Federal

  

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Federal

Definition: Federal

Federal

Adjective

1. National; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units; "the Federal Bureau of Investigation"; "federal courts"; "the federal highway program"; "federal property".

2. Of or relating to the central government of a federation; "a federal district is one set aside as the seat of the national government".

3. Being of or having to do with the northern United States and those loyal to the Union during the Civil War; "Union soldiers"; "Federal forces"; "a Federal infantryman".

4. (government) characterized by or constituting a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities; "a federal system like that of the United States"; "federal governments often evolved out of confederatons".

Noun

1. A member of the Union Army during the American Civil War.

2. Any federal law-enforcement officer.

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "federal" was first used: 1645. (references)

 

Specialty Definition: Federal jurisdiction

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Federal jurisdiction

Key concepts in general federal law, at all court levels, include standing and the Case or Controversy Requirement. These apply as strongly to constitutional cases as to any others, and often a seemingly "civil rights related issue is rejected by the courts for these reasons. They flow from Article III, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. Standing means that a person raising a constitutional issue must be someone who, if his or her assertion is correct, will personally suffer an infringement of his or her rights if the court does not intervene. This means that, except in unusual circumstances (see class action), one cannot sue on behalf of another. The Case or Controversy requirement means that there must be at least two adversarial parties and an actual problem between them. The effect is that federal courts in the United States do not issue advisory opinions or rule on hypotheticals. (But see: Declaratory judgment).

To these two concepts, constitutional law adds the state action requirement. Simply put, a private citizen cannot violate another private citizen's constitutional rights. A case does not become a constitutional issue unless one party can show that a local, state, or federal government agency or official was involved. For example, if a private citizen invades another citizen's house, the first citizen is liable to the second one in a lawsuit for trespass; on the other hand, if a policeman invades a citizen's home without a warrant or probable cause, the police agency can be found liable for violating the citizen's constitutional rights.

The first example is merely a violation of the legal right to privacy; the second is a violation of the constitution's prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures. (Note here: Some cases which the Supreme Court of the United States accepts and decides involve constitutional rights; others involve the interpretation of legal rights.)

Generally, when a case has cleared the hurdles of Standing, Case or Controversy and State Action, it will be heard by a trial court. The non-governmental party may raise claims or defenses relating to alleged constitutional violations by the government. If the non-governmental party loses, the constitutional issue may form part of the appeal. Eventually, a petition for certiorari may be sent to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court accepts the case, it will receive written briefs from each side (and any amici curiae or friends of the court--usually third parties with some expertise to bear on the subject) and schedule oral arguments. The justices will closely question both parties. When the Court renders its decision, it will generally do so in a single opinion for the majority and one or more dissenting opinions. Each opinion sets forth the facts, prior decisions, and legal reasoning behind the position taken. The majority opinion constitutes binding precedent on all lower courts; when faced with very similar facts, they are bound to apply the same reasoning or face reversal of their decision by a higher court.

See: United States district court

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Federal jurisdiction."

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Federalism

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Federalism denotes a system of government in which power is divided by constitutional right between national and local units of government in regions. A state that follows the federal system is known as a federation. Examples of federal systems include the governments of Australia, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, the former Soviet Union, Switzerland, the United States, and the former Yugoslavia. Some countries, whilst not being formal federations, function like them - Spain, for instance, gives more powers to its autonomous communities than most federations to their constituent parts.

Unlike unitary systems, in which the powers of the local units of government are granted to them and can be varied or taken away by the national legislature, in a federal system the local units of government have their own independent constitutionally guaranteed authority. However they remain sub-units of one overall state, and thus do not have national sovereignty and have no standing under international law. In general, the local units of government cannot undertake an independent foreign policy, nor can they have standing armies without permission of federal government.

The distinction between unitary and federal governments is not always clear, as the national government in a formally unitary system of government may make large grants of power to local units resulting in a system that becomes de-facto federal. An example of this is the United Kingdom. In theory, any of the regional devolved authorities created could be abolished, though politically that is exceptionally unlikely to happen once the citizens in each region accept the authority's legitimacy over them. This system of devolution that evolves into a form of de-facto federalism can sometimes occur without formal legislation, as is the case with the People's Republic of China in which largely informal grants of power to the provinces to handle economic affairs and implement national policies has resulted in a system which some have termed "de-facto federalism with Chinese characteristics." In strict constitutional terms, however, regional authorities which have no constitutional right to exist are referred to as devolved assemblies, while those that have a constitutionally guaranteed right to exist are federal authorities (often called 'states').

Often, the division of power between federal and local governments is outlined in the national constitution, as is the case with the United States and Australia. It is also common for the regional governments to have existed longer than the national government and for the national government to have come into being as a result of a union of local governments. This was the case with the United States, Switzerland, Canada, and Australia. Indeed many 'states' within federal systems may themselves have their own constitutions.

The precise division of power varies from system to system. In the case of the United States, the Federal government has powers over areas enumerated in the United States constitution with the remaining powers belonging to the states. (In practice, the enumeration and the "remaining powers" are both fairly broad, and have been interpreted differently at different times.) In the case of Germany, the division is less one of content than of administration: the national government issues directives and the regional governments (Lander) have broad discretion as to how to implement them. In the People's Republic of China, the defacto federal situation is one in which the central government sets up general economic policy and goals, and leaves the implementation to provincial governments.

There are a number of issues that are common to federal systems. One is that the exact division of power and responsibility between national and local governments is often a major source of conflict. Often, as is the case with the United States, such conflicts are resolved through the judicial system which delimits the powers of federal and local governments. The relationship between federal and local courts varies from nation to nation and can be a controversial and complex issue in itself.

Another common issue in federal systems is the conflict between local interests and regional interests. In some cases, such as Canada, these interests become entangled with differences in language or ethnicity. The ability of a federal government to create national institutions that can mediate differences that arise due to language, ethnic, religious, or other regional difference is major challenge, and the inability to meet this challenge has been the cause of the collapse of some federal systems such as Nigeria, the Soviet Union, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nysaland, and the West Indies Federation.

Almost all federal systems have mechanisms such as the United States Senate, United States Electoral College or the Australian Senate which give numerically less numerous regions a larger share of power than their numbers suggest. However, in some cases even these mechanisms break down, and in these situations the local governments may become the focus of efforts at secession. Faced with a serious secession movement, the national government may simply dissolve, as was the case with the Soviet Union or may otherwise find it necessary to resort to armed force to preserve the federation as was the case of the United States during the American Civil War.

See also

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Federalism."

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Federation

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

A federation is a large, often multi-ethnic, state originally based on mutual agreement between the participants. Compare with Empire, a term describing a large, multi-ethnic state, whose political structure was originally put together by coercion.

In Australian history, "federation" refers to the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia by six British colonies on 1 January 1901, and also to the political movement in the 1890s to bring this about.

Examples of states which are or claim to be federations:

Some countries exhibit characteristics of a federation, but are not. For example, Spain has a relationship resembling that of a federation with its autonomous communities; however, they are created by and exist at the suffrance of the central government, rather than being distinct entities that have chosen to join together.

The Russian Federation is also not a true federation. It consists of Russia proper, which includes the great majority of the population and is governed by the national government in Moscow, and a number of small ethnic enclaves known as Autonomous Republics or Autonomous Oblasts, but these enclaves have little real autonomy.

It is arguable that the European Union has some of the attributes of a federal state, although its member states are separate entities under international law, unlike the more traditional examples above. The EU could move towards being a genuine Federation if its character were to evolve from the current confederal, Community structure to decision-making on a federal basis.

See also: federal state

In Star Trek, a collection of science fiction works, the Federation is short for United Federation of Planets.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Federation."

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Government of the United States

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

This article is about the national government of the United States. For information about the state and local governments, see: Politics of the United States and the individual state entries.

The government of the United States, established by the Constitution, is a federal republic of 50 states. The national government consists of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The head of the executive branch is the President of the United States of America. The legislative branch consists of the United States Congress, while the Supreme Court of the United States is the head of the judicial branch.

The legal system of the United States is based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.

Legislative branch

Article I of the Constitution grants all legislative powers of the federal government to a Congress divided into two chambers, a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of two members from each state as provided by the Constitution. Its current membership is 100. Membership in the House is based on each state's population, and its size is therefore not specified in the Constitution. Its current membership is 435.

The Constitution does not specifically call for congressional committees. As the nation grew, however, so did the need for investigating pending legislation more thoroughly. The 106th Congress (1999-2000) had 19 standing committees in the House and 17 in the Senate, plus four joint permanent committees with members from both houses: Library of Congress, printing, taxation, and economic. In addition, each house can name special, or select, committees to study specific problems. Because of an increase in workload, the standing committees have also spawned some 150 subcommittees.

The Congress has the responsibility to monitor and influence aspects of the executive branch. Congressional oversight prevents waste and fraud; protects civil liberties and individual rights; ensures executive compliance with the law; gathers information for making laws and educating the public; and evaluates executive performance. It applies to cabinet departments, executive agencies, regulatory commissions, and the presidency. Congress's oversight function takes many forms:

Executive branch

Article II of the Constitution establishes the Executive branch of Government. The President is both the head of government, chief of state, and commander-in-chief. The current President and Vice President are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, since January 20, 2001.

The office of president of the United States is one of the most powerful offices of its kind in the world. The president, the Constitution says, must "take care that the laws be faithfully executed." To carry out this responsibility, he presides over the executive branch of the federal government, a vast organization numbering about 4 million people, including 1 million active-duty military personnel. In addition, the president has important legislative and judicial powers. Within the executive branch itself, the president has broad powers to manage national affairs and the workings of the federal government.

The Executive Departments

The day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws is in the hands of the various executive departments, created by Congress to deal with specific areas of national and international affairs. The heads of the 15 departments, chosen by the president and approved by the Senate, form a council of advisers generally known as the president's "Cabinet." In addition to departments, there are a number of staff organizations grouped into the Executive Office of the President. These include the White House staff, the National Security Council, the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. There are also a number of independent agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Constitution makes no provision for a presidential cabinet. It does provide that the president may ask opinions, in writing, from the principal officer in each of the executive departments on any subject in their area of responsibility, but it does not name the departments nor describe their duties. Similarly, there are no specific constitutional qualifications for service in the cabinet.

The cabinet developed outside the Constitution as a matter of practical necessity, for even in the days of George Washington, the country's first president, it was impossible for the president to discharge his duties without advice and assistance. Cabinets are what any particular president makes them. Some presidents have relied heavily on them for advice, others lightly, and some few have largely ignored them. Whether or not cabinet members act as advisers, they retain responsibility for directing the activities of the government in specific areas of concern.

Each department has thousands of employees, with offices throughout the country as well as in Washington. The departments are divided into divisions, bureaus, offices, and services, each with specific duties.

Department of Agriculture

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports agricultural production to ensure fair prices and stable markets for producers and consumers, works to improve and maintain farm income, and helps to develop and expand markets abroad for agricultural products. The department attempts to curb poverty, hunger, and malnutrition by issuing food stamps to the poor; by sponsoring educational programs on nutrition; and by administering other food assistance programs, primarily for children, expectant mothers, and the elderly. It maintains production capacity by helping landowners protect the soil, water, forests, and other natural resources.

USDA administers rural development, credit, and conservation programs that are designed to implement national growth policies, and it conducts scientific and technological research in all areas of agriculture. Through its inspection and grading services, USDA ensures standards of quality in food offered for sale. The department's Agricultural Research Service works to develop solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority, and it administers the National Agricultural Library to disseminate information to a wide cross-section of users, from research scientists to the general public.

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) serves as an export promotion and service agency for U.S. agriculture, employing specialists abroad who make surveys of foreign agriculture for U.S. farm and business interests. The U.S. Forest Service, also part of the department, administers an extensive network of national forests and wilderness areas.

Department of Commerce

The United States Department of Commerce serves to promote the nation's international trade, economic growth, and technological advancement. It offers assistance and information to increase U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace; administers programs to create new jobs and to foster the growth of minority-owned businesses; and provides statistical, economic, and demographic information for business and government planners.

The department comprises a diverse array of agencies. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, for example, promotes economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and standards. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes the National Weather Service, works to improve understanding of the earth's environment and to conserve the nation's coastal and marine resources. The Patent and Trademark Office promotes the progress of science and the useful arts by securing for authors and inventors the exclusive right to their creations and discoveries. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration advises the president on telecommunications policy and works to spur innovation, encourage competition, create jobs, and provide consumers with better quality telecommunications at lower prices.

Department of Defense

Headquartered in The Pentagon, one of the world's largest office buildings, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) is responsible for all matters relating to the nation's military security. It provides the military forces of the United States, which consist of about 1 million men and women on active duty. They are backed, in case of emergency, by 1.5 million members of state reserve components, known as the National Guard. In addition, about 730,000 civilian employees serve in the Defense Department in such areas as research, intelligence communications, mapping, and international security affairs. The National Security Agency, which coordinates, directs, and performs highly specialized intelligence activities in support of U.S. government activities, also comes under the direction of the secretary of defense.

The department directs the separately organized military departments of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, as well as the four military service academies and the National War College, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and several specialized combat commands. DoD maintains forces overseas to meet treaty commitments, to protect the nation's outlying territories and commerce, and to provide air combat and support forces. Nonmilitary responsibilities include flood control, development of oceanographic resources, and management of oil reserves.

Department of Education

While schools are primarily a local responsibility in the U.S. system of education, the United States Department of Education provides national leadership to address critical issues in American education and serves as a clearinghouse of information to help state and local decisionmakers improve their schools. The department establishes policy for and administers federal aid-to-education programs, including student loan programs, programs for disadvantaged and disabled students, and vocational programs.

In the 1990s, the Department of Education focused on the following issues: raising standards for all students; improving teaching; involving parents and families in children's education; making schools safe, disciplined, and drug-free; strengthening connections between school and work; increasing access to financial aid for students to attend college and receive training; and helping all students become technologically literate.

Department of Energy

Growing concern with the nation's energy problems in the 1970s prompted Congress to create the United States Department of Energy (DOE). The department took over the functions of several government agencies already engaged in the energy field. Staff offices within DOE are responsible for the research, development, and demonstration of energy technology; energy conservation; civilian and military use of nuclear energy; regulation of energy production and use; pricing and allocation of oil; and a central energy data collection and analysis program.

The Department of Energy protects the nation's environment by setting standards to minimize the harmful effects of energy production. For example, DOE conducts environmental and health related research, such as studies of energy-related pollutants and their effects on biological systems.

Department of Health and Human Services

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees some 300 programs, probably directly touches the lives of more Americans than any other federal agency. Its largest component, the Health Care Financing Administration, administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health care coverage to about one in every five Americans. Medicare provides health insurance for 30 million elderly and disabled Americans. Medicaid, a joint federal-state program, provides health coverage for 31 million low-income persons, including 15 million children.

HHS also administers the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world's premier medical research organization, supporting some 30,000 research projects in diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, arthritis, heart ailments, and AIDS. Other HHS agencies ensure the safety and effectiveness of the nation's food supply and drugs; work to prevent outbreaks of communicable diseases; provide health services to the nation's American Indian and Alaska Native populations; and help to improve the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services.

Department of Homeland Security

Created in 2002 and activated in 2003, the United States Department of Homeland Security is responsible for protecting the nation against attacks to the homeland. The department consolidates 22 previously separate agencies under the authority and control of one department. The department covers border & transportation security, emergency preparedness & response, information analysis & infrastructure protection, science & technology, Coast Guard, Secret Service, and citizenship & immigration Services. It also is responsible for coordination of homeland security related concerns with state and local governments as well as the private sector.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) manages programs that assist community development and help provide affordable housing for the nation. Fair housing laws, administered by HUD, are designed to ensure that individuals and families can buy a home without being subjected to discrimination. HUD directs mortgage insurance programs that help families become homeowners, and a rent-subsidy program for low-income families that otherwise could not afford decent housing. In addition, it operates programs that aid neighborhood rehabilitation, preserve urban centers from blight, and encourage the development of new communities. HUD also protects the home buyer in the marketplace and fosters programs to stimulate the housing industry.

Department of the Interior

As the nation's principal conservation agency, the United States Department of the Interior is responsible for most of the federally owned public lands and natural resources in the United States. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers 500 wildlife refuges, 37 wetland management districts, 65 national fish hatcheries, and a network of wildlife law enforcement agents. The National Park Service administers more than 370 national parks and monuments, scenic parkways, riverways, seashores, recreation areas, and historic sites, through which it preserves America's natural and cultural heritage.

Through the Bureau of Land Management, the department oversees the land and resources, from rangeland vegetation and recreation areas to timber and oil production, of millions of hectares of public land located primarily in the West. The Bureau of Reclamation manages scarce water resources in the semiarid western United States. The department regulates mining in the United States, assesses mineral resources, and has major responsibility for protecting and conserving the trust resources of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. Internationally, the department coordinates federal policy in the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and oversees funding for development in the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.

Department of Justice

The United States Department of Justice represents the U.S. government in legal matters and courts of law, and renders legal advice and opinions upon request to the president and to the heads of the executive departments. The Justice Department is headed by the attorney general of the United States, the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. Its Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the principle law enforcement body for federal crimes, and its Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) administers immigration laws. A major agency within the department is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which enforces narcotics and controlled substances laws, and tracks down major illicit drug trafficking organizations.

In addition to giving aid to local police forces, the department directs U.S. district attorneys and marshals throughout the country, supervises federal prisons and other penal institutions, and investigates and reports to the president on petitions for paroles and pardons. The Justice Department is also linked to INTERPOL, the International Criminal Police Organization, charged with promoting mutual assistance between law enforcement agencies in 176 member countries.

Department of Labor

The United States Department of Labor promotes the welfare of wage earners in the United States, helps improve working conditions, and fosters good relations between labor and management. It administers federal labor laws through such agencies as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Employment Standards Administration, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration. These laws guarantee workers' rights to safe and healthy working conditions, hourly wages and overtime pay, freedom from employment discrimination, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation for on-the-job injury. The Department also protects workers' pension rights, sponsors job training programs, and helps workers find jobs. Its Bureau of Labor Statistics monitors and reports changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements. For job seekers, the department makes special efforts to help older workers, youths, minorities, women, and the disabled.

Department of State

The United States Department of State advises the president, who has overall responsibility for formulating and executing the foreign policy of the United States. The department assesses American overseas interests, makes recommendations on policy and future action, and takes necessary steps to carry out established policy. It maintains contacts and relations between the United States and foreign countries, advises the president on recognition of new foreign countries and governments, negotiates treaties and agreements with foreign nations, and speaks for the United States in the United Nations and in other major international organizations. The department maintains more than 250 diplomatic and consular posts around the world. In 1999, the Department of State integrated the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the U.S. Information Agency into its structure and mission.

Department of Transportation

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) establishes the nation's overall transportation policy through 10 operating units that encompass highway planning, development, and construction; urban mass transit; railroads; civilian aviation; and the safety of waterways, ports, highways, and oil and gas pipelines.

For example, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operates a network of airport towers, air traffic control centers, and flight service stations across the country; the Federal Highway Administration provides financial assistance to the states to improve the interstate highway system, urban and rural roads, and bridges; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration establishes safety performance standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment; and the Maritime Administration operates the U.S. merchant marine fleet. The U.S. Coast Guard, the nation's primary maritime law enforcement and licensing agency, conducts search and rescue missions at sea, combats drug smuggling, and works to prevent oil spills and ocean pollution.

Department of the Treasury

The United States Department of the Treasury is responsible for serving the fiscal and monetary needs of the nation. The department performs four basic functions: formulating financial, tax, and fiscal policies; serving as financial agent for the U.S. government; providing specialized law enforcement services; and manufacturing coins and currency. The Treasury Department reports to Congress and the president on the financial condition of the government and the national economy. It regulates the sale of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms in interstate and foreign commerce; supervises the printing of stamps for the United States Postal Service; operates the Secret Service, which protects the president, the vice president, their families, and visiting dignitaries and heads of state; suppresses counterfeiting of U.S. currency and securities; and administers the Customs Service, which regulates and taxes the flow of goods into the country.

The department includes the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Treasury official who executes the laws governing the operation of approximately 2,900 national banks. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is responsible for the determination, assessment, and collection of taxes ? the source of most of the federal government's revenue.

Department of Veterans Affairs

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), established as an independent agency in 1930 and elevated to cabinet level in 1989, dispenses benefits and services to eligible veterans of U.S. military service and their dependents. The Veterans Health Administration provides hospital and nursing-home care, and outpatient medical and dental services through 173 medical centers, 40 retirement homes, 600 clinics, 133 nursing homes, and 206 Vietnam Veteran Outreach Centers in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. It also conducts medical research in such areas as aging, women's health issues, AIDS, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) oversees claims for disability payments, pensions, specially adapted housing, and other services. The VBA also administers education programs for veterans and provides home loan assistance to eligible veterans and active-duty service personnel. The VA's National Cemetery System provides burial services, headstones, and markers for veterans and eligible family members within 116 cemeteries throughout the United States.

Judicial branch

Article III of the Constitution states the basis for the federal court system: "The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." The Federal judiciary consists of the Supreme Court of the United States, whose nine justices are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate, and various "lower" or "inferior courts," among which are the United States courts of appeals, the United States district courts, and the United States bankruptcy courts.

The Federal Court System

With this guide, the first Congress divided the nation into districts and created federal courts for each district. From that beginning has evolved the present structure: the Supreme Court, 13 courts of appeals, 94 district courts, and two courts of special jurisdiction. Congress today retains the power to create and abolish federal courts, as well as to determine the number of judges in the federal judiciary system. It cannot, however, abolish the Supreme Court.

There are three levels of federal courts with general jurisdiction meaning that these courts handle criminal cases and civil law suits between individuals. The other courts, such as the bankruptcy courts and the tax court, are specialized courts handling only certain kinds of cases.

The United States district courts are the "trial courts" where cases are filed and decided. The United States circuit courts are "appellate courts" that hear appeals of cases decided by the district courts. The Supreme Court of the United States hears appeals from the decisions of the courts of appeals.

The judicial power extends to cases arising under the Constitution, an act of Congress, or a treaty of the United States; cases affecting ambassadors, ministers, and consuls of foreign countries in the United States; controversies in which the U.S. government is a party; controversies between states (or their citizens) and foreign nations (or their citizens or subjects); and bankruptcy cases. The Eleventh Amendment removed from federal jurisdiction cases in which citizens of one state were the plaintiffs and the government of another state was the defendant. It did not disturb federal jurisdiction in cases in which a state government is a plaintiff and a citizen of another state the defendant.

The power of the federal courts extends both to civil actions for damages and other redress, and to criminal cases arising under federal law. Article III has resulted in a complex set of relationships between state and federal courts. Ordinarily, federal courts do not hear cases arising under the laws of individual states. However, some cases over which federal courts have jurisdiction may also be heard and decided by state courts. Both court systems thus have exclusive jurisdiction in some areas and concurrent jurisdiction in others.

The Constitution safeguards judicial independence by providing that federal judges shall hold office "during good behavior" ? in practice, until they die, retire, or resign, although a judge who commits an offense while in office may be impeached in the same way as the president or other officials of the federal government. U.S. judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Congress also determines the pay scale of judges.

Related Articles

Executive Office of the President

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Parliament of Australia

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The Parliament of Australia is a bicameral parliament consisting of the House of Representatives (the "lower house") and the Senate (the "upper house" or "house of review"). Section 1 of the Constitution of Australia provides that: "The legislative power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Federal Parliament, which shall consist of the Queen, a Senate, and a House of Representatives, and which is herein-after called 'The Parliament,' or 'The Parliament of the Commonwealth'." Since 1927 the two Houses have met in Parliament House, Canberra.

Composition

The British monarch (currently Elizabeth II) also serves as Queen of Australia.

The House of Representatives consists of 150 members elected from single-member constituencies of approximately equal population. The Senate consists of 76 members: 12 Senators are elected from each of the six states and two from each of the two territories. See the Australian electoral system.

Functions

The principal function of the Parliament is to pass laws, or legislation. Any Member or Senator may introduce a proposed law (a bill), except for a money bill (a bill proposing an expenditure or levying a tax), which must be introduced in the House of Representatives. In practice, the great majority of bills are introduced by ministers. Bills introduced by other Members are called private members' bills. All bills must be passed by both Houses to become law. The Senate has the same legislative powers as the House, except that it may not amend money bills, only pass or reject them.

The Parliament performs other functions besides legislation. It can discuss urgency motions or matters of public importance: these provide a forum for debates on public policy matters. Menbers can move motions of censure against the government or against individual ministers. On most sitting days in both Houses there is a session called Question Time at which Members and Senators address questions to the Prime Minister and other ministers. Members and Senators can also present petitions from their constituents. Both Houses have an extensive system of committees in which draft bills are debated, evidence is taken and public servants are questioned.

Privileges

Members of the Australian Parliament do not have legal immunity: they can be arrested and tried for any offence. They do, however, have Parliamentary privilege: they cannot be sued for anything they say about each other or about persons outside the Parliament. This privilege extends to reporting in the media of anything a Member or Senator says.

There is a legal offence called contempt of Parliament. A person who speaks or acts in a manner contemptuous of the Parliament or its members can be tried and, if convicted, imprisoned. The Parliament used to have the power of hearing such cases itself, and did so in the Browne-Fitzpatrick case of 1955. This power has now been delegated to the courts, but no-one has been prosecuted for this offence.

Conflicts between Houses

In the event of conflict between the two Houses, the Constitution provides for a simultaneous dissolution of both Houses, a "double dissolution." If the conflict continues after such an election, the government may convene a joint sitting of both Houses to consider the disputed legislation. This occurred in 1974.

Ministers

All ministers must be members of either the House or the Senate. The office of Prime Minister of Australia is not mentioned in the Constitution, but by convention the Prime Minister is a member of the House. The only Senator to be chosen as Prime Minister, John Gorton, immediately resigned from the Senate and was elected to the House in a by-election.

Members of the Parliament

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United States

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The United States of America (U.S.A.), also referred to as the United States (U.S.), America, or the States, is a federal republic in North America and the Pacific Ocean. Founded along the Atlantic coast, it spread westward to the Pacific Ocean. It shares land borders with Canada in the north and Mexico in the south, shares a marine border with Russia in the west, and has a collection of districts, territories, and possessions around the globe. The country has 50 states, which have a level of local autonomy.

The United States traces its national origin to the declaration by 13 British colonies in 1776 that they were free and independent states. Since the mid-20th century it has eclipsed every other nation in terms of economic, political, military, and cultural influence.

United States of America
(In Detail) Great Seal
National mottos
(1776 - ): E Pluribus Unum
(Latin: "Out of many, one")
(1956 - ): In God We Trust
Official language None at federal level,
some states specify
English de facto
Capital Washington, DC
Largest City New York City
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Area
 - Total
 - % water 		Ranked 3rd
9,372,610 km²
2.198%
Population
 - Total (2000)
 - Density 		Ranked 3rd
281,421,906
31/km²
Independence
 - Declared
 - Recognized 		Revolutionary War
July 4, 1776
September 3, 1783
GDP (base PPP)
 - Total (2002)
 - GDP/head 		Ranked 1st
10,40 trillions $
37,600 $
Currency US dollar ($)
Time zone UTC -5 to UTC -10
National anthem The Star-Spangled Banner
Internet TLD.US .EDU .GOV .MIL
Calling Code1

History

Main article: History of the United States

Following the European colonization of the Americas, the United States became the world's first modern democracy after its break with Great Britain, with a Declaration of Independence in 1776. The original political structure was a confederation in 1777, ratified in 1781 as the Articles of Confederation. After long debate, this was supplanted by the Constitution of a more centralized federal government in 1789. During the 19th century, many new states were added to the original thirteen as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. Two of the major traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the American Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World War I and World War II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the U.S. remains the world's most powerful nation-state.

See also: Military History of the United States, Timeline of United States history

Politics

Main article: Politics of the United States

The United States of America consists of 50 states with limited autonomy in which federal law takes precedence over state law. In general, matters that lie entirely within state borders are the exclusive concern of state governments. These include internal communications; regulations relating to property, industry, business, and public utilities; the state criminal code; and working conditions within the state. Many state laws are quite similar from state to state. Finally, there are many areas of overlap between state and federal jurisdictions.

In recent years, the federal government has assumed broader responsibility in such matters as health, education, welfare, transportation, and housing and urban development. The constitutions of the various states differ in some details but generally follow a pattern similar to that of the federal Constitution, including a statement of the rights of the people and a plan for organizing the government. On such matters as the operation of businesses, banks, public utilities, and charitable institutions, state constitutions are often more detailed and explicit than the federal constitution.

The federal government itself consists of three branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. The head of the executive branch is the President of the United States. The legislative branch consists of the United States Congress, while the Supreme Court of the United States is the head of the judicial branch. The President is elected to a four year term by the U.S. Electoral College. The various electors are in turn chosen primarily by the popular votes in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Members of Congress are elected at varying dates, as are state Governors and state legislatures.

The federal and state government is dominated by two political parties, the Republicans and the Democrats. The dominant political culture in the United States is, as a whole, somewhat to the right of the dominant political culture in European democracies. Given their complex support bases it is difficult to specifically categorise the two major parties' appeal. Within the US political culture, the Republican Party is described as center-right and the Democratic Party is described as center-left. Minor party and independent candidates are very occasionally elected, usually to local or state office, but the United States political system has historically supported catch all parties rather than coalition governments. The ideology and policies of the sitting President of the United States commonly play a large role in determining the direction of his political party, as well as the platform of the opposition.

The two parties exist on both the state and federal level, although the parties' organization, platform, and ideologies are not necessarily uniform across all levels of government.

Both major parties draw some support from all the diverse socio-economic classes which compose the mature multi-ethnic capitalist society which makes up the United States. Business interests provide the major funding and support to the Republican Party while labor unions and minority ethnic groups provide major support to the Democrats. Access to funds is vital in the political system due to the financial costs of mounting political campaigns. Thus, through lobbying, corporations, unions, and other organized groups that provide funds and political support to parties and politicians can play a large role in determining the political agendas and government decision-making.

Political divisions

Main article: United States territory

States

Main article: States of the United States

At the Declaration of Independence, the United States consisted of 13 states. In the following years, this number has grown steadily due to expansion to the west, conquest and purchase of lands by the American government, and division of existing states to the current number of 50 :

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

The contiguous part of the US (i.e. without Hawaii and Alaska) is called continental United States.

The states are divided into smaller administrative regions, called counties in most states--exceptions being Alaska (boroughs) and Louisiana (parishes). Counties can include a number of cities and towns, or sometimes just a part of a city. See County (United States).

Federal district

The District of Columbia is a separate federal district not part of any state and is under the direct authority of Congress. It is there that the nation's capital city—the seat of the federal government—resides.

Dependent areas

Several islands in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea are dependent territories of the United States:

  • American Samoa
  • Baker Island (uninhabited)
  • Guam
  • Howland Island (uninhabited)
  • Jarvis Island (uninhabited)
  • Johnston Atoll (uninhabited)
  • Kingman Reef (uninhabited)
  • Midway Islands
  • Navassa Island (uninhabited)
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Palmyra Atoll (uninhabited)
  • Puerto Rico
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Wake Island (uninhabited)

Puerto Rico and the Northern Marianas are commonwealths of the United States.

US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease.

The US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica but has reserved the right to do so.

From July 18, 1947 until October 1, 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with all four political units.

Occupying Power

The United States is currently an occupying power of the following countries:

Geography

Main article: Geography of the United States

As the world's third largest nation (land area), the United States landscape varies greatly: temperate forestland on the East coast, mangrove forests in Florida, the Great Plains in the centre of the country, the Mississippi-Missouri river system, the Rocky Mountains west of the plains, deserts and temperate coastal zones west of the Rocky Mountains and temperate rainforests in the Pacific Northwest. The arctic regions of Alaska and the volcanic islands of Hawaii only increase the geographic and climactic diversity.

The climate varies along with the landscape, from sub-tropic in Florida to tundra in Alaska. Large parts of the country have a continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Some parts of the United States, particularly parts of California, have a Mediterranean climate.

Economy

Main article: Economy of the United States

The economy of the United States is organized on the capitalist model and is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, a large trade deficit, and rapid advances in technology. The American economy can be regarded as the most important in the world. Several countries have coupled their currency with the dollar, or even use it as a currency, and the American stock markets are globally seen as an indicator of world economy.

The country has rich mineral resources, with extensive gold, oil, coal and uranium deposits. Agriculture brings the country among the top producers of, among others, maize, wheat, sugar and tobacco. American industry produces cars, airplanes and electronics. The biggest sector is however service industries; about three-quarters of Americans are employed in that sector.

The largest trading partner of the USA is its northern neighbor, Canada. Other major partners are Mexico, the European Union and the industrialized nations in the Far East, such as Japan and South Korea. Trade with China is also significant.

See also: List of American companies

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the United States

Most of the 280 million people currently living in the United States descend from European immigrants that have arrived since the establishment of the first colonies. Major components of the European segment of the United States population are descended from immigrants from Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland and Italy with many immigrants also from Scandinavian countries and the Slavic and other populations of eastern and southern Europe and French Canada; few immigrants came directly from France. Likewise, while there were few immigrants directly from Spain, Hispanics from Mexico and South and Central America are considered the largest minority group in the country, comprising 13.4% of the population (38.6 million people) in 2002. This has brought increasing use of the Spanish language in the United States (see Languages in the United States). About 12% (2000 census) of the people are African Americans who largely descend from the African slaves that were brought to America. A third significant minority is the Asian American population (3.6%), who are most concentrated on the West Coast. The native population of Native Americans, such as American Indians and Inuit make up less than 1% of the population.

The level of Christian religious devotion in the US is showing a gradual decline, from 86.2% calling themselves Christian in 1990 to 76.5% doing so in 2001 (ARIS 2001). The religious affiliations in 2001 were Protestant 52%, Catholic 24.5%, none 13.2%, Jewish 1.3% and 0.5-0.3% for Muslim, Buddhist, Agnostic, Atheist, Hindu and Unitarian Universalist. There is a significant difference between those who declare themselves to be of a religion and those who are members of a church of that religion. Census Bureau figures (PDF file) show that church membership in 2001 was 53% Christian, 2.3% Jewish and 0.1% Muslim, others lower.

The social structure of the United States, a capitalist country, is highly stratified, with a large proportion of the wealth of the country controlled by a small fraction of the population which exerts disproportionate cultural and political influence. However, in terms of relative wealth, most Americans enjoy a standard of personal economic wealth that is far greater than that known in the majority of the world. For example, 51% of all households have access to a computer and 41% had access to the Internet in 2000. Furthermore, 67.9% of US households owned their dwellings in 2002.

Culture

Main article: Culture of the United States

American culture has a large influence on the rest of the world, especially the Western world. American music is heard all over the world, and American movies and television shows can be seen almost anywhere. This is in stark contrast to the early days of the American republic, when the country was generally seen as an agricultural backwater with little to offer the culturally advanced world centers of Asia and Europe. Nearing the end of its third century, nearly every major American city offers classical and popular music; historical, scientific and art research centers and museums; dance performances, musicals and plays; outdoor art projects and internationally significant architecture. This development is a result of both contributions by private philanthropists and government funding.

The United States is also a great center of higher education, boasting more than 1,500 universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher learning, the top tier of which include schools considered to be among the most prestigious and advanced in the world. Among these are the eight Ivy League Universities, elite private universities, numerous private colleges, which provide primarily undergraduate education, and an extensive system of public universities and colleges.

Holidays
Date Name Remarks
January 1 New Year's Day celebrates beginning of year, marks traditional end of "holiday season"
January, third Monday Martin Luther King, Jr Day honors King, Civil Rights leader
February, third Monday Presidents' Day honors former American Presidents, especially Washington and Lincoln
May, last Monday Memorial Day honors service men and women who died in service, marks traditional beginning of summer
July 4 Independence Day celebrates Declaration of Independence, usually called "The Fourth of July"
September, first Monday Labor Day celebrate achievements of workers, marks traditional end of summer
October, second Monday Columbus Day honors Christopher Columbus, traditional discover of the Americas
November 11 Veteran's Day traditional observation of a moment of silence at 11 AM remembering those who fought for peace
November, fourth Thursday Thanksgiving give thanks for autumn harvest, marks traditional beginning of "holiday season"
December 25 Christmas celebrates the nativity of Jesus Christ, also celebrated as secular winter holiday

Related Topics

Main article: List of United States of America-related topics

External links

United States government

Other

Countries of the world  |  North America
simple:United States Of America zh-cn:%E7%BE%8E%E5%9B%BD zh-tw:美國

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "United States."

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Abbreviations & Acronyms: Federal

The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted.
EntrySourceExpressionField
FEAEnglishFederal Energy AdministrationElectrical Engineering

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Synonym: Federal

Synonym: federal official (n). (additional references)
Antonym: unitary (adj). (additional references)

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Synonyms within Context: Federal

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Government

President, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister; senator, representatative, president pro tem, speaker of the house; department head, section head, section chief; federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice; treasurer, secretary of the treasury; director of the FBI.

Office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet; senate, house of representatives, parliament; council; courts, supreme court; state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury; Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI; Central Intelligence Agency, CIA; NIH; Postal Service, Post Office; Federal Aviation Administration, FAA.

Government, public; national, federal; his majesty's, her majesty's;state, county, city; n.

Lateness

Delay, delation; cunctation, procrastination; deferring, deferral; Verb: postponement, adjournment, prorogation, retardation, respite, pause, reprieve, stay of execution; protraction, prolongation; Fabian policy, medecine expectante, chancery suit, federal case; leeway; high time; moratorium, holdover.

Messenger

Mail, overnight mail, express mail, next-day delivery; post, post office; letter bag; delivery service; United Parcel Service, UPS; Federal Express, Fedex.

Money

Federal Reserve Bank, central bank; Federal Reserve Board, board of governors of the Federal Reserve; Treasury Department; Secret Service.

Double eagle, eagle; Federal currency, fractional currency, postal currency; Federal Reserve Note, United States Note, silver certificate, gold certificate; long bit, short bit; moss, nickel, pile, pin money, quarter, red cent, roanoke, rock; seawan, seawant; thousand dollars, grand.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

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Crosswords: Federal

English words defined with "federal": department of the federal government ♦ federal agent, federal court, federal deficit, federal department, Federal Housing Administration, federal office, federal official, Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Board, Federal Reserve System, federal tax lien. (references)
Specialty definitions using "federal": American Indian Reservation - federal ♦ Code of Federal Regulations ♦ federal agency issues, Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, FEDERAL AID COORDINATOR, Federal Asset Disposition Association, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994, Federal Direct Stafford Loan, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, Federal Energy Management Program, Federal Family Education Loan Program, Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, federal funds, Federal Geographic Data Committee, Federal home heating and cooling assistance program, Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank Board, Federal Housing Finance Board, Federal Information Exchange, Federal Information Processing Standards, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Federal Insurance Court, Federal Motor Vehicle Control Program, Federal Networking Council, Federal Noxious Weed Act, Federal Open Market Committee, Federal Output Document, Federal Power Marketing Administrations, federal question, Federal Register, Federal Reserve Banks, Federal Reserve Float, Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, Federal Seed Act, Federal States, Federal Supplemental Benefits, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Free Application for Federal Student Aid ♦ Hospitals, Federal ♦ Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. (references)
Etymologies containing "federal": Federate. (references)
Non-English Usage: "Federal" is also a word in the following languages with English translations in parentheses.

Albanian (federal, Federative), Indonesian (federal), Papiamen (federal), Portuguese (federal), Romanian (federal), Spanish (federal), Swedish (federal), Turkish (federal, Federative).

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Modern Usage: Federal

DomainUsage

Screenplays

Stealing mail's a federal offense, not screwing with it. (Look Who's Talking; writing credit: Amy Heckerling)

Well, I'll see what I can do, but remember, it's under federal jurisdiction (Jaws 2; writing credit: Carl Gottlieb; Howard Sackler)

He'll be at the federal court this afternoon, he's bringing in a load of prisoners from the territories (True Grit; writing credit: Charles Portis; Marguerite Roberts)

You do know it is a federal offense to destroy a United States Post Office (Flirting with Disaster; writing credit: David O. Russell)

Six federal marshals hadn't kicked down her door and dragged you back to prison (The Rock; writing credit: David Weisberg; Douglas Cook)

Lyrics

Federal Agents on their P's (Young'n; performing artist: Fabolous)

Clever

Missouri: Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work (references; author: unknown)

Movie/TV Titles

Federal Protection (2002)

The Case Against the 20% Federal Admissions Tax on Motion Picture Theatres (1953)

Federal Man (1950)

Inc. Federal Agents vs. Underworld (1949)

Federal Operator 99 (1945)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: Federal

DomainTitle

References

  • Capitol Federal Financial: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)

  • Comision Federal de Electricidad: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)

  • Commercial Federal Corporation: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)

  • Community Federal Bancorp, Inc.: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)

  • Harbor Federal Bancorp, Inc.: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)

    (more reference examples)

  

Books

  • Malman, Sugin, Solomon and Hesch's The Individual Tax Base: Cases, Problems and Policies in Federal Taxation, 2d (American Casebook Series®) (reference)

  • Federal acknowledgment of various Indian groups : hearing before the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Second Congress, second session on H.R. 3958 ... H.R. 1475 ... H.R. 2349 ... H.R. 5562 ... H.R. 3607 ... (reference)

  • Indian federal acknowledgment process : hearing before the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Second Congress, second session, on H.R. 3430, to establish administrative procedures to extend federal recognition (reference)

  • Changes in the Standards for Admitting Expert Evidence in Federal Civil Cases Since the Daubert Decision (reference)

  • 21st Century Complete Guide to Bioterrorism, Biological and Chemical Weapons, Germs and Germ Warfare, Nuclear and Radiation Terrorism - Military Manuals and Federal Documents with Practical Emergency Plans, Protective Measures, Medical Treatment and Survi (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Periodicals

  • Federal Register Reprint - Service F Hazardous Materials & Waste Regulation Cfr 40-49 (reference)

  • How To Access The Federal Government On The Internet : Washington Online (reference)

  • Air Force Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (reference)

  • Comprehensive Guide To The Federal Acquisition Streamlining (reference)

  • Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Dfars Update Service (reference)

    (more periodical examples)

  

Theater & Movies

  • Federal Protection (reference)

  • Conspiracy: The Secret History - Masters of the Universe, The Secret Birth of the Federal Reserve (reference)

  • Federal Follies Vol. 2 (reference)

  • Federal Hill (reference)

    (more DVD examples; more video examples)

  

Music

  

High Tech

  

Consumer Goods

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Image Slideshow: Federal

Photos:
Federal

More pictures...

Illustrations:
Federal

More pictures...

Computer Images:
Federal

More pictures...

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Photo Album: Federal

ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit

The Understanding AIDS campaign marked the first time the federal government had attempted to contact virtually every resident, directly by mail, regarding a major public health problem. Credit: CDC.

Maria Mitchell Worked under contract to the Coast Survey in mid-1840's First woman professional to work for the Federal Government Famous astronomer, computer for the Nautical Almanac, professor at Vassar. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection.

Federal and state scientists evaluating potential restoration project on the Chenier Plain not far from Sabine River and Texas border. Credit: America's Coastlines.

Juneau at low tide looking from seaward over the mudflats. The old Federal Building is in the left center of the photo. F&WS 3342. Credit: America's Coastlines.

The RAINIER crew are good neighbors to the Seattle community as they partake of the Combined Federal Campaign. Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now.

Members of the Randolph Air Force Base recycling center bale cardboard as part of the base's profitable recycling efforts. Air Education and Training Command is cashing in on trash, becoming the first federal agency to enter into a cooperative partnership.

Master Sgts. Jack Church and Vance Gorham lead the 338th Recruiting Squadron in the Combined Federal Campaign aircraft pull competition recently at the U.S. Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The 338th RCS took top honors, tugging th.

Hal Pyle, NRCS district conservationist, and conservation partner check samples from a water monitoring project in a neighborhood located in Springfield, Illinois. The project is sponsored by several federal, state and county agencies. The system is monit. Credit: Bob Nichols.

African American farmer Theodore Nesmith (L) talks with Ricky Morrow of USDA's Federal Crop Insurance program, and Vaughn Nesmith (R), as Latif Timmons looks on. Morrow was on this South Carolina farm as part of the outreach program to educate minority farmers about crop insurance programs. Credit: USDA.

Biking is another great recreational activity to participate in on federal lands. Credit: Unknown.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

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Digital Photo Gallery: Federal
 

"One Gate of Time @ Oklahoma Ci" by Mike Swope
Commentary: "One of the Gates of Time at the Oklahoma City Memorial to the bombing of the federal building by Terry Nichols."		"Waiting" by Kevin C
Commentary: "Federal triangle stop in the DC metro system visit my manip site: blindgorgon.deviantart ..."

Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

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Familiar Quotations: Federal

AuthorQuotation

James Madison

The proposed Constitution is, in strictness, neither a national nor a federal constitution; but a composition of both.

Ronald Reagan

The taxpayer; that's someone who works for the federal government, but doesn't have to take a civil service examination.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Historic Usage: Federal

AuthorDateQuotation

US Constitution

1791

The president of the convention transmitted it to Congress, with a resolution stating how the proposed Federal Government should be put in operation, and an explanatory letter. (reference)

Treaty of Versailles

1919

This remark applies also to the ratification by the Federal Chambers, dealt with in paragraph 1 (a), of the Swiss note of May 5, under the heading "Neutralised zone of Haute-Savoie." ARTICLE 436. (reference)

Brown v. Board of Education

1954

In each of the cases other than the Delaware case, a three-judge federal district court denied relief to the plaintiffs on the so-called "separate but equal" doctrine announced by this Court in Plessy v. Ferguson. (reference)

Roe v. Wade

1973

Litigation involving pregnancy, which is "capable of repetition, yet evading review," is an exception to the usual federal rule that an actual controversy must exist at review stages, and not simply when the action is initiated. (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Non-Fiction Usage: Federal

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

This service of the Administration on Aging is funded by the Federal Government. (references)

CHID is a database produced by health-related agencies of the Federal Government. (references)

Continuous maintenance of the ICD-9-CM is the responsibility of the federal government." (references)

Business

Like the Federal Labor Board (JFCA), the JLCA are tripartite. (references)

Nonpartisan counselors run the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE). (references)

The relevant federal authority for human pharmaceuticals is the BfArM. (references)

Children

Ethiopia

Three federal judges sit on one bench to hear all cases of juvenile offenses. (references)

Canada

A small group of orphans is fighting to have that amount increased by religious orders and the Federal Government. (references)

Switzerland

To combat child pornography on the Internet, the Federal Office for Police provides an Internet monitoring service on its World Wide Web page. (references)

Civil Liberties

Pakistan

Wak wrote a book calling for a federal system of government in Afghanistan. (references)

Germany

An appeal before the Federal Administrative Court was pending at year's end. (references)

Germany

A decision was pending before the Federal Constitutional Court at year's end. (references)

Discrimination

Brazil

In Sao Paulo in October, the country's first Homosexual Defender office began to function, funded in part by a grant from the federal Ministry of Justice. (references)

Yugoslavia

While Federal and Republic-level laws provide for equal rights for all citizens, regardless of ethnic group, religion, language, or social status, and prohibit discrimination against women; however, in practice the legal system provides little protection for such groups. (references)

Economic History

Switzerland

The top executive body is the Federal Council. (references)

Human Rights

Brazil

Federal officials usually are cooperative and responsive to their views. (references)

Argentina

Federal judge Jorge Rodriguez from Moron was investigating at year's end. (references)

Russia

In May 2000, Alikhadzhiyev allegedly was detained in Shali by federal forces. (references)

Indigenous People

Brazil

The 1988 Constitution charged the Federal Government with demarcating indigenous areas within 5 years. (references)

Brazil

FUNAI depends on the Federal Police, an understaffed and poorly equipped agency, for law enforcement on indigenous lands. (references)

Australia

In 1993 the federal Parliament passed the Native Title Act, which established a National Native Title Tribunal to resolve native title applications through mediation. (references)

Minorities

Germany

The 2000 report of the Federal OPC does not distinguish violent crimes by the religious affiliation of the victims. (references)

Spain

Several NGO's dedicated to improving the condition of Roma receive federal, regional, and local government funding. (references)

Switzerland

Federal penal law already prohibits racial discrimination, and police have used this law to monitor and close such web sites. (references)

Political Economy

Russia

The legislature consists of a two-chamber Federal Assembly. (references)

CANADA

The banking industry in Canada is governed by the federal Bank Act. (references)

Pakistan

He appointed civilian cabinets at the federal and provincial levels. (references)

Political Rights

Belgium

Of 17 federal ministers, 4 are female. (references)

Mexico

PRI party rules mandate that 30 percent of its federal candidates be women. (references)

Australia

One Aboriginal was elected to the Federal Senate in the October 1998 elections. (references)

Trade

Brazil

The sovereign risk is 100% owned by the Brazilian Federal Government. (references)

Argentina

The Inspection Firm is paid for its services by the Argentine Federal Government. (references)

Brazil

The IPI is a federal tax levied on most domestic and imported manufactured products. (references)

Travel

South Africa

DHL and Federal Express offer air express services to South Africa. (references)

Argentina

The U.S. Embassy closes on all U.S. Federal holidays in addition to the above. (references)

El Salvador

The official mail system is inadequate, but there are many private courier services, including DHL and Federal Express. (references)

Women

Switzerland

Although mandated by a constitutional amendment in 1945, no federal law on maternity insurance exists. (references)

Canada

Employment equity laws and regulations cover federal employees in all but the security and defense services. (references)

Belgium

The equal treatment of men and women is provided for in the Constitution, federal law, and treaties incorporated into law. (references)

Worker Rights

Australia

No prosecutions have been brought under this federal law. (references)

Pakistan

Federal statutes applicable throughout the country govern labor regulations. (references)

Australia

In April 1999, a union in federal court successfully challenged this provision. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Spoken Usage: Federal

SpeakerPhrase(s)

Dennis Miller

The airlines leapt onto the Federal bailout bandwagon like a cross-dressing hunter on a wounded mink.

John Miller

Yeah, I went through the federal government's training course for first responders to turn them into hazmat technicians to focus on chemical and biological warfare, which actually turned out to be interesting timing.

Robert Novak

But a majority of the president's party in Congress is opposing him on this issue and the House Democratic leader spoke out against the agreement on the same day that the Federal Reserve chairman was supporting it.

Rush Limbaugh

Just ask yourself when the federal budget has ever become smaller.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Speeches: Federal

SpeakerTermPhrase(s)

George Washington

1789-1797You will consider in your wisdom whether improvements in that system may yet be made, and particularly whether an uniform process of execution on sentences issuing from the Federal courts be not desirable through all the States.

Abraham Lincoln

1861-1865A disruption of the Federal Union, heretofore only menaced, is now formidably attempted.

Herbert C. Hoover

1929-1933We are fortunate in the ability and integrity of our Federal judges and attorneys.

Harry S. Truman

1945-1953Although the major responsibility for financing education rests with the States, some assistance has long been given by the Federal Government.

Gerald Ford

1974-1977There are definite ways in which the Federal Government can help them.

Jimmy Carter

1977-1981Neither state nor Federal solutions imposed from on high will suffice.

Ronald Reagan

1981-1989It's time we ended this huge Federal subsidy.

George Bush

1989-1993That budget brings Federal spending under control.

Bill Clinton

1993-2001Today there are large number of vacancies in the federal courts.

George W. Bush

2001-2005Setting up the Department of Homeland Security will involve the most extensive reorganization of the federal government since Harry Truman signed the National Security Act.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Usage Frequency: Federal

"Federal" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 97.73% of the time. "Federal" is used about 3,828 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words		Rank in English
Adjective (general or positive)97.73%3,7412,596
Noun (proper)2.27%8735,390
                    Total100.00%3,828N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Usage in Company Names: Federal

CountryNameCountryName
India

Federal Bank Limited (The)

Mexico

Comision Federal de Electricidad

South Africa

Mutual & Federal Insurance Company Ltd

Taiwan

Federal Corp.

USA

Capitol Federal Financial

 (more examples...)  

Source: compiled by the editor from Icon Group International, Inc.

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Expression: Federal

Expressions using "federal": balance in Federal bond register ♦ board of governors of the Federal Reserve ♦ declare a federal disaster area ♦ department of the federal government ♦ federal agency ♦ federal agent ♦ Federal Assembly ♦ federal Aviation Administration ♦ federal bureau ♦ federal bureau of investigation ♦ federal chancellor ♦ Federal Congress ♦ federal constitutional court ♦ federal council ♦ federal court ♦ Federal Dam ♦ federal deficit ♦ federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ♦ federal department ♦ federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ♦ federal disaster area ♦ Federal discount rate ♦ federal district ♦ federal employee ♦ federal Express ♦ federal Geographic Data Committee ♦ federal government ♦ federal grants ♦ Federal Heights ♦ federal Home Loan Bank System ♦ federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ♦ federal Housing Administration ♦ federal income tax ♦ federal Information Exchange ♦ federal Information Processing Standards ♦ Federal Insurance Court ♦ federal intervention ♦ federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros ♦ federal job safety law ♦ federal law ♦ federal legislation ♦ federal National Mortgage Association ♦ federal Networking Council ♦ federal office ♦ federal official ♦ federal Party ♦ Federal Power Commission ♦ federal prosecutor ♦ federal railway ♦ federal republic ♦ federal republic of germany ♦ federal Republic of Nigeria ♦ federal Republic of Yugoslavia ♦ federal reserve ♦ federal Reserve Bank ♦ Federal Reserve Banks ♦ Federal Reserve Board ♦ Federal Reserve Float ♦ federal reserve note ♦ federal reserve system ♦ federal savings bank ♦ federal securities ♦ federal soldier ♦ federal state ♦ Federal Supplemental Benefits ♦ Federal Supplemental Compensation ♦ federal tax lien ♦ Federal Way ♦ federal withholding tax ♦ federal worker ♦ german federal republic ♦ registered Federal bond ♦ supreme federal court ♦ The Federal Congress ♦ United States Federal Trade Commission. Additional references.

Hyphenated Usage

Beginning with "federal": federal-funds, federal-government, federal-provincial, federal-republican, federal-state, federal-style, federal-unitary.

Ending with "federal": quasi-federal.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Frequency of Internet Keywords: Federal

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day		ExpressionFrequency
per Day

federal express

15,820

federal

942

navy federal credit union

7,427

federal grant and loan

941

federal job

4,328

standard federal

919

federal reserve

2,950

federal bureau investigation

813

federal express tracking

2,725

federal student loan

771

navy federal

2,116

commercial federal bank

717

federal grant

2,100

federal credit union

712

federal register

2,049

federal student aid

708

federal trade commission

1,862

federal employment

701

federal government job

1,833

marine federal credit union

677

code of federal regulation

1,780

suncoast school federal credit union

673

federal government

1,651

arizona federal credit union

614

pentagon federal credit union

1,572

federal way washington

607

federal income tax

1,492

teacher federal credit union

581

federal prison

1,220

federal bureau of prison

575

standard federal bank

1,123

federal tax form

561

receita federal

1,053

desert school federal credit union

516

usaa federal savings bank

980

federal law

485

federal reserve bank

966

commercial federal

468

federal tax

959

federal ammunition

456
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Modern Translation: Federal

Language Translations for "federal"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Albanian

  

federal (Federative). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏فدرالي (federative), ‏مؤيد للمذهب, ‏خاص بالحكومة الفيدرالية, ‏الفدرالي (individualist), ‏إتحادي (federative, union). (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

съюзен (allied, confederate, conjunctive, syndetic), федеративен (confederate, federate), федерален. (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

联邦 (Commonwealth, Confederation, federally), 聯邦 (federation). (various references)

   

Czech

  

federativní (Federative), federální. (various references)

   

Danish

  

forbundsstatslig, føderal. (various references)

   

Dutch

  

federaal. (various references)

   

Esperanto

  

federala. (various references)

   

Farsi 

  

فدرال , اتفاق (Accidence, Case, Confederacy, Event, Fortuity, Hazard, Joinder, Occurrence, Unison), اتحادی , اءتلافی . (various references)

   

Finnish

  

liittohallitus (federal government), diskonttokorko (bank rate, discount rate), ET (no, not), Etiopia (Ethiopia), Etiopian demokraattinen liittotasavalta (Ethiopia, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia), KM (Comoros, Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoro Islands), DE (Federal Republic of Germany, Germany), Komorit (Comoros, Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoro Islands), yhteisövero (corporate income tax, corporation tax, federal income tax), liittotasavalta (federal republic), NG (Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria), Nigeria (Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria), Nigerian liittotasavalta (Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria), Saksa (German, Germany), Saksan liittotasavalta (the Federal Republic of Germany), Komorien islamilainen liittotasavalta (Comoros, Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoro Islands). (various references)

   

French

  

fédéral. (various references)

   

German

  

Bundes-. (various references)

   

Greek 

  

ομοσπονδιακόσ, ομοσπονδιακός. (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

מועצתי (federated), פדרלי. (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

szövetségi (allied, federate, Federative). (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

federal. (various references)

   

Italian

  

federale (fed). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

連邦議会 (Bundestag, federal parliament), 連邦首相 (federal chancellor), 連邦予算 (federal budget), 連邦捜査局 (Federal Bureau of Investigation), 連邦準備制度 (Federal Reserve System), 連邦政府 (Federal Government), 連邦取引委員会 (Federal Trade Commission), 連邦当局 (federal authorities), 連邦制 (federal sytem), 米連邦航空局 (Federal Aviation Administration), ドイツ連邦共和国 (a do-it-yourself store, cancel at the last minute, Debussy, dock, docking, doctor, doctor course, doctrine, document, documental, documentary, documentary drama, documentation, dodecaphony, dodge ball, doeskin, dog racing, dogfight, doggie bag, dogma, dogmatic, dogmatism, dogmatist, doily, do-it-yourself, dominant, domino, donor, doom, doo-wop, dot, dot map, dot matrix, dot printer, dwell, dwelling, Federal Republic of Germany, referee's stop, thud, to be noisy, to make noise, yakuza sword), エネルギー問題 (apron, apron stage, effect, effective, effector, effects, energy, energy problems, ephedrine, epic, epicurean, epigone, epigram, epigraph, epilogue, episode, episteme, epitaph, epitaxy, Epson, evaluation, evaluator, evangelist, evaporated milk, event, ever, ever onward, Everest, Everglaze, evergreen, Everpleats, Everwhite, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FM, FM tuner, foam rubber, frequency modulation, Jehovah, rapier, special version of a product with features that allow it to be used for evaluation, tags attached to industrial equipment when defects or malfunctions are discovered), 合衆国　 (federal state, United States of America), 合衆国 (federal state, United States of America), 合州国 (federal state, United States of America). (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

がっしゅうこく (federal state, United States of America), ドイツれんぽうきょうわこく (Federal Republic of Germany), べいれんぽうくうこうきょく (Federal Aviation Administration), れんぽうぎかい (Bundestag, federal parliament), れんぽうそうさきょく (Federal Bureau of Investigation), れんぽうしゅしょう (federal chancellor), れんぽうせいふ (Federal Government), れんぽうせい (federal sytem), れんぽうよさん (federal budget), れんぽうじゅんびせいど (Federal Reserve System), れんぽうとうきょく (federal authorities), れんぽうとりひきいいんかい (Federal Trade Commission), エフビーアイ (FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation). (various references)

   

Korean 

  

연방. (various references)

   

Manx

  

conastagh (conjunctive, federalist, federate, relative). (various references)

   

Norwegian

  

forbunds-, føderal. (various references)

   

Papiamen

  

federal. (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

ederalfay.(various references)

   

Portuguese

  

federal. (various references)

   

Romanian

  

federal. (various references)

   

Russian 

  

федеральный (fed.). (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

federalni. (various references)

   

Spanish

  

federal. (various references)

   

Swedish

  

förbunds- (federate, Federative). (various references)

   

Thai

  

เกี่ยวกับสหพันธรัฐ, สหพันธรัฐ (federation). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

federe (federate, federated, Federative), federal (Federative). (various references)

   

Turkmen 

  

federatiw (r) (federative). (various references)

   

Ukrainian

  

федеральний, загальнодержавний. (various references)

   

Welsh

  

ffederal, cyfamodol (covenanted). (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

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Ancestral Language Translations: Federal

LanguagePeriodTranslations
Latin500 BCE-Modern

foederare, foedus. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Derivations & Misspellings: Federal

Derivations

Words beginning with "federal": federalese, federaleses, federalism, federalisms, federalist, federalists, federalization, federalizations, federalize, federalized, federalizes, federalizing, federally, federals. (additional references)

Words ending with "federal": confederal, nonfederal. (additional references)

Words containing "federal": antifederalist, antifederalists. (additional references)


Misspellings

"Federal" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Fedefam, Federalni, federial, fedral, feedered, Feldgrau, feneral, Fidra, fieral. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Rhyming with "Federal"

# of Phoneme MatchesPronunciationWord(s) rhyming with "federal" (pronounced fe"derul or fe"drul)
3-er u ladmiral, agricultural, architectural, behavioral, bilateral, collateral, Corporal, countercultural, cultural, doctoral, doggerel, electoral, ephemeral, femoral, funeral, Gen, general, guttural, horticultural, humoral, inaugural, structural, supernatural, temporal, intercultural, lateral, liberal, literal, littoral, mackerel, mayoral, mineral, multicultural, multilateral, natural, neoliberal, nomenclatural, nonagricultural, numeral, pastoral, pectoral, peripheral, pickerel, postdoctoral, prefectural, procedural, scriptural, sculptural, sectoral, trilateral, unilateral, unnatural, visceral.
4-d r u lcathedral, tetrahedral, octahedral, scoundrel.
3-r u lamoral, ancestral, antiviral, apparel, astral, aural, auroral, austral, Balmoral, barrel, Beryl, boral, Carle, Carol, carrel, central, cerebral, choral, coral, feral, floral, gambrel, goral, immoral, imperil, Sorel, Sorrel, spiral, sterile, integral, intramural, laurel, Loral, minstrel, mistral, mitral, moral, mural, neural, neutral, nostril, oral, orchestral, peril, plural, quarrel, rural, several, ventral, vertebral, viral, virile.

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

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Anagrams: Federal

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Words within the letters "a-d-e-e-f-l-r"

-1 letter: deafer, dealer, deflea, fardel, feared, flared, leader, leafed.

-2 letters: alder, defer, eared, elder, fader, fared, farle, feral, flare, fleer, freed, lader, laree, refed, refel.

-3 letters: alee, alef, dale, dare, deaf, deal, dear, deer, dele, delf, dere, dree, earl, fade, fard, fare, farl, feal, fear, feed, feel, fere, flea, fled, flee, frae, free, lade.

 Words containing the letters "a-d-e-e-f-l-r"
 

+1 letter: deferral, deflater, faltered, federals, freeload, pedalfer, reflated.

 

+2 letters: defaulter, deferrals, deflaters, delftware, federally, fieldfare, filagreed, flattered, freeloads, pedalfers, prefeudal, refloated.

 

+3 letters: alderflies, confederal, defaulters, deferrable, deflagrate, deformable, defrayable, delftwares, fairleader, farewelled, federalese, federalism, federalist, federalize, fieldfares, fireplaced, firewalled, foreladies, freelanced, freeloaded, freeloader, nonfederal, refundable, reinflated.

 

+4 letters: barefacedly, deferential, deferrables, deflagrated, deflagrates, deformalize, fairleaders, federaleses, federalisms, federalists, federalized, federalizes, forestalled, frankpledge, fraudulence, freeloaders, freeloading, halfhearted, leapfrogged, lifeguarded, requalified, severalfold.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

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INDEX

1. Definition
2. Synonyms
3. Crosswords
4. Usage: Modern 		5. Usage: Commercial
6. Images: Slideshow
7. Images: Photo Album
8. Images: Digital Art 		9. Quotations: Familiar
10. Quotations: Historic
11. Quotations: Non-fiction
12. Quotations: Spoken 		13. Quotations: Speeches
14. Usage Frequency
15. Names: Company Usage
16. Expressions 		17. Expressions: Internet
18. Translations: Modern
19. Translations: Ancient
20. Abbreviations 		21. Acronyms
22. Derivations
23. Rhymes
24. Anagrams 		25. Bibliography


  

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