VOTING AND ELECTION RESOURCES

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DISCLAIMER

This guide is intended to be a non-partisan resource for information and resources that can be helpful for the voting public. PCCLD and the librarians that maintain this guide are in no manner endorsing any candidate or political party. Any links to candidate and political party information are for informational purposes only.

**LIBRARY STAFF IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, HANDLE, OR DEPOSIT ELECTION BALLOTS. BALLOTS MUST BE DEPOSITED IN OFFICIAL ELECTION DEPARTMENT SECURE BALLOT DROP BOXES AT DESIGNATED LOCATIONS**

This guide is intended as a starting place for finding information about elections, voter registration, and other related resources. Use the tabs on the left to locate the various resources.

 

REGISTER TO VOTE 

Registrarse en línea - Vaya Votar Colorado

Colorado General Assembly - Find Your Legislator

Following the 2020 Census, the Colorado House of Representatives delegation and well as the state House and Senate districts have changed. Use this link to view the new maps used in the 2024 elections.

Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder's Department-Elections

The Pueblo County Clerk and Recorders Department services  serves in many capacities as the duties of the office vary widely. Responsibilities include: Recording, Motor Vehicle, and Elections, manages an annual budget, and advocates for policies at the state level that benefit the Clerk’s office and greater Pueblo County. he Clerk is also the Designated Election Official for the County. All primary, general, and special elections held in the County are administered with the utmost integrity in non-partisan fashion by the Clerk and the Election Department staff. Duties include managing voter registration records, hiring/training election judges, publishing election notices, coordinating the printing and distribution of ballots, ballot processing, managing voter service polling stations, ballot drop box locations, security and safety of election staff, and election results reporting.

Library Resources

Check-Out the ADULT LITERACY( ALP@PCCLD) webpage

Adult Literacy at Pueblo City-County Library District offers the opportunity to learn new skills or improve old ones.

Every day we help adults just like you meet their literacy goals. Some goals include learning to vote, reading a newspaper, helping children with homework, using a computer, and getting a better job.

All services are FREE and available at any library location throughout the Pueblo City-County Library District.

Voting rights have changed a lot over the years. Whether you are a first-time voter or want to learn more about the election process, we can help.

Voting is a personal choice and it’s important to make decisions based on the issues that matter most to you. This free, interactive voting guide comes to you from our easy-to-read weekly newspaper and website News for You. The guide explains:

Who can vote? You can vote in the U.S. if you meet a few basic requirements. Ensure you are registered to vote and familiarize yourself with the rules in your area. This includes knowing the location of your polling place and understanding the voting process.

Why does every vote count? When you vote, you make the government work for you. It is your chance to make your voice heard and to protect your interests. You can hold politicians accountable.

How do people in the US choose their leaders? Presidential elections get a lot of attention. But did you know elections happen every year? Learn about presidential elections, congressional elections, state and local elections, and ballot measures and propositions. Follow the presidential process from primaries and caucuses through the general election.

How do you register to vote and cast your ballot? Most states require you to register before voting in an election. Depending on where you live, you may be able to vote online, in person, and by mail. States decide where and when you will vote, what the ballot looks like, and how you will vote.

This voting guide comes to you from News for You®, the easy-to-read weekly newspaper and website, to describe how Americans choose their leaders. This plain language guide explains who can vote, how to vote and why every vote counts. It also covers interpreting campaign ads, watching debates, and thinking about the messages being conveyed.

 

First Time Voter: Voting and Voter Information

 Are You Eligible to Vote?

A Person may be eligible to vote in Colorado if they are:

  • A U.S Citizen
  • At least 18 years old or older. OR at least 17 years old and turning 18 on or before the next General Election to be eligible to vote in a Primary Election-- 16 and 17 years old may preregister to vote.
  • Have resided in Colorado 22 immediately before the election in which they intend to vote. 
  • No person while serving a sentence of detention or confinement in a correctional facility, jail, or other location for a felony conviction is eligible to register to vote or to vote in any election.

 

Voter Registration

How to Register to Vote (Per CO Secretary of State’s Office)

You may register online at www.GoVoteColorado.gov, if you have a valid Colorado driver's license or state issued ID card from the Colorado Department of Revenue, or you may register by providing the last four digits of your social security number.

Printable voter registration forms are also available on the Secretary of State's website, the county clerk and recorder's office, and any federal post office that provides voter registration applications. You may then mail, fax, or scan and email your complete and signed form to your county clerk and recorder's office.

You can also register to vote in-person. Registering to vote in-person may be done at a physical office, which includes:

  • A Colorado Department of Motor Vehicle office when you apply for a driver's license, or when updating your driver's license information;
  • Offices that provide public assistance, including offices that provide state funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to person with disabilities;
  • Recruitment offices of the armed forces of the United States;
  • Any federal, state, or local government office or any nongovernment office that chooses to provide voter registration service or applications; or
  • A voter service and polling center.

You can also register to vote in-person through a voter registration drive.

If you are already a registered voter in Colorado you may confirm your registration by visiting www.GoVoteColorado.gov. Once your registration is verified, you may update your address and party affiliation as well.

If your voter registration is inactive, you may change your inactive status by submitting a signed request, an online voter registration application, or making an in-person request.

FAQ's About Voter Registration

How Do I Check My Registration Status?

  • You can check or update your voter registration at any time by going to govotecolorado.gov
  • You can also visit the Election Office at 201 W. 8th St. 7th Floor, Pueblo, Co 81003 or call 719-583-6620
  • Please keep in mind we cannot make changes to your registration over the phone.
  • To track your ballot, you can use Ballottrax (through the Pueblo Elections Department)

 

ID Requirements

All voters who vote at the polls must provide identification. If you are voting by mail for the first time, you may also need to provide a photocopy of your identification when you return your mail ballot.

The following documents are acceptable forms of identification:

  • A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note:  documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.)
  • A valid U.S. passport.
  • A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado.
  • A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S.
  • A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector.
  • A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector.
  • A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood.
  • A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
  • A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector.
  • Certified documentation of naturalization.
  • A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S..
  • A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector.
  • A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership.
  • Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification. 


The following documents are also considered acceptable forms of identification for voting:

  • Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S.
  • Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S.


The following are NOT acceptable forms of identification:

  • A driver’s license or identification card issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S.
  • Any document produced by Colorado’s statewide voter registration system. 

Section 1-1-104(19.5), C.R.S., Secretary of State Rule 2.3

 

Additional Voter Information:

General Information

  • Vote411- VOTE411.org is a "one-stop-shop" for election related information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information on various aspects of the election process. An important component of VOTE411.org is the polling place locator, which enables users to type in their address and retrieve the poll location for the voting precinct in which that address is located. The League has found that this is among the most sought after information in the immediate days leading up to, and on, Election Day.
  • VoteSmart -Vote Smart provides free, factual, unbiased information on candidates and elected officials to all Americans.
  • A Voter's Guide to Federal Elections– From the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. The guide is available in 11 languages. It is designed to help voters successfully navigate the federal elections process, from registering to vote to casting a ballot on Election Day. GUIDES AVLAIABLE IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.
  • Just Vote Colorado– Just Vote Colorado is a non-profit organization that provides voter information and resources. Information is available on registering to vote, modifying a voter record, locating in-person polling places, ballot drop-off locations, and much more.
  • General Overview of the Voting and Elections Process– From usa.gov, an official website of the United State government, find answers to common questions about voting and elections.

  • Election Basics: Crash Course Government and Politics #36

 

Voters with Disabilities

 

Are you planning to vote?

 

Military and Oversea Voters

 

Displaced Voters and Voters with Convictions

Voter registration information for voters experiencing foreclosure, eviction, homelessness, or displacement due to natural disaster.

Colorado law protects the right of all Coloradans to register and vote in the upcoming election. This protection includes voters who may be going through foreclosure, eviction, homelessness, or displacement due to natural disaster. Voters who are going through any of these situations should be aware that they can still register and vote in the upcoming election. The following is intended to help answer normal questions and clarify the law for these voters.

When you get out, get your vote back.

Elections

Political Parties

Major Political Parties:

Minor Political Parties:

PO Box 1776
Arvada, Colorado 80001
Chairperson: Doug Aden
Phone: 303-399-5067
Email: acp4co@gmail.com
 

  • Approval Voting Party

PO Box 653
Littleton, CO 80160
Chairperson: Frank Atwood
Vice chairperson: Michael Spille
Secretary/Treasurer: Mike Spalding
Phone: 720-260-1493
Email: info@ApprovalVotingParty.com

PO Box 272834
Fort Collins, CO 80527
Chairperson: Steve Yurash
Phone: 970-215-6755
Email: info@coloradocenterparty.org
 

P.O. Box 460395
Denver, CO 80246
Chairperson: Rich Herrmann
Email: Info@coloradoforwardparty.com
 

P.O.Box 11171
Denver, CO 80211
Co-Chair: Andrea Mérida Cuéllar
Co-Chair: Dave Bell
Secretary: Sierra Garcia 
Phone: 970-697-0022
Email: contact@coloradogreenparty.org
 

Mailing
11757 W Ken Caryl Ave #F124
Littleton, CO 80127
Chairperson: Hannah Goodman
Phone: 303-837-9393
Email: statechair@lpcolorado.org
 

  • No Labels Colorado Party

PO Box 5473
Greenwood Village, CO 80155
Chair: Jennifer Hopkins
Email: info@nolabels.org

PO Box 745742
Arvada, CO 80006
Chairperson: Tijani "TJ" Cole
Email: tjrcole@hotmail.com

 

The Electoral College

Electoral College: It's a Process, not a Place.(From NARA website)

The Electoral College is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). It is a process that began as part of the original design of the U.S. Constitution, and designed by the founding fathers as a compromise between election of the President by Congress and election by popular vote. 

During the general election your vote helps determine your State’s electors.  When you vote for a Presidential candidate, you aren’t actually voting for President.  You are telling your State which candidate you want your State to vote for at the meeting of electors. The States use these general election results (also known as the popular vote) to appoint their electors. The winning candidate’s State political party selects the individuals who will be electors.

After the general election, your State's Executive prepares a Certificate of Ascertainment listing the names of all the individuals on the slates for each candidate. The Certificate of Ascertainment also lists the number of votes each individual received and shows which individuals were appointed as your State's electors. Your State’s Certificate of Ascertainment is sent to NARA as part of the official records of the Presidential election.

The meeting of the electors takes place on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December after the general election. The electors meet in their respective States, where they cast their votes for President and Vice President on separate ballots. Your State’s electors’ votes are recorded on a Certificate of Vote, which is prepared at the meeting by the electors. Your State’s Certificate of Vote is sent to Congress, where the votes are counted, and to NARA, as part of the official records of the Presidential election.

Each State’s electoral votes are counted in a joint session of Congress on the 6th of January in the year following the meeting of the electors. Members of the House and Senate meet in the House Chamber to conduct the official count of electoral votes. The Vice President of the United States, as President of the Senate, presides over the count in a strictly ministerial manner and announces the results of the vote. The President of the Senate then declares which persons, if any, have been elected President and Vice President of the United States.

The President-elect takes the oath of office and is sworn in as President of the United States on January 20th in the year following the general election.

Electoral College School House Rock

 

Does your vote count? The Electoral College explained - Christina Greer

 

Electoral College Resources

  • ProLiteracy- News for You Voting Guide
  • ProLiteracy- Election 2024 Interactive Voting Guide-Voting rights have changed a lot over the years. Whether you are a first-time voter or want to learn more about the election process, we can help.
    Voting is a personal choice and it’s important to make decisions based on the issues that matter most to you. This free, interactive voting guide comes to you from our easy-to-read weekly newspaper and website News for You. The guide explains:
    • Who can vote. You can vote in the U.S. if you meet a few basic requirements. Ensure you are registered to vote and familiarize yourself with the rules in your area. This includes knowing the location of your polling place and understanding the voting process.
    • Why does every vote count? When you vote, you make the government work for you. It is your chance to make your voice heard and to protect your interests. You can hold politicians accountable.
    • How people in the US choose their leaders. Presidential elections get a lot of attention. But did you know elections happen every year? Learn about presidential elections, congressional elections, state and local elections, and ballot measures and propositions. Follow the presidential process from primaries and caucuses through the general election.
    • How to register to vote and cast your ballot. Most states require you to register before voting in an election. Depending on where you live, you may be able to vote online, in person, and by mail. States decide where and when you will vote, what the ballot looks like, and how you will vote.
  • Glossary of Election Terminology– The Glossary of Election Terminology contains nearly 1,300 terms and phrases used in the administration of elections in the United States. The purpose of the glossary is to provide election officials with a comprehensive resource of common words and phrases used in the administration of elections. The establishment of uniform election terminology is beneficial for ensuring consistency when communicating with the public about elections and voting. However, because election procedures and terminology vary by jurisdiction, it is best to always refer to state and local election officials when a term differs from the definitions in this glossary
  • Presidential Election Process—from USA.gov
  • What is the Electoral College?—Library of Congress
  • NARA FAQ's Electoral College
  • FairVote—The Electoral College 
  • Congressional Research Service Report for Congress—The Electoral College: How it Works in Contemporary Presidential Elections 
  • U.S. Department of Justice—get information, report suspected voting fraud, and more
  • U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation —information about public corruption, election crimes, and more

 

Election News and Campaign Coverage

Fact Checking Resources

  • FactCheck.org (A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center)-- "We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding."
  • PolitiFact– "Fact-checking journalism is the heart of PolitiFact. Our core principles are independence, transparency, fairness, thorough reporting and clear writing. The reason we publish is to give citizens the information they need to govern themselves in a democracy."
  • False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and/or Satirical “News” Sources– This resource, created by Professor Melissa Zimdars of Merrimack College, provides an overview of how to analyze fake news sources as well as great tips for evaluating information in general.
  • Newsguard– Browser extension that provides an easy way to evaluate websites. “Green-Red ratings compiled by a team of trained journalists signal if a website is trying to get it right, has a hidden agenda, or knowingly publishes falsehoods or propaganda.
  • NewseumED– NewseumED.org offers free resources to cultivate the First Amendment and media literacy skills essential to civic life. Learn how to authenticate, analyze and evaluate information from a variety of sources and put current events in historical context through standards-aligned lesson plans, videos, primary sources, virtual classes and programs.
  • Snopes– When misinformation obscures the truth and readers don’t know what to trust, Snopes’ fact-checking and original, investigative reporting lights the way to evidence-based and contextualized analysis. We always document our sources so readers are empowered to do independent research and make up their own minds.

 

Here’s How Fake News Works (and How the Internet Can Stop It) | WIRED

 

Government

Checks and Balances

 The Constitution divided the Government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. That was an important decision because it gave specific powers to each branch and set up something called checks and balances. Just like the phrase sounds, the point of checks and balances was to make sure no one branch would be able to control too much power, and it created a separation of powers. Here are some examples of how the different branches work together:

 

  • The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto.
  • The legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional.
  • The executive branch, through the Federal agencies, has responsibility for day-to-day enforcement and administration of Federal laws. These Federal departments and agencies have missions and responsibilities that vary widely, from environmental protection to protecting the Nation’s borders.
  • The President in the executive branch can veto a law, but the legislative branch can override that veto with enough votes.
  • The legislative branch has the power to approve Presidential nominations, control the budget, and can impeach the President and remove him or her from office.
  • The executive branch can declare Executive Orders, which are like proclamations that carry the force of law, but the judicial branch can declare those acts unconstitutional.
  • The judicial branch interprets laws, but the President nominates Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges, and district court judges who make the evaluations.
  • The judicial branch interprets laws, but the Senate in the legislative branch confirms the President’s nominations for judicial positions, and Congress can impeach any of those judges and remove them from office.
  • Infographic of the Branches of Government

 

Branches of Government

The Executive Branch

What Is the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government? | History

The Executive Branch of the United States Government includes the agencies and departments that take direction from the President, who is the administrative head of the executive branch.

Through regulations, the Executive branch enforces laws. Laws are created by the Legislative branch in Congress and are interpreted by the Judicial branch through the Courts.

The Executive Branch consists of the following:

  • The President
  • The Vice President
  • The Presidential Cabinet (15 different Departments) 

The executive branch also includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.

 

The Cabinet

The Cabinet consists of 15 Federal Executive Departments:

  • Dept. of Agriculture "The Department of Agriculture works to improve and maintain farm income and to develop and expand markets abroad for agricultural products. The Department helps to curb and to cure poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. It works to enhance the environment and to maintain production capacity by helping landowners protect the soil, water, forests, and other natural resources. "
  • Dept. of Commerce "The Department of Commerce encourages, serves, and promotes the Nation's international trade, economic growth, and technological advancement. The Department provides a wide variety of programs through the competitive free enterprise system. It offers assistance and information to increase America's competitiveness in the world economy; administers programs to prevent unfair foreign trade competition; provides social and economic statistics and analyses for business and government planners..."
  • Dept. of Defense "The Department of Defense is responsible for providing the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our country. The major elements of these forces are the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, consisting of about 1.4 million men and women on active duty."
  • Dept. of Education "The Department of Education establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most Federal assistance to education. Its mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation."
  • Dept. of Energy "The Department of Energy...provid(es) the technical information and the scientific and educational foundation for the technology, policy, and institutional leadership necessary to achieve efficiency in energy use, diversity in energy sources, a more productive and competitive economy, improved environmental quality, and a secure national defense."
  • Dept. of Health and Human Services "The Department of Health and Human Services is most involved with the Nation's human concerns. In one way or another, it touches the lives of more Americans than any other Federal agency. It is literally a department of people serving people, from newborn infants to persons requiring health services to our most elderly citizens."
  • Dept. of Homeland Security "Works to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters."
  • Dept. of Housing and Urban Development "The Department of Housing and Urban Development is the principal Federal agency responsible for programs concerned with the Nation's housing needs, fair housing opportunities, and improvement and development of the Nation's communities."
  • Dept. of the Interior "The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to tribes. The Department manages the Nation's public lands and minerals, national parks, national wildlife refuges, and western water resources and upholds Federal trust responsibilities to Indian tribes."
  • Dept. of Justice "As the largest law firm in the Nation, the Department of Justice serves as counsel for its citizens. It represents them in enforcing the law in the public interest. (The) Department plays the key role in protection against criminals and subversion, in ensuring healthy competition of business in our free enterprise system, in safeguarding the consumer, and in enforcing drug, immigration, and naturalization laws.
  • Dept. of Labor "The purpose of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of the United States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment."
  • Dept. of State "The Department of State is responsible for the international relations of the United States."
  • Dept. of Transportation "The U.S. Department of Transportation establishes the Nation's overall transportation policy. Under its umbrella there are 10 administrations whose jurisdictions include highway planning, development, and construction; urban mass transit; railroads; aviation; and the safety of waterways, ports, highways, and oil and gas pipelines."
  • Dept. of the Treasury "The Department of the Treasury performs four basic functions: formulating and recommending economic, financial, tax, and fiscal policies; serving as financial agent for the U.S. Government; enforcing the law; and manufacturing coins and currency."
  • Dept. of Veterans Affairs "The Department of Veterans Affairs operates programs to benefit veterans and members of their families. Benefits include compensation payments for disabilities or death related to military service; pensions; education and rehabilitation; home loan guaranty; burial; and a medical care program incorporating nursing homes, clinics, and medical centers."

 

Independent Agencies

There are over 50 Independent Agencies; most are part of the executive branch, are established by Congressional statutes which also define their authority, goals, and rulemaking powers, and are always ruled by a commission, board, or other body of five to seven members' (rather than having a single director, director, or secretary appointed by the President. 

Here are some examples with links to their web pages:

 

More Executive Branch Information

  • White House– Press briefings, text of proclamations and executive orders, policies, and appointments for the Executive Office of the President.
  • Presidential Papers– Current and historical guide to official presidential papers
  • Govinfo– Free public access to digital documents of the federal executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This is (usually but not always) the best place to start your US government publications research.
  • Catalog of U.S. Government Publications– "Finding tool for federal publications that includes descriptive records for historical and current publications and provides direct links to those that are available online...search by authoring agency, title, subject, and general key word..." Find a nearby Federal Depository Library that has a particular publication.
  • Federal Websites For and About American Indians– A guide to federal agency websites that feature information for or about Native Americans such as office of Native American Programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 

The Legislative Branch

What Is the Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government? | History

This branch is made up of Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and special agencies and offices that provide support services to Congress.

The legislative branch’s roles include:

  • Drafting proposed laws
  • Confirming or rejecting presidential nominations for heads of federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court
  • Having the authority to declare war

 

The federal legislative branch of government includes:

 

Agencies that provide support services for the Congress include:

 

State legislatures: with one exception, state governments also have two houses in the legislative branch. The state of Nebraska has a unicameral legislature (one house).

Databases for accessing legislative information:

  • govinfo
    Free public access to digital documents of the federal executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This is (usually but not always) the best place to start your research.
  • Congress.gov
    Includes roll call votes, bills and laws, Congressional Record, and more. A successor to Thomas, Congress.gov, allows users to search across all of the content in the system (this includes bill text, summary and status, and Member profiles), refine results, quickly see the status of a bill on a timeline, and see what legislation members of congress have sponsored and cosponsored.

 

The Legislative Process

How Are Laws Made?

Laws begin as ideas. First, a representative sponsors a bill. The bill is then assigned to a committee for study. If released by the committee, the bill is put on a calendar to be voted on, debated or amended. If the bill passes by simple majority (218 of 435), the bill moves to the Senate. In the Senate, the bill is assigned to another committee and, if released, debated and voted on. Again, a simple majority (51 of 100) passes the bill. Finally, a conference committee made of House and Senate members works out any differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The resulting bill returns to the House and Senate for final approval. The Government Publishing Office prints the revised bill in a process called enrolling. The President has 10 days to sign or veto the enrolled bill.

From U.S. House of Representatives Website

Schoolhouse Rock How a Bill Becomes a Law

More Legislative Branch Information

How Our Laws Are Made

  • U.S. House of Representatives– House overview, legislative activity (schedule, floor proceedings, votes, bills & reports), and public disclosure
  • U.S. Senate– Access to floor webcast, votes, schedule, legislation, committees, and more
  • U.S. Code Search– Office of the Law Revision Council, House of Rep. Includes USCprelim, "an advance posting of the next online version of the U.S. Code," classification tables which point to the location in the Code where recently enacted laws will be added.
  • Congress.gov– Contains comprehensive legislative information and member profiles
  • A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873– Library of Congress. A digitized collection of records of the Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and the U.S. Congress from the earliest days of the country.
  • Legislative Histories of Selected U.S. Laws--Free Sources– Law Librarian's Society of Washington, D.C. Popular name and public law number indices w/links to legislative histories by agencies such as Dept. of Justice and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and other sources.
  • Legislative Source Book– Law Librarian's Society of Washington, D.C. Valuable legislative research and resource guides
  • Active Legislation– Bills arranged alphabetically by popular title or subject for the current Congress.
  • Legislation and Votes– Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House. Bill summary, status, and text; public laws; roll call votes.

 

The Judicial Branch

What Is the Judicial Branch of the U.S. Government? | History

 

"The Legislative Branch creates the laws (in the chambers of Congress), the Judicial Branch interprets the laws (in the courts), and the Executive Branch enforces the laws (through regulations)."

The Judicial Branch of the United State Government encompasses the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts (U.S. District Courts, U.S. Courts of Special Jurisdiction, and the U.S. Court of Appeals).  The Judicial Branch is sometimes referred to as the federal judiciary, meaning the system of US, or federal, courts that have the right and power to decide whether a law or act is constitutional. 

It evaluates laws by:

  • Interpreting the meaning of laws
  • Applying laws to individual cases
  • Deciding if laws violate the Constitution

 

Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws, how they are applied, and whether they violate the Constitution. The latter power is known as judicial review and it is this process that the judiciary uses to provide checks and balances on the legislative and executive branches.

Lower federal courts include the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts. 

 

U.S. Courts of Special Jurisdiction

There are a number of courts that have jurisdiction over certain types of cases.  Links to the sites for these courts are below:

  • U.S. Court of International Trade–This court has nationwide jurisdiction over cases involving international trade and customs issues.
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims–This court has nationwide jurisdiction over most claims against the United States.
  • U.S. Tax Court–This court offers a forum for taxpayers to dispute a tax deficiency determined by the Commissioner of the I.R.S. This court also has jurisdiction over a variety of other (tax/worker) cases.
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces– This court has worldwide appellate jurisdiction over members of the armed forces on active duty and other persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims–This court reviews certain Board of Veterans Affairs decisions. It does not hold trials, receive new evidence, or hear witnesses. The USCAVC reviews Board of Veterans Affairs decisions, the written record, and the briefs of the parties.
  • U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation–This panel determines 1) whether civil actions pending in different federal districts should be transferred to a single district for pretrial proceedings; and 2) the selection of judge/s and court assigned to conduct such proceedings.

 

Article III The Judicial Branch | Constitution 101

 

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