what are some research engines i could use to find out about american policies and bills?
435834
There's a really good portal called firstgov.gov.  It's got links to all the various agencies, and it also has links to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), as well as significant regulations (like the Federal Acquisition Regulations - FAR).  \n\nIt's a very good one-stop starting point.
171443
You should check out http://www.politics1.com. They list canidates for not only the major parties but third parties as well and also state offices in 2006.
492305
I think that you can find most of that at http://www.nationmaster.com/. I use it when I need economic and energy statistics by country. I wish you luck finding your data!
712220
http://americanhistory.about.com/\n\nhttp://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/history/toc.htm
1015489
http://www.firstgov.gov is a great starting point for looking for government information and state grants.
381894
Examines and analyzes politics - why legislators vote as they do, why they propose certain bills, why the President and his administration takes certain actions.  \n\nDoes that help?  Are you looking for something more specific?
233776
Try the "Thomas" website of the House--I think it may be run by the Library of Congress.  C-SPAN should have a link on their website.  Good Luck.
466531
try this http://www.doi.gov/
562560
you can look up things on google, check the newspaper periodical databases. You could also use some of you own personal assessments.
329215
Try this Washington website for a bunch of ideas...just too many to list!
198868
Contact your local ad federal congreesmen or senators.  They can provide you with all the info about any state or federal progams you might be interested in.
661268
Your public library is a great resource and often overlooked in deference to the internet. Try your local senator/representative's offices. I'm sure that they will be more than happy to help you, whether online or in person (depending on where you live. Remember - every vote counts)! Democrats.com, Republicans.com - look around the net for similar pages. Read up on the history of both parties and of the other parties in the usa - read the History of the parties in England from which the parties in America are descended. Learn how the parties have changed, over the years. Make certain that you join the party of TODAY - not only the ideals of yesterday, but the realities of today mixed with the hopes for tomorrow.
280774
You can find copies, spreadsheets, and some analyses as well as other links at the U.S. Office of Managment and Budget here: \n2006 - http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2006/\n2007 - http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2007/\n\nHave fun!
596368
If you mean the US House of Reps.  you can look it up here:\n\nhttp://www.house.gov/
36633
http://www.house.gov/
35809
Any search engine will work (Google, Yahoo, etc).  You might want to narrow down the topic a bit (ex. battles in NJ, Deborah Sampson, or Fort Ticonderoga).  PBS did a television series called Liberty! which was very good, and there is also info on their website (www.pbs.org).
344985
This searches for things in the American Library of Congress by day rather than by year, but maybe it will help anyway: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/archive.html