Patricia A. O'Malley

Socia Policy & Programs Consulting Civics and Goverbment Instruction Freeance Writing
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My syndicated column, Community Matters,
uses the U.S. Constitution and current events to teach American government civics. 
I clarify the history, rationale, policies, and procedures
surrounding government operations.

I don’t report the news.  I explain it.   

 

You can read Community Matters at www.tinyurl.com/pat-omalley

 

 

is available for syndication to newspapers and magazines.

- in print or online -

 

Columns are available on a contract or individual basis.

 

Government Operations

 

 

We Need to Begin Teaching Civics Again

Of the People, By the People, For the People

Read the Declaration of Independence

 

 

CONSTITUTION

 

What is the Constitution?

Discover What's Not in the Constitution

Our Living Constitution

Republicans Threaten to Amend the Constitution

 

 

BILL OF RIGHTS

 

Know Your Bill of Rights

Dr. Laura and the First Amendment

Separation of Church and State

 

 

CONGRESS

 

Opening of Congress 

Where Do Our Laws Come From?

Contact Your Legislators

Senate Confirmation Process

What's a Filibuster?

Access Congressional Information

Congressional Pay and Pensions

Lame Duck Congress

Why We Need More Lobbyists

You Can Be A Lobbyist

Why Congress Can't Get Anything Done

What's a SuperCommittee and Why Should I Care?

 

 

PRESIDENCY

 

How to Become President of the United States 

Electoral College 

Obama Citizenship

Obama Inauguration

Executive Orders and the U.S. Constitution

Meet Your Federal Bureaucracy

Navigating the Bureaucracy

Executive Orders

Presidential Czars

State of the Union Address

What Does the Vice President Do?

 

 

COURTS

 

Supreme Court

Appeals Process 

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Government 101

Finding Government Information

Glossary of Political Terms

The Federal Budget Process

The Census

How a Federal Government Shutdown Affects You

Participate in Government Regulations

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 

Authorities, Boards, Commissions 

Community Benefits Agreements

 

 

VOTING and ELECTIONS 

 

Political Parties

Superdelegates

Party Conventions

Voter Registration 

Why Should You Vote?

How Safe is Our Election?

Republicans Want to Steal Your Vote

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read 2011 Topics

A compilation of past columns

is available for purchase

at Best of Community Matters 

Other Issues

 

STIMULUS 

Adventures in Economic Bailouts - 2008

2009 Economic Stimulus Act

Stimulus Update 2010

 

PUBLIC POLICY

What is Public Policy?

 

Who Should Provide Social Services?

 

Disaster Management

Government Must Re-regulate Business

Health Care Reform

Patients' Bill of Rights

Let's Criminalize Poverty 

 

Infrastructure Spending Stimulates the Entire Economy

American Education: We Need Higher Standards

We Are All Welfare Recipients

Who Should Pay Taxes?

Reimagining Capitalism:  From the Ground Up 

Working America's Unemployment Lifeline Serves You

Public Benefits Programs

Republican Senators Approve of Rape

Tell Congress How Much Money You Need

Unemployment Myths, Lies, and Distortions

 

AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS

Middle Class Task Force

We're Waiting for YOU, Mr. President

President Obama's American Jobs Act

Pittsburgh Says "THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!"

Stand in Solidarity with Working People on

April 4

Pennsylvania's Corbett Continues GOP Attack on the Middle Class

Watch Out America. They're Coming for You Next.

Pittsburgh Joins the Fight to Save the Middle Class

 

TERROR AND TORTURE

The US Must Prosecute Torture

Accused Terrorists Should Be Tried As Civilians

 

OPINION - EDITORIAL

TV's Latest Treend Offends All of Us

The American Terrorists

Are You a Patriot?

Beware the Politics of Distraction

 

The Common Culprit in America's Multiple Massive Crises

Congress Wastes Time and Money on College Football Playoffs

Democrats' Successes, Republicans' Lies

Do Campaign Thugs Reveal Our Future?

 

If You Want Peace, Work for Justice

Ignorance Fuels the Crazies

Mainstream News

Obama Appeases Republicans Again

 

Random Thoughts

Random thoughts Volume II

Random Thoughts Volume III

Random Thoughts, Volume IV

 

 

The Tucson Tragedy

We Are All Socialists

 

PROFILES AND HISTORY

What the Triangle Factory Fire Did for Us

C-SPAN

Celebrate the United Nations

Celebrate National Women's Equality Day 

 

Economic and Political Systems

Employee Free Choice Act

Government Wage Standards Have a Long History

 

Homeless Memorial Day

Human Rights Declaration

May Day

National Volunteer Week

Nobel Surprize

 

Pledge of Allegiance

Nonprofit Organizations 

Public Demonstrations Do Bring Chjange

Join Your Friends and Neighbors for the Labor Day Parade

Specter Switches Parties

 

Labor Unions: Myths and Facts 

Unemployment Compensation: Myths and Facts

Welfare in America: Myths and Facts

 

Women's Rights Convention

Workers' Memorial Day

World Food Day