CongressLine by Gallerywatch.com: Votes and Whips
Paul Jenks explains voting, a finely orchestrated legislative process that is full of arcane and ancient precedents and many mechanisms to get around the rules.
Category «Legislative»
The Government Domain: Back to School for Constitution Day 2007
For librarians and educators planning programs for Constitution Day, Peggy Garvin’s column links to a variety of web resources for online versions of the United States Constitution and related teaching materials.
FOIA Facts: Two Steps Forward, (At Least) One Step Back
Scott A. Hodes highlights the status of FOIA legislation in Congress as well as recent White House imposed hurdles to public access to government documents.
Commentary on the Clean Water Protection Act
Beth Wellington explains why this legislation is supported by a range of public interest groups and individuals.
CongressLine by Gallerywatch.com – Checks on Power
Paul Jenks’ commentary addresses the role and power of the President as an independent executive within the context of the inherent check and balances exercised by the Congress.
The Government Domain: Tracking Federal Dollars
Peggy Garvin reviews the strengths, weaknesses and range of source material offered by several free online federal contracts and awards information databases.
FOIA Facts: Are Ombudsman The Answer?
Scott A. Hodes maintains that there are pros and cons to setting up an ombudsman’s office, and the overall scheme may not be the answer in resolving the number of disputes that arise in the disclosure of public records.
FOIA Facts: Suggestions for FOIA Amendments
Scott A. Hodes recommends four substantive ways in which agency accountability will lead to more effective and efficient processing of FOIA requests.
Commentary: Labor Protections and the Role of Card-Check Agreements
Beth Wellington reviews the background and legislation associated with card check-off campaigns to establish union representation, as well as the current political and corporate positions.
The Goverment Domain: GovTrack and OpenCongress Go Beyond THOMAS
Peggy Garvin explores the evolution in the features and services provided by GovTrack, the free, public, independent web service with information on federal legislation, congressional documents, legislators, and votes. She also profiles a site with complementary content on lobbying activity and campaign contributions.