What are the best well-written and scholarly (read: thoughtful and well-researched, not partisan or propagandistic) books or reports on which US government programs are managed effectively and which poorly, and why?
posted by shivohum on Dec 3, 2009 - 7 answers

Australian (and U.S.) Mental Health/Legal Filter. Can you just go and talk your GP into having someone put through a psychiatric evaluation? [more inside]
posted by metalheart on Feb 1, 2009 - 14 answers

I'm looking for a good book that will help me learn more about how the American government actually works. Specifically, how lobbyists influence Congress, how House committees work, etc. Now that a new administration (that I'm really happy about) is coming in, I want to really understand what's happening in Washington (or at least how its worked in the past).
posted by minicloud on Nov 22, 2008 - 15 answers

Immigration Law! Help me get my bagged Aussie into the U.S. and A. [more inside]
posted by metalheart on Oct 26, 2008 - 14 answers

What's it like working for NASA these days? What will it be like in 5-10 years? [more inside]
posted by phrontist on Nov 9, 2007 - 21 answers

Security Clearance/Foreign Service-filter: I'm thinking of a career in the Foreign Service when I get out of college (T-minus 4 years), which I am just now entering. While metafilter has had questions about this before, but my situation is am bit different (so I'm hoping the Foreign Service mefites from those threads can chime in). The most important distinction is that I'm looking to be a Security Engineering Officer, or in some other sort of engineering related role (which falls under "Management" I believe) not a diplomat. Much more after the jump... [more inside]
posted by phrontist on Aug 8, 2006 - 12 answers

How much autonomy do States in the United states in structuring their government? [more inside]
posted by Paris Hilton on Jun 19, 2006 - 15 answers

As I understand it, the US election is won by winning areas and then counting up how many wins each person got. Give or take. It's not all that important to the question.

Does anyone know if/when the actual voter figures will be released? I'd love to compare this system to a true winner-takes-all system...
posted by twine42 on Nov 3, 2004 - 4 answers

On the radio yesterday there was talk of forming a Spy Czar to oversee the 15 different intelligence agencies. I can name maybe 7 different intelligence agencies. What are all 15?
posted by drezdn on Jul 21, 2004 - 8 answers