A Guide to Major Congressional and Presidential Awards

This report is intended to help congressional offices obtain information about civilian awards authorized by Congress and the President. It provides details about the establishment, criteria, selection process, and presentation of the Congressional Award, Congressional Gold Medal, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Presidential Citizens Medal. It also contains basic information on 30 additional awards and medals, though this is not necessarily a comprehensive list of nonmilitary U.S. government decorations. This report does not include information about military service awards.