OUR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT - GovInfo

108TH CONGRESS

1st Session

"

H. DOC.

!

108?94

OUR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

2003 Edition

E:\Seals\Congress.#13

Printed by authority of H. Con. Res. 139, 108th Congress

87?102

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 2003

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore. Phone: toll free (866) 512?1800; DC area (202) 512?1800

Fax: (202) 512?2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402?0001

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H. Con. Res. 139

Agreed to June 20, 2003

One Hundred Eighth Congress of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the seventh day of January, two thousand and three

Concurrent Resolution

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SEC. 2. OUR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT.

(a) IN GENERAL.--The 2003 revised edition of the brochure entitled ``Our American Government'' shall be printed as a House document under the direction of the Joint Committee on Printing.

(b) ADDITIONAL COPIES.--In addition to the usual number, there shall be printed the lesser of--

(1) 550,000 copies of the document, of which 440,000 copies shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 100,000 copies shall be for the use of the Senate, and 10,000 copies shall be for the use of the Joint Committee on Printing; or

(2) such number of copies of the document as does not exceed a total production and printing cost of $454,160, with distribution to be allocated in the same proportion as described in paragraph (1), except that in no case shall the number of copies be less than 1 per Member of Congress.

Attest:

JEFF TRANDAHL, Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

EMILY J. REYNOLDS, Secretary of the Senate.

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C O N T E N T S Page

Foreword ................................................................................................................... V Democracy and Its American Interpretation ......................................................... 1 The Constitution ...................................................................................................... 2 The Legislative Branch ........................................................................................... 6 The Congress ............................................................................................................ 6

Members, Offices, and Staff ............................................................................. 6 Congressional Process and Powers ................................................................. 21 Congressional Rules and Procedures .............................................................. 24 The Committee System .................................................................................... 33 The Executive Branch ............................................................................................. 38 The President and Vice President ................................................................... 40 The Executive Departments and Agencies ..................................................... 50 The Independent Agencies and Commissions ....................................................... 52 The Judicial Branch ................................................................................................ 53 The Courts of the United States ..................................................................... 53 The Justices and Judges .................................................................................. 55 The Electoral Process .............................................................................................. 56 Information Resources ............................................................................................. 62

APPENDICES Glossary of Legislative Terms ................................................................................ 71 Selective Bibliography and References .................................................................. 78 State Population and House Apportionment ......................................................... 81 House and Senate Political Divisions .................................................................... 83 The Declaration of Independence ........................................................................... 85 Constitution of the United States .......................................................................... 89

Amendments to the Constitution .................................................................... 101 Proposed Amendments to the Constitution Not Ratified by the States ....... 117 Index ......................................................................................................................... 121

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FOREWORD

The Committee on House Administration is pleased to present this revised book on our United States Government.

This publication continues to be a popular introductory guide for American citizens and those of other countries 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.

60436.005

ROBERT W. NEY, Chairman.

SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Vice Chairman.

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