Americans are increasingly concerned about the federal government's impact in their lives. While the news media inform us more fully about government these days, it is not always easy to grasp what ‘those people in Washington’ really do and why they do it, or how that affects what happens back home.

C-SPAN has opened a window onto Washington, providing journalists a unique opportunity to learn more about the system. Some observers say television shows mostly staged political rituals. But it still offers a view of the federal government that few Americans have had a chance to see. You can cover debate of policy issues that may affect thousands of people in your area and millions more nationally. You can watch our political leaders being tested. You can report on hearings and symposia that help set the agenda for policymaking and legislation.