What exactly goes on in the U.S. Congress on a daily basis? This is a question that many people would like to know, and this website is a great way to find that out. The CapitolHearings.org site was created by C-SPAN in conjunction with Congressional Quarterly, and it provides detailed information about ongoing Congressional hearings and sessions, along with some fun trivia. Visitors can use the...

The Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is designed to be "the world's central address for ethical decision in international affairs." It's a tall order for any one organization, and it's a mission that is in part fulfilled by this very well-designed and informative website. On their homepage, visitors can learn about upcoming events sponsored by the Council, take in some of their...

For readers looking for erudite libertarian and fiscally conservative arguments on the nature of social security, this special section from the Cato Institute provides well-informed critiques of the current system, as well as suggestions for how to trim budgets, roll back entitlements, and shrink government. Edited by Senior Cato Fellows, Jose Pinera and Michael D. Tanner, recent articles have...

The Cato Institute is a think tank that promotes "principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace." For those looking for a libertarian perspective on a wide range of issues, the Cato Policy Report, published six times a year, will not disappoint. Recent cover stories have included an examination of "Science, Reason, and Moral Progress," by Michael Shermer, the...

The Center for Civic Education is a non-partisan educational corporation started in 1969 in Calabasas, California, to educate America's citizens about democratic principles. Their website's "About Us" section has a powerful quote by Thomas Jefferson that sums up their rationale and goals for starting the Center: "I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people...

Since its creation in 1995, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has worked "to promote democratic values and constitutional liberties in the digital age." The homepage contains thematic headings that will guide visitors to much of the important material here, and includes such areas as the CDT's Legislative Center, its Resource Library, and several of its most recent policy briefs. Perhaps...

How is the Internet organized? Is it a democracy? Or is it increasingly controlled by large media corporations bent on limiting what people can do or see on various websites? These are valid questions, and the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) is intimately involved with such matters. Founded in 2001, the CDD has worked on developing the campaign for an open broadband Internet, along with leading...

Established in 1999 at the Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS) is primarily interested in supporting women asylum-seekers who are fleeing gender related harm. Additionally, they work "to impact the development of law and policy to protect women fleeing gender-based violence." The Center's website is a great place to learn about many of the...

Founded in 1990, the George Washington University Center for Health Services and Policy is "dedicated to providing policymakers, public health officials, health care administrators, and advocates with the information and ideas they need to improve access to quality, affordable health care." With a staff of several dozen, the Center's work falls into a number of topical areas, such as welfare...

Based at Stanford University, the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) is part of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Their focus is on "addressing some of the world's most difficult security problems with policy-relevant solutions." On the homepage, visitors can learn about CISAC's latest research projects, scan their calendar of events, and learn about...