Google offers a lot of APIs for public use, even a Civic Information API.

So, all that data government should be providing... well, Google is doing it. I'm glad somebody is doing it.

I tried to do it in 2007, and again, and again. But its a difficult task. Phil Ashlock, now working at the GSA, told me at OpenGovWest - if it was an easy problem, it'd already be solved.

We talked about the simple idea that government is place-based. Given a person's location, several different layers of government are applicable.

For example, if I live in Vacaville, California - Vacaville is a city within Solano County within the State of California.

So, that's 3 jurisidictional layers so far. City, County, and State.

Oh, and the United States, the federal government, so 4 jurisdictional layers.

Vacaville has a Mayor and a City Council, in addition to city government, which includes Police, Fire, Housing, and general government administration. In the mid 2000's Vacaville's annual budget was about $100 million per year.

Solano County has a Board of Supervisors, a Sheriff, a Coroner, a Treasurer, Auditor-Controller, Attorney. In the mid 2000's Solano County's budget fluctuated from $700 million to 1.1 billion during the housing boom.

The State has a Governor, the Assembly, Parks, Environment, Water, Transportation, Education, and again, general administration.

The United States has a President, Vice President, Secretary of State, etc. Along with Congress, and the Senate, and the Supreme Court. And more.

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Yet, a local ballot shows there is more government.

In Vacaville, we have a School District, Vacaville Unified School District. Elementary.

At the State level, the Assembly is composed of members who represent State Assembly Districts.

At the federal level, there are Congressional Districts.

And, finally,