portaportal

The White House - The Cabinet
Cabinet information and links
Department of Agriculture
Describes its main functions, and has a collection of links on current agricultural news and research
Department of Commerce
The official website of the United States Department of Commerce and Secretary of Commerce
Department of Defense
The official website of the United States Department of Defense
Department of Education
The official website for the Department of Education. Provides information about the Department's offices, programs,...
Department of Energy
Governmental department whose mission is to advance energy technology and promote related innovation in the United States.
Department of Health and Human Services
The government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services.
Department of Homeland Security
Includes news on latest threats, advisories, planning tips, ...
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Links to housing news and information about owning, buying, renting and financing a home
Department of the Interior
The official website of the Department of the Interior
Department of Justice
The primary federal criminal investigation and enforcement agency
Department of Labor
Information about various wage payment requirements, including minimum wage and overtime pay standards and Labor and Union Laws
Department of State
Foreign policy
Department of Transportation
Oversees federal highway, air, railroad, and maritime and other transportation administration functions
Department of the Treasury
Information on the formulation and economic, financial, tax, and fiscal policies, ...
Department of Veteran's Affairs
Provides patient care and federal benefits to veterans and their dependents
The Executive Branch - The White House
Information on the Executive Branch - the president, vice president and cabinet (has cabinet descriptions)
Congressional Budget Office
Primary congressional agency charged with reviewing congressional budgets and other legislative initiatives with budgetary impli
U.S. Government Accountability Office - U.S. GAO
Investigative arm of Congress charged with examining matters relating to the receipt and payment of public funds
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Learn more about federal employees
The Fact Book - OPM
Federal employee demographics, compensation, and work years data
The American Presidency Project
Collection of resources pertaining to the study of the President of the United States (past and present)
Bureaucracy Basics: Crash Course Government and Politics #15
Video
Types of Bureaucracies: Crash Course Government and Politics #16
Video
Understanding The Bureaucracy
Notes/Reading
Pendleton Act (1883)
Wesbite Reading
A Guide to the Hatch Act for Federal Employees
Reading
Hatch Act
Website Info
Controlling Bureaucracies: Crash Course Government and Politics #17
Video
Controlling The Bureaucracy
Notes/Handout

Chapter 10 - The Judiciary

Supreme Court Tour - The Oyez Project
Tour the United States Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court
Official site for the U.S. Supreme Court
The Oyez Project
Learn about court cases, justices and hear audio recordings
Cornell Law School's Supreme Court Collection
Supreme Court decisions from the past to present
U.S. Department of Justice
Learn more about the U.S. justice system
U.S. Senate - Supreme Court Nominations
Supreme Court Nominations
United States Courts
Information about the U.S. Federal Court system
The Supreme Court Historical Society
History, timelines and information on how the Supreme Court works
FLITE - Federal Legal Information Through Electronics
Searchable database of Supreme Court decisions from 1937-1975
Research for Current Supreme Court Justice Assignment
Federalist #78 Reading
Reading/Handout
Federalist Paper #78 Explained
Video
Article III For Dummies: The Judiciary Explained Keith Hughes Keith Hughes
Video
Legal System Basics: Crash Course Government and Politics #18
Video
Structure of the Court System: Crash Course Government and Politics #19
Video
Supreme Court of the United States Procedures: Crash Course Government and Politics #20
Video
Judicial Review: Crash Course Government and Politics #21
Video
Judicial Decisions: Crash Course Government and Politics #22
Video
CASELOAD OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
Notes/Handout/Graphic
How Does the Supreme Court Pick Cases?
Video Clip
The Legal System Practice Questions
Practice Questions Online

Chapter 11 - Political Socialization and Public Opinion

Gallup
Provides data-driven news based on U.S. and world polls, daily tracking and public opinion research
Real Clear Politics
Combines polling results from all major polling organizations and tabulates averages across polls
The ANES Guide to Public Opinion
Provides access to tables and graphs that display the ebb and flow of public opinion, electoral behavior, and choice in American
Public Agenda
Non-partisan issue guides for a variety of topics - includes data
The Washington Post Data Directory
A guide to public opinion data published on the Internet
Pew Research Center
Polls on politics, the media and American values back to 1995
Polling Report
Polls on trends in public opinion regarding politics, business and society
Political Socialization Chart
Chart/Notes
Shaping Public Opinion: Crash Course Government and Politics #34
Video
Mass Media and Public Opinion
Video
Political Ideology: Crash Course Government and Politics #35
Video

Chapter 12 - Political Parties

GovSpot - Political Parties
Offers a list of political parties and platforms for review
Politics 1
Links to political parties, campaign information, candidate information and more
The Democratic National Committee
Offers daily news updates, policy analysis, links, email updates and opportunities to participate in the political process
The Republican National Committee
Offers daily news updates, policy analysis, links, email updates and opportunities to participate in the political process
The America First Party
Third Party - Information on the party and platform
The Libertarian Party
Third Party - Information on the party and platform
The Green Party
Third Party - Information on the party and platform
The Tea Party
Third Party - Information on the party and platform
CIRCLE - The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement
Research on the civic and political engagement of young Americans
Open Secrets
Tracks campaign contributions to political parties, candidates, PACS
Political Parties
Includes history, outline and timeline to political parties
Where Do You Fit?
Typology Quiz - Let's see where you fall!
Political Party Videos
Political Party Term Assignment
Political Realignment for Dummies
Video
Party Systems: Crash Course Government and Politics #41
Video
CNN Explains: Conventions
Video Clip
Party Identification - AP US Government and Politics - @TomRichey #apgov
Video

Chapter 13 - Voting and Elections

The Federal Election Committee
Monitors and enforces campaign finance and election laws
ANES - The American National Election Studies
Data on voting behavior
Rock-the-Vote
Site dedicated to getting young people involved in politics
National Institute on Money
Information on money in state politics
Maplight
U.S. Congress campaign contributions and voting data
The Center for American Women and Politics
Data about women in U.S. politics
CNN
Election 2008
Electing a US President in Plain English
Short Video
Schoolhouse Rock - Rock The Vote
Vote! Short Video
Voter Behavior Videos
Electoral College Videos
Why Doesn't Everyone Have a Voter ID? | FRONTLINE Answers Your Questions
Video
Why Are Voter ID Laws So Controversial? FRONTLINE Answers Your Questions
Video
Should You Be Forced to Vote?
Video
Demographics for Dummies (w/ Susie Sampson)
Video
Party Identification - AP US Government and Politics - @TomRichey #apgov
Video
SHOULD AMERICANS BE REQUIRED TO VOTE?
Reading/Assignment
Felon Voting: Should Felons Be Allowed to Vote?
Video Clip
SHOULD FELONS BE ALLOWED TO VOTE?
Reading/Handout/Assignment

Chapter 14 - The Campaign Process

Open Secrets
Money in politics
Project Vote-Smart
Information on U.S. federal and state candidates, ballot measures, issues and legislation
Polling Report
Resource on trends in American public opinion
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee - DCCC
The official campaign arm of the Democrats in the House of Representatives
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee - DSCC
The official campaign arm of the Democrats in the Senate
The Federal Election Committee
Site on campaign finance laws
National Republican Congressional Committee - NRCC
Devoted to increasing the number of Republicans in Congress
National Republican Senatorial Committee - NRSC
Devoted to increasing the number of Republicans in the Senate
4President - Presidential Campaign and Candidate Websites
Presidential campaign, candidate websites and ads
Common Cause
Monitors political developments in campaign finance reform
527s
527 Groups
Political Action Committees
PAC's
The Living Room Candidate
The Living Room Candidate contains more than 300 commercials from every presidential election since 1952.
TRACKING CAMPAIGN MONEY: A GUIDE
Notes/Handout/Graphic
The Citizens United era of money in politics, explained
Website Reading/Exploration
When Super PACs Attack 2.4k 108 Watch the money fly as they spend millions to tear down or bolster the candidates.
2016 Election
From $25 to $10,000,000: A Guide to Political Donations
Intereactive Info
Nine things you need to know about super PACs
Article
How to Put Your Cash to Work in the Presidential Election: A Donor’s Guide
Interactive
Super PACs
Website Reading
NON-PROFITS TO RUN WILD WITH CAMPAIGN SPENDING
Notes/Handout/Graphic
AP60X - Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
Video Clip
Money in Politics
Video Clip
The Rise of Anonymous Political Giving
Video Clip
AP60X - PACs
Video Clip
Oh, Super PACs! A Music Video
Music Video???
What You Probably Haven't Heard About Citizens United
Video Clip
Is Money Free Speech? - Learn Liberty
Video Clip
Are Super PACs Good for Democracy?
Video Clip

Chapter 15 - The Media

The Media Research Center
A conservative watchdog group
The Huffington Post
Liberal site commenting on the media
The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Explores the public's attitude about the news media
The Project for Excellence in Journalism
Evaluates the media
Media Effects
Video
How funny man Jon Stewart became a serious influence
Video
New media's influence on presidential politics
Video
Media Institution: Crash Course Government and Politics #44
Video

Chapter 16 - Interest Groups

Open Secrets - Political Action Committees
PAC's
Open Secrets - 527's
527's
Project Vote Smart - Interest Group Ratings
Interest Group ratings for current officials
Interest Groups in American Politics
Links to interest groups
American Association of Retired Persons - AARP
Interest and advocacy group devoted to those over fifty
American Civil Liberties Union
Advocates for individual rights
AFL-CIO
Trade union organization
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
An organization for ethnic minorities in the United States
The National Rifle Association
Information on gun ownership and gun legislation
National Organization of Women - NOW
Organization devoted to women's issues and equality
How To Fix Campaign Financing For $50
Read the article and then make a list of the top three ways you would try to reform money in politics to make the US political p
Interest Groups: Crash Course Government and Politics #42
Video
Interest Group Formation: Crash Course Government and Politics #43
Video
Linkage Institutions - Tom Richey
Video
Understand Lobbying in 12 Minutes (Part I)
Video
Understand Lobbying in 12 Minutes (Part II)
Video

Chapter 17 - Social Welfare Policy

The U.S. Social Security Administration - SSA
Social Security Administration - includes regulations and policies
Almanac of Policy Issues
Information on major U.S. public policy issues
The Concord Coalition
A grassroots organization dedicated to eliminating federal budget deficits and ensuring Social Security, Medicare, ...
The National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - the nation's medical research agency
USDA - WIC -Women, Infant and Children
Nutrition Guidance and Support For Women, Infants and Children
Food Stamp Facts
Program designed to help low income people get food
Entitlement Programs
Gives overview of entitlement programs
The Public Policy Process
The public policy process is a multi-stage cycle.- - Notes and Reading
Roots of Public Policy: The Policy Making Process
Notes/Reading
Social Policy Notes
Notes/Handout

Chapter 18 - Economic Policy

U.S. Debt Clock
Would you like to see the current financial situtation of the United States, individual states or other countries?
The Federal Reserve Board
Basic information about the Federal Reserve Board
Congressional Budget Office - CBO
Primary congressional agency charged with reviewing congressional budgets
The White House - Office of Management and Budget
Current fiscal budget
Budget Breakdown: Episode One
Video
Fiscal Policy Reading
Budget Breakdown: Episode Two
Video
AN INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC POLICY
Notes/Handout
Monetary Policy Notes
Notes/Handout
Fiscal Policy Notes
Notes/Handout

Chapter 19 - Foreign and Defense Policy

U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy
U.S Air Force
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Army
U.S. Army
U.S. Marines
U.S. Marines
ACDA - U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
Works to strengthen the national security of the United States by formulating, advocating, negotiating, implementing and verifiy
The Department of Defense
U.S. Department of Defense
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff official site
CIA - Central Intelligence Agency
An independent US Government agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers
U.S. Department of State
State Department
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security
NSA - National Security Agency
Works to protect U.S. national security systems
Washington Post - Faces of the Fallen
Honors the sacrifice of American service members
Foreign Policy Country Assignment
FOREIGN POLICY Notes
Notes/Handout