How government works

Short, plain explainers with diagrams, so the records on this site make sense. Each one links to official sources.

How a federal bill becomes law
From an idea to a law passed by Congress and signed by the President.
How a state bill becomes law
State legislatures work much like Congress, with important differences by state.
The federal budget process
How the President, Congress and agencies decide what the government spends each year.
Authorization vs. appropriation
Why a program can exist in law and still get no money.
Rulemaking and the Federal Register
How agencies write regulations under laws passed by Congress, and how you can comment.
Ballot measures and propositions
When voters, not legislators, make the decision.
Levels of government
Federal, state, county and city: who does what.
How to contact officials effectively
Short, specific, local messages get read.