.S. 214 (1952): http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=343&invol=214

States can give parties the right to require pledges from Electors.
U.S. Electoral College: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college/

This site from the National Archives and Records Administration gives details on the Electoral College, its procedures, policies, history and information on Presidential elections, 1789 through 2004, including candidates, electoral and popular votes, and election notes. It also lists procedures and responsibilities for state officials.
Why Keep the Electoral College?: http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa102200a.htm?once=true&

What were our forefathers thinking? What kind of democracy are we? What would it take to change the system? Find answers to these and other questions at this About.com site.

Voting

Vote: The Machinery of Democracy: http://americanhistory.si.edu/vote/

This online exhibit from the Smithsonian National Museum of American history shows how voting methods have changed over the years.

Foreign governments & leaders

The Political Graveyard: http://www.potifos.com/tpg/

"The Web Site That Tells Where the Dead Politicians are Buried." What politician was killed by wild beasts? Search by name, by birth or death date, by ofice held, by type of death, or just browse.
Rulers: http://rulers.org/

Current and past rulers of the world listed by country.
Women World Leaders 1945-2007: http://www.terra.es/personal2/monolith/00women.htm

Women in political leadership around the world. Organized by category.
World Leaders: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/index.html

Choose a country and find out who the government statesmen are.

Foreign policy

Foreign Policy in Focus: http://www.fpif.org/

Click on the map for articles by progressive foreign policy experts.
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy: http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateI0a.php

"A public educational foundation dedicated to scholarly research and informed debate on U.S. interests in the Middle East."

Government Agencies

Parents and Caregivers:Youth resources: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navid=YOUTH_RESOURCES&parentnav=PARENT_CAREGIVE&navtype=RT

US Department of Agriculture's site includes preventing foodborne illnesses, food guide pyramid, Smokey Bear, food for thought, gardening, farmer's market and more.
Peace Corps: Kids World: http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/

What is the Peace Corps? Find out here.
H.I.P. Pocket Change: http://www.usmint.gov/kids/

U.S. Mint site provides games, cartoons, a time machine, and more about coins.
The Scoop on Social Security 4 Teens: http://www.ssa.gov/ny/exploring-index.htm

How does Social Security work, who pays, how much, how do you use it, will it be there? Find out about the history and the future of Social Security.
Social Security Online: Kids and Families: http://www.ssa.gov/kids/faqs1.htm

This site explains how Social Security works. Find out about the history and the future of Social Security.

Historic documents

Bill of Rights
U.S. Constitution
Other Historic documents

Bill of Rights

Rights of Citizens: Bill of Rights: http://www.law.emory.edu/FEDERAL/pict/bill.jpg

Scanned copy of the Bill of Rights document.
The Bill of Rights: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/citizenship/rights.html

The Bill of Rights explained for 3rd to 5th graders.
The Bill of Rights: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/citizenship/billofrights.html

The Bill of Rights explained for 6th to 8th graders.
The Bill of Rights: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/citizenship/rights.html

The Bill of Rights explained for 9th to 12th graders.

U.S. Constitution

Charters of Freedom: Constitution of the United States: http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html

The National Archives and Records Administration provides this site with information about the Constitution.
Constitution of the United States: http://www.law.emory.edu/FEDERAL/usconst.html

Click on the section title to go directly to part of the US constitution.
Constitution of the United States: Main Page: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/constitution/

This official government site takes the US Constitution and aligns supreme court decisions with it. "It provides annotations to cases bearing on Constitutional law decided by the Supreme Court."
FindLaw: U.S. Constitution Search: http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/constitution/

Scroll down the page to the Constitutional amendments. Each article is stated and includes each amendment's history, and issues related to each.
Explore the Constitution: http://www.constitutioncenter.org/explore/Welcome/index.shtml

This site includes a Constitutional timeline, a game for kids and much more.
To Form a More Perfect Union: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/continental/intro01.html

History behind the creation of The Constitution of the United States.

National vs. state government

National Versus State Government: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/

This site for grades 3-5 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains national and state government.
National Versus State Government: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/government/

This site for grades 6-8 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains national and state government.
National Versus State Government: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/government/federalism.html

This site for grades 9-12 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains national and state government.

Political parties

Political Resources-- Political Parties: http://www.vote-smart.org/resource_political_resources.php?category=Political%20Parties

A list of national political parties for the US with contact information and links. This site also includes links to state and local political parties.
Political Resources on the Net: http://www.politicalresources.net/

Links to political parties, activist organizations, and government agencies with over 80 countries represented.
The Constitution Party: http://www.constitutionparty.com/

Official site for the US Constitution political party.
The Democratic Party: http://www.democrats.org/

Official site for the US Democratic political party.
GOP.com: Republican National Committee: http://www.gop.com/

Official site for the US Republican political party.
The Green Party of the United States: http://www.gp.org/

Official site for the US Green political party.
The Libertarian Party: http://www.lp.org/

Official site for the US Libertarian political party.

Government & politics

Government & politics megasites

Branches of Government

Executive Branch

Judicial Branch

Legislative Branch

How Laws are Made

Campaign finance

Census

Crime & Justice

Defense & National Security

Elections & voting

Campaign 2008

Campaigns of the Past

Election Process

Electoral College

Voting

Foreign governments & leaders

Foreign policy

Government Agencies

Historic documents

Bill of Rights

U.S. Constitution

Other Historic Documents

National vs. state government

Political parties

Research