Welcome to Fourth Branch of America!

Uncle Sam needs to drill out partisanship out of the decaying tooth in Congress

September 2008 TIC
Artist - Nate Beeler
The Washington Examiner, Washington, D.C. Click here to see past cartoons.

This site is being redesigned to present added functionality,
such as discussion forums, and legislation tracking.
Would you like us to send you an email when it's ready? Just let us know.

Please note that all references in this website, the articles, or within copies of The Informed Constituent^® to our old phone number, (518) 475-0303 are obsolete, and should now instead go to (518) 275-2114. Likewise, our old email address of FBA@nycap.rr.com is no longer active, and should now instead go directly to the FBA founder, Ray Feliciano, at Ray.Feliciano@fourthbranchofamerica.com.
We apologize for any inconvenience during this re-organization.

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(free download of Adobe Acrobat Reader at www.adobe.com)

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submit resume to Ray.Feliciano@fourthbranchofamerica.com

Subscriptions to The Informed Constituent^® are temporarily unavailable. If interested in hearing when The Informed Constituent will next be published, please contact the founder, Ray Feliciano, at Ray.Feliciano@fourthbranchofamerica.com and let him know that you will be interested in hearing when The Informed Constituent^® will again be available.
Thank you for your interest.

"Bringing your government to you!"

The Fourth Branch of America, or the FBA, is a non-partisan organization dedicated to empowering people to reconnect with their government. We do this by keeping citizens informed regarding the issues, politicians, and legislation being considered by the government, whether at the Federal, State, or Town level.
Click here to find out more about the FBA.

The Informed Constituent ^®

First published by the FBA in November 2003, The Informed Constituent ^® has quickly become respected in the Capital Region of New York for being one of the most objective, non-partisan political newspapers to be found. TIC features political news from the local, state, and federal levels. We have featured local debates, international perspectives, interviews with politicians, as well as tours/interviews of important infrastructures (i.e. dairy farm, nuclear power plant, transportation authority). We intend to start editions of TIC across the nation. Click here for more regarding The Informed Constituent.

The New York Capital Region edition of The Informed Constituent is the prototype of what will be franchised across the United States. The Fourth Branch of America (FBA) website will grow to be the "portal" or "medium" between people and their government and community.

'Message Board' (or blog/forum) functionality will create a community forum where all perspectives may be expressed. To further increase the benefits of the FBA website, voting records for politicians (and their positions on various issues) will be easily available. With our 'Bill Tracker' functionality, members would be able to track specific legislation. Community events will be tracked with our 'Community Calender' feature. As this web site develops, it will become a popular forum for political discussion and electronic meetings.

September 2008 TIC

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Article examples found in TIC

New York Senator - Efrain González (Dec. '08 TIC)
7 Congressional Candidates for NY's 21^st District (Sept. '08 TIC)
Union leader for UNITE-HERE: Rev. Michael Roberts (June '08 TIC)
Albany County Executive - Michael Breslin (April. '08 TIC)
Scientology - Interview w/NY Pres. - Rev. John Carmichael (Feb. '08 TIC)

Candidates for Mayor of Troy, New York (October '07 TIC)
Interview with FBI Special Agent John Pikus (September '07 TIC)
Congresswoman Gillibrand (NY-20) - Featured Interview (June '07 TIC)
U.S. Presidential Elections 2008 Well Underway (June '07 TIC)
Importance of Honeybees for Sustaining Life on Earth (June '07 TIC)
Muslim Children at 'Al-Fatemah' Mosque Taught Charity (May '07 TIC)
Rensselaer Mayor Daniel H. Dwyer on the "New Rensselaer" (April '07 TIC)
Exclusive: How Does the UK Parliament Work? (Mar. '07 TIC)
Albany Police Chief, James Tuffey (Feb. '07 TIC)
John Beaudoin, Social Services Commissioner of Rensselaer County (Jan '07 TIC)

America’s Ship of State Starts to Change Course (Dec.'06 TIC)
Immigration Debate Continues to Smolder On (Dec.'06 TIC)
African Princess Visits Region for Expired HIV/AIDS Medications (Dec.'06 TIC)
What is Islam? Who are the Muslims? - Part 2 (Perceptions) (Dec.'06 TIC)
Albany County District Attorney - David Soares (Dec.'06 TIC)
Domestic Violence: Is the VAWA Legislation Fair to Men? (Dec.'06 TIC)
Senator Bruno Secured Funds for Family Resource Center (Dec.'06 TIC)
Spitzer, Faso, and McCourt Debate to be NY Governor (Oct.'06 TIC)
Albany Police Stations to Close; More Street Cops in Neighborhoods (Oct.'06 TIC)
United Nations: A Humanitarian Answer to Security (Oct.'06 TIC)
What is Islam? Who Are the Muslims? Part I (Historical) (Oct.'06 TIC)
Electronic Voting Machines Exposed By Task Force (Oct.'06 TIC)
Congressional Candidates for NY's 20^th District (Sep.'06 TIC)
Trial By Media Undermines Credibility of Law (Sep.'06 TIC)
Global Warming Controversy is Heating Up (Sep.'06 TIC)
Is the U.S. a Democracy...or a Republic? (Sep.'06 TIC)
Nanotechnology Industry Creating Jobs in New Tech Valley of New York State (Sep.'06 TIC)
The Free School of Albany Says it is Freeing Minds (Sep.'06 TIC)
3 Congressional Candidates for NY's 21^st District (Aug.'06 TIC)
Media Talks of World War III and Apocalypse (Aug.'06 TIC)
Bus Riders Fight Colonie Center and CDTA for Bus Stops (Aug.'06 TIC)
Complexity of Israeli-Hezbollah-Lebanon War (Aug.'06 TIC)
Discussing Landfills with the Dir. of Environmental Services, Joe Stockbridge (Jul.'06 TIC)
Initiative, Referendum, and Recall - Not Available in New York State (Jul.'06 TIC)
Energy Incentives in New York State(Jul.'06 TIC)
Interview with Town of Bethlehem Chief of Police, Louis G. Corsi (May.'06 TIC)
Unofficial 'Ethics Truce' Affecting Washington (May.'06 TIC)
COPS-CARE Educates Youth and Citizens on Real Life Issues (May.'06 TIC)
Immigration Issues Rise to National Awareness (May.'06 TIC)
Decoding Health Insurance in America (May.'06 TIC)
New York State News: Biofuels and 'Clean Fuel' Technology for Automobiles (May.'06 TIC)
Constitutionalist Arrested, Federal Charges in Question (Mar.'06 TIC)
Science For Predicting Violence & Dangerousness (Mar.'06 TIC)
Kermit L. Hall, UAlbany President & Constitutional Scholar (Feb.'06 TIC)
David Soares, District Attorney of Albany County (Jan.'06 TIC)

N.Y. Senator Balboni, Homeland Security Chairman (Dec.'05 TIC)
Terri Schiavo's Brother Speaks at Local Right-To-Life Dinner (Dec.'05 TIC)
Hispanic Church in Schenectady Runs Free Civics & Literacy Classes (Dec.'05 TIC)
Consumer-Driven 'Health Savings Accounts' (Dec.'05 TIC)
CDTA Executive Director, Stephen Bland (Nov.'05 TIC)
ARISE Churches Unite for Community Revitalization (Nov.'05 TIC)
U.S. Unprepared for Pandemic Plague (Nov.'05 TIC)
Turbulent Times for Bush Administration (Nov.'05 TIC)
Zawahiri Letter to Zarqawi - Discusses War of Perceptions (Nov.'05 TIC)
Pharmaceutical Industry and Organized Psychiatry (Nov.'05 TIC)
Energy Chairman, NY Assm. Paul Tonko (Oct.'05 TIC)
FBA Welcomed at Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant (Aug.'05 TIC)
Iran's Confrontational Stance Concerns Critics (Aug.'05 TIC)
Eminent Domain Issue Hits Home, Literally (Aug.'05 TIC)
Ramifications of Real ID Act (Aug.'05 TIC)
Albany Superintendent of Schools - Dr. Eva Joseph (June.'05 TIC)
The Significance of ‘Deep Throat’ to Free Press (June.'05 TIC)
Future of European Union in Question (June.'05 TIC)
Expert Suggests New Rules in an Age of Sprawl (June.'05 TIC)
Nuclear Proliferation in Asia on the Rise (May.'05 TIC)
Dairy Farmer Doug LaGrange (May.'05 TIC)
Albany County Comptroller Mike Conners (Apr.'05 TIC)
Pope John Paul II Dies. Vatican Changes Hands (Apr.'05 TIC)
Understanding How Terri Schiavo's Case Progressed in Court (Apr.'05 TIC)
West Side Stadium Project Closer to Reality (Apr.'05 TIC)
WRPI's Dennis Karius Fired for Airing Senate Hearing (Apr.'05 TIC)
Vermont Fugitive Seeks Help, and FBA Responds (Mar.'05 TIC)
Interview with Albany Co. Jail Superintendent Thomas Wigger (Mar.'05 TIC)
New York State Senator Hugh Farley (Feb.'05 TIC)
Israelis and Palestinians Contemplate Future (Feb.'05 TIC)
Memories of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Feb.'05 TIC)
FCC Says Goodbye to Chairman Michael Powell (Feb.'05 TIC)
Pataki's State of the State Highlights Tech Valley (Feb.'05 TIC)
Albany's Mayor Jennings State of the City Address (Feb.'05 TIC)
Polyamory, The Next Sexual Revolution? (Feb.'05 TIC)
Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton (Jan.'05 TIC)
Bethlehem Town Supervisor Theresa Egan (Jan.'05 TIC)
How Prepared is the U.S. for a Major Disaster? (Jan.'05 TIC)
Oil-for-Food Scandal Haunts United Nations (Jan.'05 TIC)
Young Entrepreneurs Cater to Students with Poker Event (Jan.'05 TIC)
Bush's Social Security Plan Has Promoters and Detractors (Jan.'05 TIC)
How Federal Education Speding Affects Local Taxpayers (Jan.'05 TIC)

Highlights from Exclusive FBA Interviews (Dec. '04 TIC)
Ralph Nader and Peter Camejo Visit Albany (Nov. '04 TIC)
Former U.N. Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter Claims Iraq about Regime Change, Not WMD (Nov. '04 TIC)
New Scotland Town Clerk, Diane Deschenes (Nov. '04 TIC)
Senior Citizen Committed for Protesting DMV (Nov. '04 TIC)
A Brief Comparison of Religions in the Capital District (Nov. '04 TIC)
First Election in Afghanistan a Note of Pride (Nov. '04 TIC)
Special Election Coverage (Oct. '04 TIC)
Right to Life vs. Planned Parenthood on Abortion (Oct. '04 TIC)
FBA Celebrates Their One Year Anniversary! (Oct. '04 TIC)
Understanding How Polls Work (Oct. '04 TIC)
Understanding the Electoral College (Oct. '04 TIC)
Three Way Race for Albany Co. District Attorney (Sept. '04 TIC)
FBA Interviews Albany County Sheriff Campbell (August '04 TIC)
Community Arts United Starts Big(August '04 TIC)
FBA with NY State Wildlife Pathologist Dr. Ward Stone (July '04 TIC)
FBA Interviews Albany County Legislator Herb Reilly (July '04 TIC)
FBA Interviews Assemblyman Ron Canestrari (June '04 TIC)
Assm. Eddington Takes Aim at .50 Caliber Guns (June '04 TIC)
FBA Interviews Assemblyman Daniel J. O'Donnell (May '04 TIC)
Senator Smith Discusses Off-shoring U.S. Jobs (May '04 TIC)
FBA Interviews Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings (Apr. '04 TIC)
FBA Interviews Assemblyman Pat M. Casale (Mar. '04 TIC)
FBA Hosts a Presidential Surrogate Debate (Mar. '04 TIC)
Iraq Had No WMD, But Others Did (Feb. '04 TIC)
Kerry Leads, Dean Damaged, Others Struggle (Feb. '04 TIC)
FBA Interviews Congressman McNulty (Feb. '04 TIC)
Assemblyman Karben Calls to Praise FBA (Feb. '04 TIC)
Bush Claims Major Victories in December (Jan. '04 TIC)
Democratic Primaries and Caucuses Begin (Jan. '04 TIC)
FBA Interviews NY State Senator Neil D. Breslin (Jan. '04 TIC)
Beef is Safe from Mad Cow Disease (Jan. '04 TIC)

FBA Interviews NY State Assemblyman John J. McEneny (Dec. '03 TIC)
DEC Dismissing Cougar Sightings (Dec. '03 TIC)
FBA Sponsors Town of New Scotland Debates (Nov. '03 TIC)

How Did the FBA Get Its Name?

Traditionally, we were told to only think of three branches of our government. The Executive Branch, meant to enforce the laws, the Legislative Branch which makes the laws, and the Judicial Branch which interprets the law’s compatibility with our Constitution.

We suggest that the true power of this country actually rests with the people...
we the people… ostensibly the Fourth Branch of America. It is from the people that each of the other three branches derives their mandate. We wish to remind both our government and citizens alike that we are are country of the people, by the people, for the people.

How Do I Join the FBA or
Subscribe to The Informed Constituent?

Subscriptions to The Informed Constituent^® are temporarily unavailable. If interested in hearing when The Informed Constituent will again be published, please contact the founder, Ray Feliciano, at Ray.Feliciano@fourthbranchofamerica.com and let him know that you will be interested in hearing when The Informed Constituent^® will again be available. Thank you for your interest.

Fourth Branch of America

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