How to Get Help

United States Authority connects to reference sites covering every level of American government — federal agencies, state governments, and local jurisdictions. This page explains how to find relevant resources by state, by topic, or by need.

Find Resources by State

Each of the 50 states has a dedicated authority domain with comprehensive coverage of state government operations, licensing requirements, and local services. Navigate directly to any state:

Southwest: Arizona | New Mexico | Oklahoma | Texas

Pacific: Alaska | California | Hawaii | Oregon | Washington

Territories and DC: See the Territories and DC page for Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia.

Find Resources by Topic

Licensing and Permits

State authority sites cover professional and trade licensing for contractors, healthcare providers, real estate professionals, and other regulated occupations. Start with the relevant state authority to find the appropriate licensing board and requirements.

Federal Agencies

For questions about federal programs, regulations, or services, the Federal Government page provides a directory of agency authority domains organized by function. Key agency sites include:

Tax questions — IRS Authority
Environmental regulations — EPA Authority
Disaster assistance — FEMA Authority
Social Security benefits — Social Security Authority
Medicare — National Medicare Authority
Veterans services — Veterans Authority

Government Benefits and Assistance

Social Security Authority — Retirement, disability, and survivors benefits
National Medicare Authority — Health insurance for seniors and disabled individuals
Medicaid Authority — Health coverage for low-income populations
Housing Assistance Authority — Federal housing programs
Food Stamp Authority — SNAP nutritional assistance
WIC Authority — Women, Infants, and Children nutrition
Veterans Authority — VA healthcare and benefits

Civic Engagement

Civics Authority — Voter registration, elections, civic participation
Elections Authority — Federal election administration

Understanding Regulations

The American Regulatory Landscape — Overview of how regulations work at each level
How Federal, State, and Local Government Connect — Explains the relationship between government levels

Find Resources by Need

Starting a business — Begin with the relevant state authority site to understand state registration, licensing, and tax requirements. Federal requirements (EIN, federal tax obligations) are covered on IRS Authority.

Getting a professional license — Each state licensing board sets its own requirements. Navigate to the specific state authority to find licensing board contact information, application procedures, and requirements.

Understanding building permits — Building permit requirements are administered at the county or municipal level. State authority sites include county-level coverage directing to local building departments.

Applying for government benefits — Federal benefit programs are documented on agency-specific authority domains. State-administered programs (such as Medicaid) vary by state and are documented on the relevant state authority site.

References

USA.gov — Official Guide to Government Information — https://www.usa.gov/
Benefits.gov — Government Benefits Finder — https://www.benefits.gov/
National Association of Secretaries of State — https://www.nass.org/
State and Local Government on the Net — https://www.statelocalgov.net/