About This Database

A Focused, Accessible Online Resource for Those Learning about Our Government

U.S. Government Online is a new reference site designed to facilitate the study of the structure, function, and history of the U.S. government. Focused and thorough in its coverage, this informative resource provides students and researchers alike with the tools they need to understand how the U.S. government works, who the key players are, and what its role is in the everyday lives of citizens.

Ideal for civics and social studies classrooms and projects, this user-friendly online resource features an easy-to-navigate interface, allowing students to quickly and easily find core-curriculum topics. The home page includes rotating special features and links to several recent news headlines. The news gateway page allows users to view news articles by date or by subtopics such as election, interior policy, diplomacy, laws, parties and movements, or politics. Six gateway pages cover the three branches of the government plus other core subjects, quickly guiding students and researchers to major topics of interest.

This timely online resource also includes relevant images and videos that enhance the articles and topics, and a handy dictionary makes looking up words and phrases easy. Tabs at the top of search results pages allow for quick navigation among results, allowing users to separate out essays; primary source documents; images and videos; tables, charts, and maps; and news articles. An index on the home page makes finding entries on popular and often-studied topics easy and quick. Also available throughout are examples of full citations, as well as the ability to print, copy, and save content to a folder for personal use.

Features:

• Gateway Pages: informative introductory pages featuring links to overview essays and important entries, tables and graphs, images, an original video segment, special features, and more
• Essays: articles on a broad range of topics, from the political process to foreign policy to federal agencies
• Primary Sources: inaugural speeches, official party platforms, and more providing context for government procedures and events
• Images and Videos: images and videos with captions covering key topics about the U.S. government
• Tables, Charts, and Maps: eye-catching charts, graphs, and maps, as well as informative tables illustrating everything from electoral college votes for all elections to congressional sessions and members of Congress
• News Articles: relevant, regularly updated news articles on a variety of topics dealing with government issues, searchable and also browsable by date or by subtopic
• Special Features: specially selected features highlighting important moments, themes, and concepts in the history and function of the American government, such as the 200th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's birth and women in Congress
• Dictionary: more than 34,000 entries with concise, informative definitions, many with pronunciation, etymology, and syllable breaks of the word.