U.S. Government

White House: Executive branch; sitting President is George W. Bush

Senate: Legislative branch, upper house; Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

House of Representatives: Legislative branch, lower house; Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

U.S. Supreme Court: Judicial branch; Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.

Major U.S. Political Parties

Political parties that are in presidential contention for 2008:

Democratic National Committee (DNC): sets the platform for the Democratic Party; Party Chairman in Gov. Howard Dean. This year's Democratic National Convention was held in Denver, CO on August 25-28, 2008.

Republican National Committee (RNC): sets the platform for the Republican Party; Party Chairman is Mike Duncan. This year's Republican National Convention will be held in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN on September 1-4, 2008.

Constitution Party: sets the platform for the Constitution Party; Party Chairman is Jim Clymer. This year's Constitution Party Convention was held in Kansas City, MO.

Green Party: sets the platform for the Green Party; has seven co-chairs. This year's Green Party National Convention was held in Chicago Illinois.

Libertarian Party:sets the platform for the Libertarian Party; Party Chairman is Bill Redpath. This year's Libertarian National Convention was held in Denver, CO.

Voter Registration

Wyoming:

• Click here to learn how to register to vote.
• Requirements to register in Wyoming:
  • 18 years of age on Election Day
  • a U.S. citizen and a resident of Wyoming
• Remember, it is always a good idea to check and make sure you are still registered to vote, however, Wyoming does allow qualified voters to register at the polls on election day!
  • You do not need to declare a party in order to participate in the General Election.
  • If you did not vote in the 2006 General Election, you will need to register or re-register in order to participate in the 2008 General Election!
• Another resource: Vote Wyoming

Nebraska:

• Click here to learn how to register to vote in Nebraska as well as get some answers to frequently asked voting and registration questions.
• Requirements to register in Nebraska:
  • 18 years of age on Election Day
  • a U.S. citizen and a resident of Nebraska
• Nebraska does not offer same-day voter registration.
  • Mail-in registration must be postmarked on or before the third Friday preceding an election
  • Voter registration delivered by personal messenger/agent must arrive on or before the third Friday preceding an election
  • Individuals may register in person at their county clerk/election commissioner's office prior to 6 pm on the second Friday preceding an election

Voter Registration and Advocacy Organizations:

Rock the Vote: register to vote on this site; a non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1990 in response to a wave of attacks on freedom of speech and artistic expression; informs American youth on the political process and the importance of voting.

Declare Yourself: register to vote on this site; launched in 2003 by philanthropist Norman Lear; a non-profit, non-partisan campaign to empower and encourage every eligible 18-year-old American to register to vote.

Voto Latino: register to vote on this site; founded in 2004; works to empower the hispanic community and encourages voting

Interest Groups and Non Profits

Here you will find a list of lobbyists, interest groups and non-profit organizations that have a big influence on American politics.

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): non-profit, non-partisan advocate of individual rights

The American Conservative Union: the nation's oldest lobbying organization; communicate and advance the goals and principles of conservatism

American Jewish Congress: motivated by the need to ensure the creative survival of the Jewish people; provides a forum for American Jews interested in Israeli and American politics

American Legion: chartered by Congress; a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization

Amnesty International: a world-wide campaign movement that works to promote human rights

Arab American Institute: represents Arab-American interests in government and politics

Arms Control Association: non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of and support for effective arms control policies

Association for Politics and the Life Sciences: international association; concerned with problems or issues that involve both politics or public policy and one or more of the life sciences

Capital Research Center (CRC): established in 1984 to study non-profit organizations; special focus on reviving the American traditions of charity, philanthropy and voluntarism.

Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP): national non-profit with expertise in both law and policy affecting the poor

Christian Coalition: founded to give Christians a voice in government

Citizens United: a Conservative organization dedicated to restoring the U.S. government to citizens' control and to restore the founding fathers' vision of a free nation guided by honesty, common sense and good will of its citizens

The Concord Coalition: a non-partisan, grassroots movement to eliminate the deficit and bring entitlements down to a level that is fair to all generations

Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST): designed to interpret related scientific research information to legislators

Democratic Leadership Council (DLC): national voice that is re-shaping American politics by moving beyond the old left-right political debate; Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is the DLC's think tank

Democratic Socialists of America (DSA): the largest socialist organization in the US; builds progressive movements for social change

DividedWeFail.org: dedicated to finding bi-partisan solutions to ensure affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security for everyone in America

Drug Policy Alliance: works to broaden the public debate on drug policy

The Emergency Committee to Defend Constitutional Welfare: a political-judicial committee dedicated to welfare rights

Independent Women's Forum: a conservative women's political organization which seeks to identify key women's issues.

Institute for the Study of Civic Values: non-profit organization that promotes the fulfillment of America's historic civic ideals

The Interfaith Alliance: non-partisan, interfaith committee with three main goals, two of which is promoting the positive role of religion as a healing and constructive force in public life and providing people of faith with an alternative voice to that of the radical religious right

International Federation of Journalists: promotes coordinated international action to defend press freedom

The Jewish Defense League: most controversial of all Jewish organizations; promoting Jewish self-defense and rights as a people; motto is "Never Again"

League of Latin American Citizens: to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of the Hispanic population of the United States

League of Women Voters of the United States: non-partisan, political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government; influences policy through education and advocacy; open to men and women of voting age

Log Cabin Republicans: believe that protecting the dignity of the individual should be the highest aim of government

Marijuana Policy Project: focuses on removing criminal penalties for marijuana use and making it medically available to seriously ill people who have approval from their doctors

Mothers Against Drunk Driving: mission is to stop drunk driving and support victims

MoveOn.org: a liberal group focused on bringing busy but concerned citizens back into the political process and to help citizens find their political voice in a system dominated by big money and big media

National Association for the Reform of Marijuana Legislation: advocate for legalizing marijuana; has led efforts to decriminalize for minor offenses in 11 states

National Association of Counties: the national voice for America's county governments

National Defense Industrial Association: the voice of the industrial base

National Immigration Forum: advocates and builds public support for public policies that welcome immigrants and refugees that are fair and supportive to newcomers

National Organization of Women (NOW): largest organization of feminist activists in the U.S.; use traditional and non-traditional means to push for social change

National Rifle Association (NRA): believes in upholding the second amendment

OpenSecrets.org: information on campaign donations and fundraising in the U.S.

PAX: non-profit organization dedicated to the vision of a society free of gun violence

Peace Action: largest grassroots peace organization in the U.S.; education and lobbying in areas of nuclear disarmament, reduction of military spending and support of conflict resolution efforts

Privacy International: a human rights group formed as a watchdog on surveillance by governments and corporations

Public Citizen: the consumer's eyes and ears in Washington D.C.; founded by Ralph Nader

Results: non-profit, grassroots citizens' lobby that identifies sustainable solutions to the problems of hunger and poverty and works to generate the resources necessary to make those solutions succeed.

Seniors Coalition: a non-profit 501c(4), non-partisan, education and issue advocacy organization that represents the concerns of America's senior citizens at both the state and federal levels.

Student Association for Freedom of Expression: works to organize support for freedom of speech and other forms of freedom of expression

Support Coalition International: an alliance of more than 70 grassroots groups in 11 countries united to win human rights in the "mental health system"

U.S. English: an organization dedicated to making English the official language of the U.S.