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Meet Your Federal Government (1946)

Reviews the structure and function of the federal government, as seen through the eyes of a high-school senior. Explains the nature and functions of each of the three main branches and the system of checks and balances.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Production Company: Young America Films / McGraw-Hill
Audio/Visual: sound, b&w

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: GE_Pretzel - - April 2, 2006
Subject: A useful introduction
This film offers a concise overview of the three main branches of the federal government of the United States. The specific functions of each branch are explained, along with a review of the system of checks and balances. It would have been helpful if there were more details provided about the various cabinet positions in the executive branch, but there is still enough information imparted to give the viewer a good general knowledge of how the federal government operates.

Reviewer: uniQ - - May 28, 2005
Subject: Standard Governmental Explanation
This explanatory film starts out with the "Young America Films" standard card, which is slightly scary as it could just as easily be something to do with, say, Clifton L. Gainus! The eagle also looks slightly smug.

1946... right after WWII

Hey you! No walking on the grass! Or that dumb "fence" either!

He's also got the most annoying walk/posture...

Do they even teach Civics anymore?

Incase someone missed it, he said "when Mr. Miller goes to Washington". He's referring to the film "Mr. Smith goes to Washington", which I hope is PD so Rick can get that also, but anyway.

Union Station! And that locomotive has a keystone on it... wonder what rail line he was on?

"Federal Agencies are scattered all over the country" what's he mean by that? The local offices, or what?

He starts with the LoC! My props to him. Wow, I don't think you can get that close to the US Constitution anymore (Or be the only ones looking @ it!), but I don't know. Someone who'se been there recently might want to correct me.

Note, with the recent controversies the usuall comments about the explanations apply depending on your take on things. I'll leave then for you to make personally.

Let's go look @ a branch!

It'd be really cool if you could look @ them and how they worked!

HaH! New Mexico, Arazona, Nedava and Wyoming have ONE Representative! (Wyoming still only has one, NV and NM have 3 now and AZ has EIGHT)

I'm really glad one of these explanation actually metion where the territories sit, or that they exist @ all...

I love the US Mint/BEP pics, peeling it off the plates!

HaH! The gas tax before it was 9/10s of a cent!

The Interstate Commerce Commission, now the Surface Transportation Board, which unfortunately shares its acronym with a secret police force.

When he's going off about the White House, look down the street. There's someone wearing a placard... and noone cares!

Hmm... well War and Navy are Defence now (They were 1st the "Nation Military Establishment" or NME (Say it out loud to see why they changed it)) Post Office is a company now and H&HS and DHS have since been added, O yea and Veterans Affairs (Sorry guys, forgot you).


Shouldn't it be "Judicial" not "Judiciary" in keeping with "Executive" and "Legislative" ?

Is it just me or are the monuments deserted?

If you want to see more, check out "Tuesday in November", also on this Archive.

-uniQ

Reviewer: Spuzz - - May 28, 2005
Subject: So THAT'S what it looks like!
Rather simplistic film that teaches us about the levels of Federal Government by a chap with a rather thick eastern accent, and his Grandfather, a congressman who strangely enough, doesnt have an accent, but is blessed with an announcer-type voice. Since the boy is writing about government for his civics class, he goes to Washington, where he learns about the gummint from his Granddad. From here, basic models and some stock footage is used to help explain this. It's a pretty broad description, but the film goes by rather smoothly because of it actually. Highlight is at the end of the film when they go to the Washington Monument, and they see it up close, which is almost a first for me, all the other films I've seen usually have it on a distant profile.