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The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act took effect October 1, 2009. The Serve America Act reauthorizes and expands national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

National Service Programs - Fast Facts - compare and contrast AmeriCorps and national service programs for people of all ages

The term national service usually refers to programs under the umbrella of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent agency established by Congress in 1993.

National service includes military service and the National Guard as well as a number of programs that operate as nonprofit organizations and receive some federal funding, such as Teach For America, City Year, and Public Allies.

State service commissions, whose members are appointed by state governors, re-grant federal funds to support national service programs and promote community service at the local level.

The first federally-funded domestic national service program was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCCC) created under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Today's descendent of the CCC is The Corps Network of 113 Service and Conservation Corps operating in 41 states and the District of Columbia,

Peace Corps, probably the best known government-sponsored service program, was created in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), created in 1964, is now AmeriCorps*VISTA.

Links - resources about national service, service-learning, and advocacy for national service.