The U.S. Congress: The Legislative Branch
The U.S. Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government and is responsible for making laws. The decisions of Congress affect the lives of everyone in the United States and have significant international ramifications as well. Online you’ll find the information you need on the congressional issues that have special relevance to you. These links will also help you contact your congressperson, research legislation or gain greater insight into the role of Congress.
The best way to find out about Congress is directly from the source: the federal government. However, there are additional sources that provide accurate and valuable information: nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations are an excellent outlet, and resources directed at students and teachers are informative, even if you’re not currently in school. The sources below offer information about the legislative process, the U.S. representatives who comprise Congress and more.
- You’ll find some overlap of information between these sites. Be sure to check out all the menus or the sitemaps to investigate the full range of Congress-related information at each one. You may find something you didn’t even know you were looking for.
- Even if you’re past school age, don’t underestimate the value of Web sites aimed at kids. These sites can be excellent for quick, concise explanations of the structure and duties of Congress.
For a general audience...
Project Vote Smart
is a citizens’ organization dedicated to raising political awareness. This section of the site provides an overview of Congress, including a section detailing
how a bill becomes a law. The site also includes information on the
budget process and other legislative issues affected by Congress.
For kids...
Congress for Kids
is maintained by The Dirksen Center, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting the understanding of Congress to increase civic involvement. This site offers a tour of the federal government, including a detailed explanation of the legislative branch. The design on this site is excellent and it is easy to navigate.
For legislative terminology...
C-Span
offers this Congressional Glossary. The glossary is extensive and features terms from “absence of a quorum” to “zero-based budgeting.” Use this glossary anytime you don’t recognize a term.
TheCapitol.Net
provides this Glossary of Congressional and Legislative Terms. Words and phrases are displayed directly on the homepage in alphabetical order.
Who knew?
Fantasy Congress
is like a fantasy sports league, but with politicians instead of players. This is an entertaining, interactive way to learn about how Congress works and to try your hand at the legislative process. The site includes a system for monitoring and learning about senators and representatives as well.
While regular news media always covers politics (often addressing issues specific to Congress) ... read more »
Since Congress makes laws involving everything from healthcare to education, the massive amount of ... read more »
This guide shows you where to find representatives in various regions and how to contact individual ... read more »
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