Federal Resources
United States Congress
The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the United States government. Congress is composed of two chambers with equal powers: the 100-member Senate and the 435-member House of Representatives. The primary duty of Congress is to write, debate, and pass bills (proposed laws), which are then passed on to the president for approval. Once the president approves the legislation, the executive branch enforces the new laws and the judicial branch interprets them. Other congressional duties include investigating pressing national issues, supervising the executive and judicial branches, and shaping U.S. foreign policy.
The Constitution of the United States grants Congress "all legislative powers" in the national government Congress also controls federal taxing and spending policies. Congress also holds hearings on matters of general public concern. Sometimes members of Congress conduct these hearings to identify problems that create a need for new laws. In other cases Congress holds hearing to raise public awareness about an issue.
United States House of Representatives
At this site, you can obtain copies of House documents that the Clerk makes available as part of the official duties of this office, including public disclosure. You can also find historical information about the House of Representatives and information about its Members and Committees.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the smaller of the two legislative bodies of the Congress of the United States. Along with the House of Representatives, it drafts and passes laws that, when signed by the president, govern the United States and its citizens. The Senate exercises some powers that the House of Representatives does not, such as approving treaties between the United States and other countries. The Senate has 100 members, two from each state.
United States Department of Education
The mission of the U. S. Department of Education is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence for all Americans. This award-winning web site is part of our effort to pursue that mission and help America reach the National Education Goals. It offers a range and an ever-growing collection of information about the Department, including our initiatives and priorities, grant opportunities, offices, publications, research and statistics.
United States Office of Non-Public Education
The Office of Non-Public Education represents the interests, activities, and needs of the private elementary and secondary school community at the U. S. Department of Education. The director of the office is the principal adviser to the U. S. Secretary of Education on departmental matters relating to the education of students enrolled in non-public (private) elementary and secondary schools.
U.S. Department of Education Crisis Guide
Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities Emergency Planning. Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, U.S. Department of Education. Designed to assist schools in planning for any crisis or emergency, including natural disasters, violent incidents and terrorist acts. The guide lists four areas of crisis management that all school crisis plans should address:
- Mitigation-Prevention, which addresses what schools and districts can do to reduce or eliminate risk to life and property;
- Preparedness, which focuses on the process of planning for the worst-case scenario;
- Response, which is devoted to the steps to take during a crisis; and
- Recovery, which deals with how to restore the learning and teaching environment after a crisis.
The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
The National Catholic Educational Association is a professional membership organization that has been providing leadership and service to Catholic education since 1904. NCEA's mission is to advance the eductional and catechetical mission of the Church and provide leadership and service to its members in preschools, elementary and secondary schools, parish catechetical/religious education programs, diocesan offices, colleges, universitites and seminaries who serve over 7.6 million students.
