Federal Issues? (Esp. Legislative Ones)

[Dracula Girl]

What are federal issues?

How do I begin learning about them? Suggested resources, issues, approaches, etc.

I am asking in particular reference to what goes on in congress-this is somewhat related to who I want to be president but more because I will be following an HoR Rep candidate. I need to give myself a crash course in political stuff this year.

[OtherCheek]

What are federal issues?

How do I begin learning about them? Suggested resources, issues, approaches, etc.

I am asking in particular reference to what goes on in congress-this is somewhat related to who I want to be president but more because I will be following an HoR Rep candidate. I need to give myself a crash course in political stuff this year.

Federal-ISM in the United States is about exploring and defining the relationship between U.S. state governments and the federal government of the United States. The HoR and the Senate comprise the Legislative body of the U.S. They are responsible for representing their several states, and voting on laws and bills. There are some who would grant these central government legislative bodies more power to pass laws that are binding on all 50 states, and grant them that greater power at the expense of removing more power from the individual states to govern themselves as they would choose.

Check out YouTube and watch some videos. Start here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibRAW...eature=related

[Dracula Girl]

That's great review, but I think what I am more interested in and didn't communicate well is an interest in what subjects are most important to be familiar with, like I know medicare reform or healthcare reform are probably big, and the economy-not that I know where to start on that one.

[joel]

There's a difference between legitimate federal issues on the one hand, and what Congress actually interferes with on the other.

Read Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/cha...ranscript.html
It lists all the powers of Congress.
With a few minor exceptions, the federal government is only supposed to deal with foreign policy.


On the other hand, if you want to know what they actually do, see the U.S. Code of laws:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text
You can easily see the 51 major categories (Titles), and dive into any that you want to know more about.

Or for their priorities, see here for a pie chart showing how the federal government spends money.
http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/...ding_pie_chart
The biggest areas of spending are: Military, Health Care, Soc Security (Pensions), Welfare, and Interest on the National Debt.


Does that answer your question?