Federal Government Of The United States

State And Local Government

The state governments follow the same pattern as the federal government, with power divided among the executive, legislative and judicial branches. In general, matters which lie entirely within state borders are the concern of state governments. These include internal communications regulations relating to property, industry, business and public utilities the state criminal code and working conditions within the state.

Within this context, the federal government requires that state governments not adopt laws which contradict or violate the Constitution or laws and treaties of the United States. There are many areas of overlap between state and federal jurisdictions. The federal government has assumed ever broadening responsibility in matters relating to health, education, welfare, transportation, and housing and urban development. Programs in these areas are now often developed on a cooperative basis between the two levels of government.

The U.S. Bureau of the Census has identified no less than 78,218 local governmental units in the United States, including municipalities, counties, townships, school districts and special districts.

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• A Country of Many Governments

Presidency Of Andrew Jackson

The presidency of Andrew Jackson represented a major turning point for American government. Jackson believed in a rotation in office system, in which no one individual was allowed to serve in government for too long. Upon taking the presidency, he replaced a large portion of federal officers, which Jackson’s opponents criticized as filling the government with political allies, essentially creating a spoils system. Political opponents of Jackson, including the National Republicans, the Anti-Masonic Party, and anti-Jacksonian Democrats, coalesced to form the Whig Party, which would be a major force in American politics for the next two decades. Federalism was more clearly defined by the Supreme Court with the decision of Barron v. Baltimore in 1833, ruling that the Bill of Rights does not apply to state governments.

The United States government faced a major challenge from the nullification crisis in 1832. The Tariff of 1832 was passed, and while it was a reduction of the controversial Tariff of 1828, its passage still resulted in conflict. The government of South Carolina declared its intention to nullify the tariff, which would result in a constitutional crisis and threaten the union. The federal government prepared for an escalation of the conflict with the Force Bill, but the crisis was averted after a compromise was made in the Tariff of 1833. Following this incident, the United States moved away from protectionism.

Free Grants And Grant Scams

If you receive information stating you qualify for a “free grant,” it’s probably a scam. Get information from the Federal Trade Commission so you can better recognize and avoid grant scams. If you have been a victim of a grant scam, you can file a complaint with the FTC.

Contact your state consumer protection office if you have purchased a book or paid a fee to get grant information and are not satisfied.

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Renamed Heads Of The Executive Departments

• : created in July 1781 and renamed Secretary of State in September 1789.
• : created in 1789 and was renamed as by the . The 1949 Amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 made the secretary of the Army a subordinate to the secretary of defense.
• : created in 1903 and renamed in 1913 when its labor functions were transferred to the new .
• Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare: created in 1953 and renamed in 1979 when its education functions were transferred to the new .

Plans For The Future Capital District

This plan for the United States capital district, which became known as Washington or the District of Columbia, was drawn by Thomas Jefferson in 1791. As secretary of state, Jefferson was one of the leaders in planning the capital district. Jeffersons rough map shows the Capitol and presidents house before final placement decisions were made. The federal government did not move to Washington until November 1800.

Thomas Jefferson. Map of the Capital District, 1791. Manuscript map. Thomas Jefferson Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress

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United States Federal Government Shutdown

The United States federal governmentshutdown from midnight EST on December 22, 2018, until January 25, 2019 was the longest U.S. government shutdown in history and the second and final federal government shutdown involving furloughs during the presidency of Donald Trump. It occurred when the 116th United States Congress and President Donald Trump could not agree on an appropriations bill to fund the operations of the federal government for the 2019 fiscal year, or a temporary continuing resolution that would extend the deadline for passing a bill. The Antideficiency Act prohibits federal departments or agencies from conducting non-essential operations without appropriations legislation in place. As a result, nine executive departments with around 800,000 employees had to shut down partially or in full, affecting about one-fourth of government activities and causing employees to be furloughed or required to work without being paid. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the shutdown cost to the American economy at at least $11 billion USD, excluding indirect costs that were difficult to quantify.

On February 15, 2019, Trump declared a national emergency in order to fund the wall and bypass the United States Congress, after being unsatisfied with a bipartisan border bill that had passed the House of Representatives and the Senate a day before.

Presidencies Of James A Garfield And Chester A Arthur

James A. Garfield had run for president with Chester A. Arthur as a running mate to appease the Stalwart faction that opposed civil service reform. Following Garfield’s assassination, Arthur committed to continuing work on reform. In 1883, the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act ended the spoils system and established a permanent civil service system in the federal government. The establishment of the Civil Service Commission marked a shift in government toward commission oversight in government rather than oversight by individual executives. The Immigration Act of 1882 implemented a tax on immigration and limited the types of immigrants that were welcome. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 expanded a previous ban on immigration of Chinese women, barring all people of Chinese descent from immigrating to the United States.

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Public Access To The Building

On May 3, 2010, citing security concerns and as part of the building’s modernization project, the Supreme Court announced that the public would no longer be allowed to enter the building through the main door on top of the steps on the west side. Visitors must now enter through ground-level doors located at the plaza, leading to a reinforced area for security screening. The main doors at the top of the steps may still be used to exit the building. Justice released a statement, joined by Justice Ginsburg, expressing his opinion that although he recognizes the security concerns that led to the decision, he does not believe on balance that the closure is justified. Calling the decision “dispiriting”, he said he was not aware of any Supreme Court in the world that had closed its main entrance to the public.

Since recording devices have been banned inside the courtroom, the fastest way for decisions of landmark cases to reach the press is through the .

Executive Office Of The President

Every day, the President of the United States is faced with scores of decisions, each with important consequences for Americas future. To provide the President with the support that he or she needs to govern effectively, the Executive Office of the President was created in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The EOP has responsibility for tasks ranging from communicating the Presidents message to the American people to promoting our trade interests abroad.

The EOP, overseen by the White House Chief of Staff, has traditionally been home to many of the Presidents closest advisers. While Senate confirmation is required for some advisers, such as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, most are appointed with full Presidential discretion. The individual offices that these advisors oversee have grown in size and number since the EOP was created. Some were formed by Congress, others as the President has needed them they are constantly shifting as each President identifies his or her needs and priorities. Perhaps the most visible parts of the EOP are the White House Communications Office and Press Secretarys Office. The Press Secretary provides daily briefings for the media on the Presidents activities and agenda. Less visible to most Americans is the National Security Council, which advises the President on foreign policy, intelligence, and national security.

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Presidencies Of William Henry Harrison And John Tyler

The sudden death of President William Henry Harrison one month into his term resulted in a constitutional crisis. As the first instance of a president dying in office, it was unclear what role Vice President John Tyler was to play. Tyler determined that he was to assume the presidency in full, setting the “Tyler precedent”. Though not everyone initially recognized him as president, his actions would set the standard procedure for presidential vacancies. The federal government was in disarray for much of Tyler’s presidency due to intraparty fighting, in large part because of Tyler’s disagreements with the Whig Party platform and his extensive use of the presidential veto. Tyler’s hostility toward Congress resulted in the first impeachment proceedings against a president, but the impeachment ultimately never went past the House.

Florida was admitted as a state in 1845.

Overview Of The Federal Judiciary

Article III section I of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court of the United States and authorizes the United States Congress to establish inferior courts as their need shall arise. Section I also establishes a lifetime tenure for all federal judges and states that their compensation may not be diminished during their time in office. Article II section II establishes that all federal judges are to be appointed by the president and confirmed by the United States Senate.

The Judiciary Act of 1789 subdivided the nation jurisdictionally into judicial districts and created federal courts for each district. The three tiered structure of this act established the basic structure of the national judiciary: the Supreme Court, 13 courts of appeals, 94 district courts, and two courts of special jurisdiction. Congress retains the power to re-organize or even abolish federal courts lower than the Supreme Court.

The district courts are the trial courts wherein cases that are considered under the Judicial Code consistent with the jurisdictional precepts of “federal question jurisdiction” and “diversity jurisdiction” and “pendent jurisdiction” can be filed and decided. The district courts can also hear cases under “removal jurisdiction“, wherein a case brought in State court meets the requirements for diversity jurisdiction, and one party litigant chooses to “remove” the case from state court to federal court.

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George Washington Accepts Call To Presidency

Charles Thomson , secretary of the Continental Congress, presented the formal notification from John Langdon , president pro tempore of the United States Senate, that George Washington had been unanimously elected president of the United States. This letterbook copy records the brief letter of acceptance George Washington wrote to Senator Langdon. Washington left almost immediately for New York, where he was inaugurated president on April 30, 1789.

Unanimous Election Of George Washington

John Langdon was presiding over the new United States Senate on April 6, 1789, when the electoral votes electing George Washington as president and John Adams as vice president were counted. Langdon’s letter notifying Washington of your unanimous election was carried to Mount Vernon by Charles Thomson, secretary of the outgoing Confederation Congress.

Letter from John Langdon to George Washington, April 6, 1789. Manuscript. George Washington Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress

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English Declaration Of Rights

Fearing abuses of rights and the restoration of the Roman Catholic Church under the Catholic King James II , the English parliament deposed James. They invited his Protestant daughter and son-in-law to assume the throne, but imposed the 1689 Declaration of Rights on the King William III and Queen Mary II as a precondition to being crowned. However, Parliament was more concerned with protecting its own rights and privileges than those of individuals.

Declaration of Rights in Anno Regni Gulielmi et Mariæ Regis & Reginæ Angliæ, Scotia, Franciæ & Hiberniæ, Primo. London: Charles Bill and Thomas Newcomb, 1689. Law Library, Library of Congress

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Presidency Of James Buchanan

Two days after the inauguration of James Buchanan, the Supreme Court delivered its ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford, ruling that the rights guaranteed by the Constitution did not apply to people of African descent. Buchanan was criticized for doing little to address the increasingly urgent issue of slavery. Other incidents, such as the raid on Harpers Ferry, further escalated the slavery debate and divided the country. Following the election of Abraham Lincoln at the end of Buchanan’s term, 11 states declared their independence from the United States, establishing the unrecognized country of the Confederate States of America in 1861.

The Mountain Meadows Massacre took place in 1857. Further provoking Anti-Mormonism in the United States, Buchanan ordered the Army to occupy the Utah Territory and remove Mormon leader Brigham Young from the position of the territory’s governor. The resulting conflict set off the Utah War. American foreign policy continued to focus on Central America in the late 1850s, working to limit British influence in the region. The United States also strengthened ties with China through the Treaty of Tientsin.

The Government Printing Office was established in 1861. Three states were admitted during the presidency of James Buchanan: Minnesota in 1858, Oregon in 1859, and Kansas in 1861.

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First Meeting Of The Federal Government In New York

The federal government under the new United States Constitution first met in Federal Hall in New York City during the spring of 1789. This plan of the city of New York by John McComb shows the city and environs and indexes many important landmarks, including Federal Hall.

John McComb. Plan of the City of New York. , 1789. Hand-colored map. Peter Force Map Collection, Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress

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History Of The United States Government

The history of the United States government constitutes the formation, growth, development, and evolution of the federal government of the United States, including the constitution, the United States Code, the office of the presidency, the executive departments and agencies, Congress, the Supreme Court, and the lower federal courts. It includes government roles, structure, and policy in all aspects, including evolution of the governmental structure, formation of new agencies and departments, assumptions of new roles and functions, enactments of new codes, regulations, and laws, and inception of entirely new roles of government in American society from 1776 to the present day.

The United States achieved independent governance with the Lee Resolution and the in July 1776. Following the American Revolutionary War, the Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1781 to establish the federal government. These were succeeded by the Constitution of the United States in 1789, which is the current governing document of the United States. Many of the institutions and customs of the government were established by the Washington administration in the 1790s.

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Presidency Of Dwight D Eisenhower

The presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower saw the end of the Korean War and the beginning of American involvement in Vietnam as the Cold War escalated between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Communist Control Act of 1954 banned Communist organizations in the United States as antithetical to American government. When direct military conflict was deemed unnecessary, the United States used covert means to combat Soviet influence, providing support to movements that were combating Communist-influenced governments. The Cold War triggered the Space Race, beginning in 1955 when both nations pledged to launch artificial satellites. In 1958, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics was replaced by NASA, and the Civil Aeronautics Authority was replaced by the Federal Aviation Agency.

The Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century began to see its first major victories in the 1950s. The Supreme Court delivered several rulings against racial segregation during this period, including Brown v. Board of Education. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 provided federal support to enforce desegregation, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 did so for voting rights. The United States reduced financial support for Native American tribes in the 1950s, instead incentivizing Native Americans to seek employment in urban areas with the Indian Relocation Act of 1956.

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

How The Us Government Is Organized

The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches to make sure no individual or group will have too much power:

• LegislativeMakes laws
• ExecutiveCarries out laws
• JudicialEvaluates laws

Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches:

• The president can veto legislation created by Congress and nominates heads of federal agencies.
• Congress confirms or rejects the president’s nominees and can remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances.
• The Justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn unconstitutional laws, are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

This ability of each branch to respond to the actions of the other branches is called the system of checks and balances.

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