Good Saturday, folks, it is now Day 1 of the 2018 Government Shutdown. A few key questions, answered:

Why Does the Government Shut Down?

Because among the three branches established by the U.S. constitution, only Congress has the power to distribute funds from the treasury. This is one of the primary purposes of the House and Senate, and it gives them extraordinary power, often called "The Power of the Purse." It also means that when a majority of lawmakers fail to reach a compromise, the federal government grinds to a halt.

Is Everything Really Shut Down?

No. Budgeters at many agencies are able to move money around to keep some critical activities online, such as emergency response capabilities, essential data storage facilities, military operations, airport operations, etc. During this shutdown, unlike previous ones, many National Parks will remain open, though with much lower staffing levels. Check out our feature, What Really Happens in a Shutdown?

How Long Will This Last?

That's very hard to say, though the latest word is that the Senate will continue to work through the weekend to try to hammer out a deal before Monday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is currently aiming for an even shorter stopgap bill than the four-week one that failed on Friday, hoping to buy some negotiating time on the real sticking points among lawmakers -- continuing the so called "Dreamers" program, which could end in March. We'll keep you updated as events develop.

What Can I Do?

Now is definitely the time to contact your lawmakers, especially your two senators, and tell them what you think they should do! This is big news in government, and every lawmaker will have an ear to the ground to see how it is playing among their own constituencies. You can find the latest updates here, and hit that Take Action button to immediately write, call or even send a video to your representatives.

Your Gov at a Glance 👀

The White House: President Trump in DC

• The president canceled his planned weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago to stay in Washington and continue negotiations over government funding.

The House of Representatives: In Session

• The House passed a version of a stopgap funding bill on Thursday night, but is remaining in session in case it needs to vote on a version amended and passed by the Senate. No votes are currently scheduled.

The Senate: In Session

• Expect to see a lot of shuttle diplomacy between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and President Trump. This is a big moment in governance!

We'll keep in touch, friends. Let us know what you think, and what questions we can answer. I'd love to tackle your questions in our next installment, Shutdown Day 2! Unless they reach a deal before then… which seems… unlikely.

— Andrea Seabrook, Managing Editor Talk to Andrea via email, andrea [at] countable.us, or on twitter, @RadioBabe. And don’t forget to keep in touch @Countable.