How our government works

The Iowa House of Representatives (seen here), the Senate and the Governor work together to make Iowa law/Gazette archive photo

By Nancy Owen
Iowa.com

First the history lesson: Iowa was the 29th state admitted into the union on Dec. 28, 1846. At that time, Iowa City was the state capital. Eleven years later – in 1857 – a new state constitution was drafted and Des Moines became the capital. Like the federal government, Iowa government has three distinct branches: the judicial, executive, and legislative. Read More

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION - Covering Iowa Politics (blog)

LEARN MORE

• Find out about taxes
• Register to vote
• Learn how a bill is passed
• Track legislation / Iowa General Assembly
• Learn about laws
• Learn about Iowa politics
• Find out who my Iowa elected official are
• Map of congressional districts
• Iowa Secretary of State election information

On Twitter:

• State Rep. Tyler Olson @ http://twitter.com/tylerolson

• State Rep. Renee Schulte @ http://twitter.com/reneeschulte

• U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley @ http://twitter.com/chuckgrassley

• House Democrats @ http://twitter.com/iahousedemocrat

• Iowa Senate Republican Caucus @IowaSRC http://twitter.com/IowaSRC

Your Turn: Suggest legislation, policy changes for Iowa Gov. Chet Culver on the Chet Chat page.