FedStats Statistics on a variety of government functions and programs. With search engine.
On the Issues has brief background pages on the following issues:
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Government Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
Technology
War and Peace
Welfare/Poverty
Newsbatch.com, written by an Administrative Law judge in California contains summaries of 32 issues including:
Abortion
Africa
Americas
Arms Control
Corporate Resp.
Civil Liberties
Death Penalty
Drug Policy
Econ. Inequality
Education
Elec. Dereg.
Environment
Globalization
Gun Control
Health Care
Immigration
Iran
Iraq
Israel-Palestine
Kashmir
North Korea
Political Reform
Race
Religion
Sex and Policy
Social Security
Stem Cells
Tax-Budget
Terrorism
Tobacco
Tort Reform
Welfare
Citizen Joe also has more detailed background papers and primers, but they haven’t been updated since 2009:
Health
Health Care http://citizenjoe.org/node/77
Abortion and Family Planning http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/95
Small Business Health Plans http://citizenjoe.org/node/183
Medicare Prescriptions Drug Act http://citizenjoe.org/node/83
Avian Flu http://citizenjoe.org/node/90
Mad Cow Disease http://citizenjoe.org/node/91
Mental Health http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/87
Obesity http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/94
Jobs and Welfare
Jobs http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/98
Welfare http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/108
Poverty http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/107
Social Security http://citizenjoe.org/node/121
Minimum Wage http://citizenjoe.org/node/176
Unemployment http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/106
Retirement http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/113
Business and the Economy
The current economic situation http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/436 (2009)
Food http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/78
Housing Crisis http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/254
Economic Stimulus Plan http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/364
Doha and the World Trade Organization http://citizenjoe.org/node/93
Trade (facts) http://citizenjoe.org/node/89
Farm Subsidies http://citizenjoe.org/node/99
Crime and Justice
Crime and Justice Overview http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/101
Medical Malpractice http://citizenjoe.org/node/110 http://citizenjoe.org/node/112
Illegal Drugs http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/53
Prisons http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/115
Identity Theft http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/142
Guns http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/140
Death Penalty http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/50
Civil Litigation http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/109
National Security
Armed Forces Overview http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/126
Homeland Security http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/137
Iraq http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/215
Intelligence http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/201
National Missile Defense http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/244
Nuclear Plant Security http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/141
Enemy Combatants and Terrorist Trials http://citizenjoe.org/node/235
State Grants and First Responders http://citizenjoe.org/node/145
Terrorism http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/229
Dubai Ports Deal and Port Security http://citizenjoe.org/node/143
Energy and the Environment
Global Warming http://citizenjoe.org/node/236
Gas prices http://citizenjoe.org/node/233
Fossil Fuels http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/207
Price Gouging at the Gas Pump http://citizenjoe.org/node/252
Clear Skies Act http://citizenjoe.org/node/225
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge http://citizenjoe.org/node/230
Education
Education Overview http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/127
English Language Learners http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/144
No Child Left Behind http://citizenjoe.org/node/65 http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/63
Head Start http://citizenjoe.org/node/116
Higher Education Overview http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/146
Literacy http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/151
Social Issues
The Disabled http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/246
Faith and Religion http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/248
The Homeless http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/250
Immigration http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/175
The Media http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/197
Race and Ethnicity http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/196
Stem Cell Research http://citizenjoe.org/node/102
Same Sex Marriage http://citizenjoe.org/node/194
Internet Neutrality http://citizenjoe.org/node/100
Government and Politics (These are issues that affect the efficiency and quality of government itself) Go here.
To check seemingly sensational political rumors or stories. (You can also check out scams at the home page. ) http://snopes.com/politics/politics.asp