Access Your Government

The federal government is divided into three branches - the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial - each designed by the framers of the Constitution to balance the powers vested in each branch.

For citizens seeking assistance with government agencies, it can often be difficult to differentiate federal government responsibilities and state government responsibilities. As a general rule, programs and services that are national in scope - like Social Security, Medicare, Veterans' benefits, etc. - are federal government responsibilities and are administered by the corresponding federal government agency. Services like law enforcement, motor vehicle services, public transportation, power services, etc., are handled by state and local government agencies.

The Internet resources on this page are "one-stop-shop" resources, which I hope will be helpful to you in your search for information.

If you have further questions, please contact my office. If you are having a specific problem with a federal agency and need assistance, information on how to open a case file can be found on my casework web page.

One-Stop Shop for Information

National Contact Center
Federal Citizen Information Center's one-stop shop for answers about federal programs, benefits, or services. Contact by phone (1-800-333-4636), e-mail, or access their "How Do I..." Frequently Asked Questions knowledgebase tool.

FirstGov
Gateway to all U.S. government Information.

Directory Information

Federal Toll-Free Telephone Numbers
FCIC's listing of commonly requested federal toll-free telephone numbers, listed by agency.

A-Z Government Index
FirstGov Comprehensive A-Z index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies.

In-Person Service Directory
FirstGov listing to locate government offices and services in your community, region, or state

Federal Government TTY Directory
General Services Administration directory of TTY numbers for the federal government.

One-Stop Shop for Forms

Forms.Gov
One-stop shop for federal forms most used by the public. Search by form name, form number, or by agency.

National Voter Registration Form
This form can be used to register to vote in your state or report a change of name or address to your voter registration office.

Regulations.Gov
Find, review, and submit comments on federal rules open for comment

U.S. Government Manual
Official handbook of the federal government. Provides comprehensive information on agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. Also includes information on quasi-official agencies, international organizations in which the U.S. participates, and boards, commissions, and committees.