About the US Federal Government training

They’re from the government, and they're here to help.

But who are they, and what do they actually do on a day-to-day basis? The US federal government is a vast and complex organization, shaped by historical quirks, lobbying efforts, and bureaucratic evolution. With over 2 million civilian employees and another 2 million in the military, it manages an immense range of responsibilities.

And it can be counterintuitive and confusing to navigate. This Primer demystifies the federal system, detailing its structure, the roles and activities of its departments & agencies, how funding and appropriations work, and how these pieces come together in practice.

Learning objectives

In this Primer, you will learn:

• What do the different branches of the federal government really do?

• How is the executive branch organized?

• What do departments and agencies do?

• How are departments and agencies organized, and what are the key roles to know?

• How is the government funded?

• What does the appropriations process entail?