Covering government : a civics handbook for journalists / Rob Armstrong.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Armstrong, Rob, 1949-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States--Politics and government.

United States.

Politics and government.

State governments--United States.

State governments.

Local government--United States.

Local government.

Physical Description:

xviii, 268 pages ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Ames : Iowa State Press, 2002.

Contents:

Section I The Federal Government 1

Chapter 2 The Legislative Branch 9

2.1 Makeup of the House of Representatives 10

2.2 Makeup of the Senate 12

2.3 Political Parties and Who's in Charge 14

2.4 How a Bill Becomes Law 16

2.5 Presidential Vetoes and Congressional Overrides 21

2.6 The Authority of Congress 24

2.7 The Budget, Authorization, and Appropriation 26

2.8 Taxes 30

2.9 Other Congressional Functions 31

2.10 Limits on Congress and Members 34

2.11 House and Senate Rules 36

2.12 Practices and Procedures of Congress 38

2.13 Notes for Reporters Covering Congress 41

2.14 Lobbyists and Lobbying 44

Chapter 3 The Executive Branch 51

3.1 Electing the President 52

3.2 The Power of the Presidency 56

3.3 State of the Union Address 60

3.4 Top Aides and Advisors to the President 62

3.5 Notes for Reporters Covering the White House 64

3.6 The Cabinet 67

3.7 Independent Agencies 69

3.8 Administrative Law and Executive Rule-Making 72

3.9 Notes for Reporters Covering Executive Departments and Agencies 75

Chapter 4 The Judiciary Branch 79

4.1 Development of the Judiciary 79

4.2 The Rise of the Supreme Court 81

4.3 The Lower Courts 83

4.4 Federal Criminal Law 85

4.5 Juries and Jury Trials 88

4.6 Federal Civil Law 92

4.7 How Cases Get to the Supreme Court 94

4.8 Courts of Special Jurisdiction 98

4.9 U.S. Magistrate Judges 100

4.10 Notes for Reporters Covering Federal Courts 101

Chapter 5 Extraordinary Circumstances: War, Impeachment, and Amending the Constitution 105

5.1 War 105

5.2 Impeachment 110

5.3 Amending the Constitution 111

Chapter 6 Where Normal Rules Don't Apply 121

6.1 U.S. Military Operations 122

6.2 Military Bases 128

6.3 Embassies and Foreign Dignitaries on U.S. Soil 130

6.4 American Reporters Working Abroad 133

6.5 Indian Reservations 135

6.6 Prisons 139

Section II State and Local Government 143

Chapter 7 State Government Overview 145

Chapter 8 State Legislatures 149

8.1 Makeup of the State Legislatures 149

8.2 Following the Federal Model 151

8.3 How Bills Become State Laws 152

8.4 Initiatives and Referenda 156

8.5 Taxation 159

8.6 State Budgets and Spending 162

8.7 Reapportionment 166

8.8 Specific Prohibitions on State Legislatures 168

8.9 Extraordinary Circumstances and State Emergencies 170

8.10 Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws 171

8.11 Notes for Reporters Covering State Legislatures 174

Chapter 9 Governors and State Executive Branches 177

9.1 Executive Officers 177

9.2 Powers of the Governor 179

9.3 Governors and the Presidency 182

Chapter 10 State Judiciary Branches 185

10.1 State Supreme Courts 186

10.2 Lower Courts 188

10.3 Lawyers, Prosecutors, and Juries 190

10.4 The Death Penalty 192

10.5 Cameras in Courts 193

10.6 Reporter Shield Laws 196

Chapter 11 Local Government 199

11.1 Makeup of Local Government 199

11.2 State Authority and Control 201

11.3 Structure of Local Governments 202

11.4 Local Lawmaking 206

11.5 Law Enforcement and Local Courts 208

11.6 Zoning, Land Use, and Building Regulations 211

Appendix A The Constitution of the United States 215.

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

0813814677

OCLC:

49672984