How did the United States change between Sep 1, 2008 and Jul 31, 2010?
Pick two dates. See the laws, the executive orders, the courts, Congress, federal agencies, the Constitution and the budget, as a diff.
$ civicdiff 2008-09-01..2010-07-31 # 23 months
jsonLaws enacted
+358161 notable
Executive orders
+78signed
Final rules
+6,588792 significant
Supreme Court
1 of 8seats changed hands
Agencies
+11 −4departments & tracked agencies
Public debt
+$3.59T$9.65T → $13.2T
The presidency passed from George Walker Bush to Barack Hussein Obama. Congress enacted 358 public laws. 17 senators and 63 representatives took seats that they did not hold before. 1 new justice joined the Supreme Court. Inflation-adjusted federal spending changed +14% (FY2008 → FY2010).
Executive
executive/presidentThe presidencyGeorge Walker Bush R
43rd president
Barack Hussein Obama D
44th president · took office Jan 20, 2009
executive/vice-presidentThe vice presidencyJoseph Robinette Biden Jr. D
took office Jan 20, 2009
executive/cabinetCabinet & senior officials+25−25Wikidata ↗
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Attorney General
Secretary of the Navy · 2 people took this office in between
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Show 17 more cabinet offices
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
White House Chief of Staff
Director of the Office of Management and Budget · 2 people took this office in between
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Ambassador to the United Nations
Director of National Intelligence
David Gompert (acting)
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Administrator of the Small Business Administration
vacant or abolished
U.S. Trade Representative
Ron Kirk D
Other senior officials (3 changed)
Secretary of the Navy · 2 people took this office in between
National Security Advisor
Solicitor General
Neal Katyal D (acting)
6 offices unchanged
Secretary of Defense: Robert Gates R
Postmaster General: John E. Potter R
Postmaster General: John E. Potter R
Chair of the Federal Reserve: Ben Bernanke R
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Michael Mullen
Director of the FBI: Robert Mueller R
executive/ordersExecutive orders78 executive orders signed · George W. Bush 17 · Barack Obama 61
496 → 551 orders (issued since 1994) in force · 23 revoked in this window
EO 13483 Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
Dec 18, 2008 · George W. Bush · revoked by EO 13525
EO 13514 Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance
Oct 5, 2009 · Barack Obama · revoked by EO 13693
EO 13525 Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
Dec 23, 2009 · Barack Obama
EO 13526 Classified National Security Information
Dec 29, 2009 · Barack Obama
EO 13472 Executive Branch Responsibilities With Respect To Orders of Succession
Sep 11, 2008 · George W. Bush
EO 13473 To Authorize Certain Noncompetitive Appointments in the Civil Service for Spouses of Certain Members of the Armed Forces
Sep 25, 2008 · George W. Bush
EO 13474 Amendments to Executive Order 12962
Sep 26, 2008 · George W. Bush
EO 13475 Further Amendments To Executive Orders 12139 And 12949 In Light of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008
Oct 7, 2008 · George W. Bush
Show 6 more
EO 13476 Facilitation of a Presidential Transition
Oct 9, 2008 · George W. Bush
EO 13477 Settlement of Claims Against Libya
Oct 31, 2008 · George W. Bush
EO 13478 Amendments To Executive Order 9397 Relating To Federal Agency Use of Social Security Numbers
Nov 18, 2008 · George W. Bush
EO 13479 Transformation of the National Air Transportation System
Nov 18, 2008 · George W. Bush
EO 13480 Exclusions From the Federal Labor-management Relations Program
Nov 26, 2008 · George W. Bush
EO 13481 Providing An Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice
Dec 9, 2008 · George W. Bush
executive/nominationsSenate confirmations+824Congress.gov ↗
1,119 civilian nominations received · 824 confirmed · 28 withdrawn · 211 returned to the President
Janet Ann Napolitano, of Arizona, to be Secretary of Homeland Security.
confirmed Jan 20, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Peter R. Orszag, of Massachusetts, to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
confirmed Jan 20, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Kenneth Lee Salazar, of Colorado, to be Secretary of the Interior.
confirmed Jan 20, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Thomas J. Vilsack, of Iowa, to be Secretary of Agriculture.
confirmed Jan 20, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Eric K. Shinseki, of Hawaii, to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
confirmed Jan 20, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Arne Duncan, of Illinois, to be Secretary of Education.
confirmed Jan 20, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Steven Chu, of California, to be Secretary of Energy.
confirmed Jan 20, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Hillary Rodham Clinton, of New York, to be Secretary of State.
confirmed Jan 21, 2009 · 94–2
Lisa Perez Jackson, of New Jersey, to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
confirmed Jan 22, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Susan E. Rice, of the District of Columbia, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and the Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations.
confirmed Jan 22, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Ray LaHood, of Illinois, to be Secretary of Transportation.
confirmed Jan 22, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Shaun L. S. Donovan, of New York, to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
confirmed Jan 22, 2009 · voice vote or unanimous consent
Show 11 more top confirmations
Timothy F. Geithner, of New York, to be Secretary of the Treasury.
confirmed Jan 26, 2009 · 60–34
Eric H. Holder, Jr., of the District of Columbia, to be Attorney General.
confirmed Feb 2, 2009 · 75–21
Hilda L. Solis, of California, to be Secretary of Labor.
confirmed Feb 24, 2009 · 80–17
Gary Locke, of Washington, to be Secretary of Commerce.
confirmed Mar 24, 2009
Kathleen Sebelius, of Kansas, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.
confirmed Apr 28, 2009 · 65–31
Civilian nominations only (military promotions excluded). Top confirmations are cabinet-level posts, Supreme Court justices, and the Fed chair.
executive/agenciesFederal agencies+11−4Wikidata ↗
409 → 417 tracked organizations · 16 → 16 executive departments
Office of Financial Stability
established Oct 1, 2008 · office of the United States Department of the Treasury
Office of Congressional Accessibility Services
established Oct 20, 2008 · office providing accessibility services and information in the United States Capitol Complex
ARPA-E
established Jan 1, 2009 · organization
Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission
established Jan 1, 2009
Office of Nuclear Energy
established Jan 1, 2009 · US government agency
Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board
established Jan 1, 2009 · former agency of the United States federal government
Office of Digital Strategy
established Jan 20, 2009 · Executive Branch agency that promotes the U.S. president's messaging through traditional and social media
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
established Feb 17, 2009 · U.S. federal agency responsible for national health IT leadership
Office of Government Information Services
established Sep 1, 2009 · office within the National Archives and Records Administration
Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance
established Jan 1, 2010 · bureau within the U.S. Department of State
Show 5 more
Young African Leaders Initiative
established Jan 1, 2010 · US Department of State project
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
abolished Sep 1, 2009 · agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (1994-2009) · replaced by National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Employment Standards Administration
abolished Nov 8, 2009 · large agency within the U.S. Department of Labor, ESA was eliminated on November 8, 2009
Tropical Prediction Center
abolished Jan 1, 2010
U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
abolished Jan 1, 2010 · defunct division of the U.S. Geological Survey · replaced by USGS Ecosystems Mission Area
Agency start and end dates come from Wikidata, which covers smaller bureaus unevenly.
executive/regulationsFederal regulations+6,588Federal Register API ↗
6,588 final rules published in the Federal Register
from Sep 1, 2008
792 of them flagged "significant" under EO 12866
major economic or policy impact
3,968 proposed rules · 46,152 notices
Loading which agencies published the most rules…
Final rules carry the force of law. Rescissions count as rules too, so this measures regulatory activity, not net growth.
Military
military/conflictsArmed conflictsU.S. in 3 armed conflicts → 4
Yemen: Houthis and AQAP
began 2009 · U.S. troops fighting alongside the government · against Ansarallah, AQAP
3 conflicts active on both dates
War against al-Qaida
since Sep 11, 2001 · U.S. a principal party · against al-Qaida
War in Afghanistan (Taliban insurgency)
since 2003 · U.S. troops fighting alongside the government · against the Taliban
Iraq: insurgency and war against IS
since Jan 18, 2004 · U.S. troops fighting alongside the government · against Ansar al-Islam, IS
An armed conflict here means at least 25 battle deaths in a year, with U.S. forces as a party or fighting for a government (UCDP's definition). Air strikes, raids, and advisory missions below that threshold aren't included. UN peacekeeping missions are excluded.
Legislative
legislative/controlControl of Congress110
111
Top: House · Bottom: Senate DemocraticRepublican
110th Congress → 111th Congress · 1 new Congress elected
0 changes of chamber control along the way
House: Democrat majority on both dates
235 D · 199 R → 255 D · 178 R
Senate: Democrat majority on both dates
51 D · 49 R → 59 D · 41 R
legislative/senateSenate+17−17congress-legislators ↗
17 new members · 17 departed · 83 served on both dates · women 16 → 17 · median age 64 → 64
10 seats changed party
Ted F. Stevens R
Alaska
Mark Begich D
Alaska
Elizabeth H. Dole R
North Carolina
Kay R. Hagan D
North Carolina
Wayne A. Allard R
Colorado
Mark Udall D
Colorado
Pete V. Domenici R
New Mexico
Tom Udall D
New Mexico
Show 6 more seat flips
Gordon Harold Smith R
Oregon
Jeff Merkley D
Oregon
John E. Sununu R
New Hampshire
Jeanne Shaheen D
New Hampshire
John W. Warner R
Virginia
Mark R. Warner D
Virginia
Arlen Specter R
Pennsylvania
Arlen Specter D
Pennsylvania
Norm Coleman R
Minnesota
Al Franken D
Minnesota
Edward M. Kennedy D
Massachusetts
Scott P. Brown R
Massachusetts
Who joined and who left (17 in · 17 out)
Mark Begich D
Alaska
Mark Udall D
Colorado
Michael F. Bennet D
Colorado
Edward E. Kaufman D
Delaware
George S. LeMieux R
Florida
James E. Risch R
Idaho
Roland Burris D
Illinois
Scott P. Brown R
Massachusetts
Al Franken D
Minnesota
Kay R. Hagan D
North Carolina
Mike Johanns R
Nebraska
Jeanne Shaheen D
New Hampshire
Tom Udall D
New Mexico
Kirsten E. Gillibrand D
New York
Jeff Merkley D
Oregon
Mark R. Warner D
Virginia
Carte P. Goodwin D
West Virginia
Ted F. Stevens R
Alaska
Wayne A. Allard R
Colorado
Ken Salazar D
Colorado
Joseph R. Biden Jr. D
Delaware
Mel Martinez R
Florida
Larry E. Craig R
Idaho
Barack Obama D
Illinois
Edward M. Kennedy D
Massachusetts
Norm Coleman R
Minnesota
Elizabeth H. Dole R
North Carolina
Charles T. Hagel R
Nebraska
John E. Sununu R
New Hampshire
Pete V. Domenici R
New Mexico
Hillary Rodham Clinton D
New York
Gordon Harold Smith R
Oregon
John W. Warner R
Virginia
Robert C. Byrd D
West Virginia
legislative/houseHouse+63−64congress-legislators ↗
63 new members · 64 departed · 370 served on both dates · women 71 → 73 · median age 58 → 59
21 state delegations changed
Show delegation changes
Arizona 4 D · 4 R
Arizona 5 D · 3 R
Colorado 4 D · 3 R
Colorado 5 D · 2 R
Connecticut 4 D · 1 R
Connecticut 5 D · 0 R
Florida 9 D · 16 R
Florida 10 D · 15 R
Hawaii 2 D · 0 R
Hawaii 1 D · 1 R
Idaho 0 D · 2 R
Idaho 1 D · 1 R
Illinois 11 D · 8 R
Illinois 12 D · 7 R
Indiana 5 D · 4 R
Indiana 5 D · 3 R
Kansas 2 D · 2 R
Kansas 1 D · 3 R
Louisiana 3 D · 4 R
Louisiana 1 D · 6 R
Maryland 6 D · 2 R
Maryland 7 D · 1 R
Michigan 6 D · 9 R
Michigan 8 D · 7 R
North Carolina 7 D · 6 R
North Carolina 8 D · 5 R
New Jersey 7 D · 6 R
New Jersey 8 D · 5 R
New Mexico 1 D · 2 R
New Mexico 3 D · 0 R
Nevada 1 D · 2 R
Nevada 2 D · 1 R
New York 23 D · 6 R
New York 26 D · 2 R
Ohio 6 D · 11 R
Ohio 10 D · 8 R
Pennsylvania 11 D · 8 R
Pennsylvania 12 D · 7 R
Texas 13 D · 19 R
Texas 12 D · 20 R
Virginia 3 D · 8 R
Virginia 6 D · 5 R
Who joined and who left (63 in · 64 out)
Bobby Bright D
Alabama-2
Parker Griffith R
Alabama-5
Ann Kirkpatrick D
Arizona-1
Duncan Hunter R
California-52
Tom McClintock R
California-4
Judy Chu D
California-32
John Garamendi D
California-10
Betsy Markey D
Colorado-4
Mike Coffman R
Colorado-6
Jared Polis D
Colorado-2
James A. Himes D
Connecticut-4
Suzanne M. Kosmas D
Florida-24
Alan Grayson D
Florida-8
Thomas J. Rooney R
Florida-16
Bill Posey R
Florida-15
Theodore E. Deutch D
Florida-19
Tom Graves R
Georgia-9
Charles Djou R
Hawaii-1
Walter Minnick D
Idaho-1
Deborah L. Halvorson D
Illinois-11
Aaron Schock R
Illinois-18
Mike Quigley D
Illinois-5
Lynn Jenkins R
Kansas-2
Brett Guthrie R
Kentucky-2
Anh Cao R
Louisiana-2
John Fleming R
Louisiana-4
Bill Cassidy R
Louisiana-6
Frank Kratovil Jr. D
Maryland-1
Chellie Pingree D
Maine-1
Mark H. Schauer D
Michigan-7
Gary C. Peters D
Michigan-9
Erik Paulsen R
Minnesota-3
Blaine Luetkemeyer R
Missouri-9
Gregg Harper R
Mississippi-3
Larry Kissell D
North Carolina-8
John H. Adler D
New Jersey-3
Leonard Lance R
New Jersey-7
Harry Teague D
New Mexico-2
Martin Heinrich D
New Mexico-1
Ben Ray Luján D
New Mexico-3
Dina Titus D
Nevada-3
Michael E. McMahon D
New York-13
Christopher John Lee R
New York-26
Daniel B. Maffei D
New York-25
Paul Tonko D
New York-21
Scott Murphy D
New York-20
William L. Owens D
New York-23
John A. Boccieri D
Ohio-16
Steve Driehaus D
Ohio-1
Mary Jo Kilroy D
Ohio-15
Steve Austria R
Ohio-7
Marcia L. Fudge D
Ohio-11
Kurt Schrader D
Oregon-5
Kathleen A. Dahlkemper D
Pennsylvania-3
Glenn Thompson R
Pennsylvania-5
Mark S. Critz D
Pennsylvania-12
David P. Roe R
Tennessee-1
Pete Olson R
Texas-22
Jason Chaffetz R
Utah-3
Glenn C. Nye D
Virginia-2
Thomas S. P. Perriello D
Virginia-5
Gerald E. Connolly D
Virginia-11
Cynthia M. Lummis R
Wyoming-AL
Robert E. Cramer Jr. D
Alabama-5
Terry Everett R
Alabama-2
Rick Renzi R
Arizona-1
John T. Doolittle R
California-4
Duncan L. Hunter R
California-52
Hilda L. Solis D
California-32
Ellen O. Tauscher D
California-10
Marilyn N. Musgrave R
Colorado-4
Thomas G. Tancredo R
Colorado-6
Mark Udall D
Colorado-2
Christopher H. Shays R
Connecticut-4
Tom C. Feeney R
Florida-24
Ric Keller R
Florida-8
Tim Mahoney D
Florida-16
David J. Weldon Jr. R
Florida-15
Robert Wexler D
Florida-19
Nathan Deal R
Georgia-9
Neil Abercrombie D
Hawaii-1
Bill Sali R
Idaho-1
Rahm Emanuel D
Illinois-5
Ray H. LaHood R
Illinois-18
Gerald C. Weller R
Illinois-11
Mark Edward Souder R
Indiana-3
Nancy E. Boyda D
Kansas-2
Ron Lewis R
Kentucky-2
William J. Jefferson D
Louisiana-2
James O. McCrery III R
Louisiana-4
Donald J. Cazayoux Jr. D
Louisiana-6
Wayne T. Gilchrest R
Maryland-1
Thomas H. Allen D
Maine-1
Joseph K. Knollenberg R
Michigan-9
Tim Walberg R
Michigan-7
James M. Ramstad R
Minnesota-3
Kenny C. Hulshof R
Missouri-9
Charles W. Pickering Jr. R
Mississippi-3
Robin C. Hayes R
North Carolina-8
Michael Ferguson R
New Jersey-7
H. James Saxton R
New Jersey-3
Heather A. Wilson R
New Mexico-1
Stevan Pearce R
New Mexico-2
Tom Udall D
New Mexico-3
Jon Christopher Porter Sr. R
Nevada-3
Vito J. Fossella Jr. R
New York-13
John R. Kuhl Jr. R
New York-29
Michael R. McNulty D
New York-21
Thomas M. Reynolds R
New York-26
James T. Walsh R
New York-25
John M. McHugh R
New York-23
Kirsten E. Gillibrand D
New York-20
David Lee Hobson R
Ohio-7
Deborah D. Pryce R
Ohio-15
Ralph Regula R
Ohio-16
Steve Chabot R
Ohio-1
Darlene Hooley D
Oregon-5
Philip English R
Pennsylvania-3
John E. Peterson R
Pennsylvania-5
John P. Murtha D
Pennsylvania-12
David Davis R
Tennessee-1
Nicholas V. Lampson D
Texas-22
Christopher B. Cannon R
Utah-3
Thomas M. Davis III R
Virginia-11
Thelma D. Drake R
Virginia-2
Virgil H. Goode Jr. R
Virginia-5
Barbara L. Cubin R
Wyoming-AL
legislative/lawsLaws enacted+358Congress.gov ↗
358 public laws enacted · 4 landmark · 157 notable · 102 routine · 95 ceremonial
Government Accountability Office Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-323 · Sep 22, 2008
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-324 · Sep 24, 2008
ADA Amendments Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-325 · Sep 25, 2008
Former Vice President Protection Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-326 · Sep 26, 2008
Need-Based Educational Aid Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-327 · Sep 30, 2008
SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act
Pub. L. 110-328 · Sep 30, 2008
Show 30 more notable laws
Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009
Pub. L. 110-329 · Sep 30, 2008
Library of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-336 · Oct 2, 2008
John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-338 · Oct 3, 2008
Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2007
Pub. L. 110-339 · Oct 3, 2008
Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-340 · Oct 3, 2008
Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act
Pub. L. 110-344 · Oct 7, 2008
Drug Endangered Children Act of 2007
Pub. L. 110-345 · Oct 7, 2008
North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-346 · Oct 7, 2008
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-351 · Oct 7, 2008
Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-354 · Oct 8, 2008
Health Care Safety Net Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-355 · Oct 8, 2008
Federal Protective Service Guard Contracting Reform Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-356 · Oct 8, 2008
Effective Child Pornography Prosecution Act of 2007
Pub. L. 110-358 · Oct 8, 2008
Old Post Office Building Redevelopment Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-359 · Oct 8, 2008
Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-360 · Oct 8, 2008
Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education Amendments of 2008
Pub. L. 110-361 · Oct 8, 2008
Oregon Surplus Federal Land Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-364 · Oct 8, 2008
Great Lakes Legacy Reauthorization Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-365 · Oct 8, 2008
Defense Production Act Extension and Reauthorization of 2008
Pub. L. 110-367 · Oct 8, 2008
United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act
Pub. L. 110-369 · Oct 8, 2008
Native American Heritage Day Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-370 · Oct 8, 2008
Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2008
Pub. L. 110-371 · Oct 8, 2008
Senior Professional Performance Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-372 · Oct 8, 2008
ALS Registry Act
Pub. L. 110-373 · Oct 8, 2008
Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act
Pub. L. 110-374 · Oct 8, 2008
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-376 · Oct 8, 2008
Poison Center Support, Enhancement, and Awareness Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-377 · Oct 8, 2008
Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-378 · Oct 8, 2008
QI Program Supplemental Funding Act of 2008
Pub. L. 110-379 · Oct 8, 2008
Michelle's Law
Pub. L. 110-381 · Oct 9, 2008
Judicial
judicial/supreme-courtThe Supreme CourtBench by appointing party: 7 R · 2 D → 5 R · 3 D
John Paul Stevens R
appointed by Gerald Ford · 1975
David Hackett Souter R
appointed by George H.W. Bush · 1990
Sonia Sotomayor D
appointed by Barack Obama · 2009
7 justices served on both dates
Antonin Scalia R
appointed by Ronald Reagan · 1986
Anthony McLeod Kennedy R
appointed by Ronald Reagan · 1988
Clarence Thomas R
appointed by George H.W. Bush · 1991
Ruth Bader Ginsburg D
appointed by William J. Clinton · 1993
Stephen Gerald Breyer D
appointed by William J. Clinton · 1994
John Glover Roberts, Jr. R
appointed by George W. Bush · 2005
Samuel A. Alito, Jr. R
appointed by George W. Bush · 2006
judicial/lower-courtsAppeals & district courtsCourts of appeals (active judges): 101 R · 65 D · 2 N( → 91 R · 67 D · 1 N(
District courts (active judges): 370 R · 278 D → 353 R · 246 D
George W. Bush R appointed 10 judges
10 district
Barack Obama D appointed 37 judges
1 Supreme Court · 9 appeals · 27 district
3 circuits flipped majority
First Circuit 2 D · 3 R (R majority)
First Circuit 3 D · 3 R (tie majority)
Third Circuit 6 D · 6 R (tie majority)
Third Circuit 8 D · 6 R (D majority)
Fourth Circuit 5 D · 6 R (R majority)
Fourth Circuit 7 D · 5 R (D majority)
D and R describe the party of the appointing president, not the judge. Active service ends when a judge takes senior status.
judicial/rulingsSupreme Court decisions155 argued decisions · 6 landmark
Cordell Pearson v. Afton Callahan
555 U.S. 223 · Jan 21, 2009 · Decided 9–0 · Civil Rights · Reversed · Overruled precedent
Montejo v. Louisiana
556 U.S. 778 · May 26, 2009 · Decided 5–4 · Criminal Procedure · Vacated and remanded · Overruled precedent
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
558 U.S. 310 · Jan 21, 2010 · Decided 5–4 · First Amendment · Affirmed in part, reversed in part, remanded · Overruled precedent · Declared federal law unconstitutional
United States v. Stevens
559 U.S. 460 · Apr 20, 2010 · Decided 8–1 · First Amendment · Affirmed · Declared federal law unconstitutional
Free Enterprise Fund and Beckstead and Watts v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
561 U.S. 477 · Jun 28, 2010 · Decided 5–4 · Miscellaneous · Affirmed in part, reversed in part, remanded · Declared federal law unconstitutional
Otis McDonald v. City of Chicago
561 U.S. 742 · Jun 28, 2010 · Decided 5–4 · Criminal Procedure · Reversed and remanded · Overruled precedent · Struck down local ordinance
Landmark means the Court overruled precedent, struck down a federal law, or the case is on a curated landmark list.
Fiscal
fiscal/budgetThe federal budget+14% real spendingOMB Historical Tables ↗
Fiscal year 2008 → fiscal year 2010 · inflation-adjusted with the GDP price index
Spending $2.98T
FY2008
Spending $3.46T
FY2010 · +16% nominal · +14% after inflation
Revenue $2.52T
FY2008
Revenue $2.16T
FY2010 · −14% nominal · −16% after inflation
Surplus / deficit −$459B
FY2008
Surplus / deficit −$1.29T
FY2010 · −$836B
Spending, % of GDP 20.2%
FY2008
Spending, % of GDP 23.2%
FY2010 · +3.0 pts
Debt held by the public, % of GDP 39.2%
FY2008
Debt held by the public, % of GDP 60.6%
FY2010 · +21.4 pts
Spending by function · real change
fiscal/debtTotal public debt outstanding+$3.59TTreasury Fiscal Data ↗
$9.65T
as of Aug 29, 2008
$13.2T
as of Jul 30, 2010
Constitution & Union
constitution/amendmentsAmendments & statehood27 → 27 amendments in force · 50 → 50 states
No amendments ratified and no states admitted. The last amendment was the 27th, in 1992.
Log
logEverything in between174 events
- lawGovernment Accountability Office Act of 2008
- lawVeterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008
- lawADA Amendments Act of 2008
- lawFormer Vice President Protection Act of 2008
- lawNeed-Based Educational Aid Act of 2008
- lawSSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act
- lawConsolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009
- lawLibrary of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act of 2008
- lawJohn F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2008
- lawHealthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2007
- lawChild Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008
- lawEmergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
- lawEmmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act
- lawDrug Endangered Children Act of 2007
- lawNorth Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008
- lawFostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
- lawBreast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2008
- lawHealth Care Safety Net Act of 2008
- lawFederal Protective Service Guard Contracting Reform Act of 2008
- lawEffective Child Pornography Prosecution Act of 2007
- lawOld Post Office Building Redevelopment Act of 2008
- lawDebbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2008
- lawPaul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education Amendments of 2008
- lawOregon Surplus Federal Land Act of 2008
- lawGreat Lakes Legacy Reauthorization Act of 2008
- lawDefense Production Act Extension and Reauthorization of 2008
- lawUnited States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act
- lawNative American Heritage Day Act of 2008
- lawAppalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2008
- lawSenior Professional Performance Act of 2008
- lawALS Registry Act
- lawPrenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act
- lawUnited States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008
- lawPoison Center Support, Enhancement, and Awareness Act of 2008
- lawReconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008
- lawQI Program Supplemental Funding Act of 2008
- lawMichelle's Law
- lawMilitary Personnel Citizenship Processing Act
- lawPechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2007
- lawLet Our Veterans Rest in Peace Act of 2008
- lawBroadband Data Improvement Act
- lawHydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008
- lawVeterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008
- lawVeterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008
- lawWhite Mountain Apache Tribe Rural Water System Loan Authorization Act
- lawSpecial Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program Act
- lawComprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act of 2008
- lawNational Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008
- lawPresidential Historical Records Preservation Act of 2008
- lawAir Carriage of International Mail Act
- lawJudicial Administration and Technical Amendments Act of 2008
- lawDrug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008
- lawCriminal History Background Checks Pilot Extension Act of 2008
- lawInspector General Reform Act of 2008
- lawNative American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2008
- lawStephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act of 2008
- lawMercury Export Ban Act
- lawMethamphetamine Production Prevention Act of 2008
- lawMentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2008
- lawDuncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009
- lawCode Talkers Recognition Act of 2008
- lawBulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2008
- lawNASA Authorization Act of 2008
- lawRyan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008
- lawStephanie Tubbs Jones Organ Transplant Authorization Act of 2008
- lawInmate Tax Fraud Prevention Act of 2008
- lawNaval Vessel Transfer Act of 2008
- lawVessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008
- lawWebcaster Settlement Act of 2008
- lawCapitol Visitor Center Act of 2008
- lawNational Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008
- lawUnemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008
- lawChild Safe Viewing Act of 2007
- lawAlbuquerque Indian School Act
- orderAdjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
- lawAmerica's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008
- lawWilliam Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008
- lawWorker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008
- war+Yemen: Houthis and AQAP
- presidentBarack Hussein Obama takes office
- rulingCordell Pearson v. Afton Callahan
- lawLilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
- lawAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
- lawOmnibus Appropriations Act, 2009
- lawOmnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009
- lawFederal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2009
- lawEdward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
- lawSpecial Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2009
- lawStatutory Time-Periods Technical Amendments Act of 2009
- lawCivil Rights History Project Act of 2009
- lawProtecting Incentives for the Adoption of Children with Special Needs Act of 2009
- lawFraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009
- lawWeapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009
- lawCredit CARD Act of 2009
- rulingMontejo v. Louisiana
- lawRonald Reagan Centennial Commission Act
- lawAntitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 Extension Act
- lawSupplemental Appropriations Act, 2009
- lawNative American Heritage Day Act of 2009
- lawWebcaster Settlement Act of 2009
- lawVeterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009
- lawKorean War Veterans Recognition Act
- justiceSonia Sotomayor — Associate Justice
- lawMiami Dade College Land Conveyance Act
- lawJudicial Survivors Protection Act of 2009
- lawUtah Recreational Land Exchange Act of 2009
- lawWIPA and PABSS Reauthorization Act of 2009
- lawFiscal Year 2010 Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act
- orderFederal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance
- lawEnhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009
- lawForeign Evidence Request Efficiency Act of 2009
- lawAgriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
- lawVeterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009
- lawDepartment of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010
- lawNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
- lawEnergy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
- lawRyan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009
- lawMorris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Amendments Act of 2009
- lawWorker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009
- lawCredit CARD Technical Corrections Act of 2009
- lawMilitary Spouses Residency Relief Act
- lawReserve Officers Association Modernization Act of 2009
- lawNo Social Security Benefits for Prisoners Act of 2009
- lawConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2010
- lawDepartment of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010
- lawAirline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act
- lawHuman Rights Enforcement Act of 2009
- orderAdjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
- orderClassified National Security Information
- rulingCitizens United v. Federal Election Commission
- lawEmergency Aid to American Survivors of the Haiti Earthquake Act
- lawNuclear Forensics and Attribution Act
- lawSocial Security Disability Applicants' Access to Professional Representation Act of 2010
- lawCriminal History Background Checks Pilot Extension Act of 2009
- lawExtension Act of 2010
- lawUnited States Capitol Police Administrative Technical Corrections Act of 2009
- lawTrademark Technical and Conforming Amendment Act of 2010
- lawPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
- lawSatellite Television Extension Act of 2010
- lawHealth Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
- lawFederal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010
- lawPrevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009
- lawPrevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act
- lawContinuing Extension Act of 2010
- rulingUnited States v. Stevens
- lawHaiti Debt Relief and Earthquake Recovery Act of 2010
- lawTRICARE Affirmation Act
- lawAirport and Airway Extension Act of 2010
- lawCaregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010
- lawDaniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009
- lawBlue Ridge Parkway and Town of Blowing Rock Land Exchange Act of 2009
- lawHaiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010
- lawLord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009
- lawFederal Judiciary Administrative Improvements Act of 2010
- lawSatellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010
- lawExtending Immunities to the Office of the High Representative and the International Civilian Office in Kosovo Act of 2010
- lawSpecial Agent Samuel Hicks Families of Fallen Heroes Act
- lawPreservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010
- rulingFree Enterprise Fund and Beckstead and Watts v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
- rulingOtis McDonald v. City of Chicago
- lawComprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010
- lawNational Flood Insurance Program Extension Act of 2010
- lawAirport and Airway Extension Act of 2010, Part II
- lawHomebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010
- lawFormaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act
- lawCongressional Award Program Reauthorization Act of 2009
- lawDodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
- lawImproper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010
- lawUnemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010
- lawShasta-Trinity National Forest Administrative Jurisdiction Transfer Act
- lawCruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010
- lawIndian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act of 2010
- lawSupplemental Appropriations Act, 2010
- lawIndependent Living Centers Technical Adjustment Act