The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches to ensure a central government in which no individual or group gains too much control:
Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches as follows:
The U.S. federal government seeks to act in the best interests of its citizens through this system of checks and balances.
The legislative branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects presidential appointments, and has the authority to declare war.
This branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and several agencies that provide support services to Congress. American citizens have the right to vote for senators and representatives through free, confidential ballots.
The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the president, vice president, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.
American citizens have the right to vote for the president and vice president through free, confidential ballots.
Key roles of the executive branch include:
The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution.
The judicial branch is comprised of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
What does FDsys stand for?
FDsys is GPO’s Federal Digital System - America’s Authentic Government Information
What is the URL for FDsys?
Anyone can access FDsys at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/
What is FDsys?
FDsys provides free online access to official Federal Government publications from all three branches of the Federal Government. Through FDsys, you are able to:
FDsys is:
What is the history behind Government information online from GPO?
In 1993, Congress passed the U.S. Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act (Public Law 103-40), which expanded GPO’s mission to provide electronic access to Federal Government information. In June 1994, GPO launched GPO Access, which provides online access to information from all three branches of the Federal Government. For more than 15 years GPO Access was America’s source for Government information online, but in 2009 GPO unveiled the next generation of Government information online with the Federal Digital System (FDsys).