diff --git a/Pipfile b/Pipfile
index dea3505aa..79f9af4f2 100644
--- a/Pipfile
+++ b/Pipfile
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ name = "pypi"
 [packages]
 gitpython = "*"
 requests = ">=2.20.0"
+pygithub = "*"
 
 [dev-packages]
 pylint = "*"
diff --git a/Pipfile.lock b/Pipfile.lock
index 91b91c131..dde604baa 100644
--- a/Pipfile.lock
+++ b/Pipfile.lock
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
     "_meta": {
         "hash": {
-            "sha256": "dfd95da88f8bd7bc96eb87c1ecc54a8f1bfee720243ab2f6eb2c50e71c98b11c"
+            "sha256": "2ce59710697fafac5eb5536b8fa7b930c91f31e6884e3b57914161ec07592133"
         },
         "pipfile-spec": 6,
         "requires": {},
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@
             ],
             "version": "==3.0.4"
         },
+        "deprecated": {
+            "hashes": [
+                "sha256:2f293eb0eee34b1fcf3da530fe8fc4b0d71d43ddc2dc78e2ffb444b6c0868557",
+                "sha256:749f6cdcfbdc3f79258f8154bad43fced95adc632c337675d0385959895894bc"
+            ],
+            "version": "==1.2.5"
+        },
         "gitdb2": {
             "hashes": [
                 "sha256:83361131a1836661a155172932a13c08bda2db3674e4caa32368aa6eb02f38c2",
@@ -50,6 +57,20 @@
             ],
             "version": "==2.8"
         },
+        "pygithub": {
+            "hashes": [
+                "sha256:263102b43a83e2943900c1313109db7a00b3b78aeeae2c9137ba694982864872"
+            ],
+            "index": "pypi",
+            "version": "==1.43.5"
+        },
+        "pyjwt": {
+            "hashes": [
+                "sha256:5c6eca3c2940464d106b99ba83b00c6add741c9becaec087fb7ccdefea71350e",
+                "sha256:8d59a976fb773f3e6a39c85636357c4f0e242707394cadadd9814f5cbaa20e96"
+            ],
+            "version": "==1.7.1"
+        },
         "requests": {
             "hashes": [
                 "sha256:502a824f31acdacb3a35b6690b5fbf0bc41d63a24a45c4004352b0242707598e",
@@ -71,6 +92,12 @@
                 "sha256:de9529817c93f27c8ccbfead6985011db27bd0ddfcdb2d86f3f663385c6a9c22"
             ],
             "version": "==1.24.1"
+        },
+        "wrapt": {
+            "hashes": [
+                "sha256:4aea003270831cceb8a90ff27c4031da6ead7ec1886023b80ce0dfe0adf61533"
+            ],
+            "version": "==1.11.1"
         }
     },
     "develop": {
@@ -104,11 +131,11 @@
         },
         "black": {
             "hashes": [
-                "sha256:817243426042db1d36617910df579a54f1afd659adb96fc5032fcf4b36209739",
-                "sha256:e030a9a28f542debc08acceb273f228ac422798e5215ba2a791a6ddeaaca22a5"
+                "sha256:09a9dcb7c46ed496a9850b76e4e825d6049ecd38b611f1224857a79bd985a8cf",
+                "sha256:68950ffd4d9169716bcb8719a56c07a2f4485354fec061cdd5910aa07369731c"
             ],
             "index": "pypi",
-            "version": "==18.9b0"
+            "version": "==19.3b0"
         },
         "certifi": {
             "hashes": [
diff --git a/gator/.DS_Store b/gator/.DS_Store
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6978dbfbf
Binary files /dev/null and b/gator/.DS_Store differ
diff --git a/gator/arguments.py b/gator/arguments.py
index 2e6ee6f97..db62cb24d 100644
--- a/gator/arguments.py
+++ b/gator/arguments.py
@@ -29,6 +29,57 @@ def parse(args):
     # CORRECT WHEN: user provides this argument but not any other main arguments
     gg_parser.add_argument("--commits", type=int, help="minimum number of git commits")
 
+    # specify a check for the number of issues raised in the Github issue tracker
+    # CORRECT WHEN: user provides this argument along with a github token, the
+    # name of the repo to check and the name of the user to check
+    gg_parser.add_argument("--issues", type=int, help="minimum number of issues raised")
+
+    # specify a check for the number of comments made on issues in the Github
+    # issue tracker
+    # CORRECT WHEN: user provides this argument along with a github token, the
+    # name of the repo to check and the name of the user to check
+    gg_parser.add_argument(
+        "--issue-comments", type=int, help="minimum number of comment made on issues"
+    )
+
+    # specify the github token to use for authenication
+    # CORRECT WHEN: user provides along with issues or issue comments, a repo
+    # name, and the user to check
+    gg_parser.add_argument(
+        "--token",
+        type=str,
+        metavar="TOKEN",
+        help="authenication token to access a github repository",
+    )
+
+    # specify the github repository to check the issues/comments of
+    # CORRECT WHEN: user provides along with issues or issue comments, a token,
+    # and the user to check
+    gg_parser.add_argument(
+        "--repo",
+        type=str,
+        metavar="REPO",
+        help="name of the repository to check the issues or comments of",
+    )
+
+    # specify the name of the user to check
+    # CORRECT WHEN: user provides along with issues or issue comments, a repo
+    # name, and a github token
+    gg_parser.add_argument(
+        "--name",
+        type=str,
+        metavar="NAME",
+        help="name of the creator of the issues or comments to check",
+    )
+
+    gg_parser.add_argument(
+        "--state",
+        type=str,
+        metavar="ISSUE_STATE",
+        default="all",
+        help="state of the issues to check, defaults to 'all'",
+    )
+
     # specify a single file and a single directory
     # CORRECT WHEN: user provides both of these
     gg_parser.add_argument(
@@ -172,6 +223,48 @@ def is_valid_commits(args):
     return False
 
 
+def is_valid_issues(args):
+    """Checks if it is a valid issues specification"""
+    if args.issues is not None:
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def is_valid_issue_comments(args):
+    """Checks if it is a valid issue comment specification"""
+    if args.issue_comments is not None:
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def is_valid_token(args):
+    """Checks if it is a valid token specification"""
+    if args.token is not None:
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def is_valid_repo(args):
+    """Checks if it is a valid repo specification"""
+    if args.repo is not None:
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def is_valid_name(args):
+    """Checks if it is a valid name specification"""
+    if args.name is not None:
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def is_valid_state(args):
+    """Checks if it is a valid state"""
+    if args.state is not None:
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
 # }}}
 
 # Ancillary helper functions {{{
@@ -310,7 +403,8 @@ def verify(args):
         if is_valid_exists(args):
             # verified_arguments = True
             file_verified.append(True)
-        # VERIFIED: correct check for comments with language in a file in a directory
+        # VERIFIED: correct check for comments with language in a file in a
+        # directory
         if is_valid_comments(args) and is_valid_language(args):
             # verified_arguments = True
             file_verified.append(True)
@@ -369,6 +463,13 @@ def verify(args):
         and not is_command_ancillary(args)
     ):
         verified_arguments = True
+    # no file or directory details were specified or a command given
+    # and the argumenet is a request to check the number of issues a person
+    # has made in the github issue tracker
+    elif (is_valid_issues(args) or is_valid_issue_comments(args)) and (
+        is_valid_token(args) and is_valid_repo(args) and is_valid_name(args)
+    ):
+        verified_arguments = True
     return verified_arguments
 
 
diff --git a/gator/invoke.py b/gator/invoke.py
index 2590dbb75..42e184f41 100644
--- a/gator/invoke.py
+++ b/gator/invoke.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from gator import repository
 from gator import run
 from gator import util
+from gator import issues
 
 JAVA = "Java"
 PYTHON = "Python"
@@ -51,6 +52,65 @@ def invoke_commits_check(student_repository, expected_count, exact=False):
     return did_check_pass
 
 
+def invoke_issues_check(github_token, repo_name, username, expected_count, issue_state):
+    """Checks to see if a student has made any issues in the issue tracker"""
+    # gets the number of issues the user has made in the tracker
+    did_check_pass, num_issues, err = issues.check_issues_made(
+        github_token, repo_name, username, expected_count, issue_state
+    )
+    message = (
+        str(username) + " has at made at least " + str(expected_count) + " issue(s)"
+    )
+    if err == -1:
+        diagnostic = "Invalid Github Token Supplied: '" + github_token + "'"
+    elif err == -2:
+        diagnostic = "Invalid Repository Supplied: '" + repo_name + "'"
+    else:
+        diagnostic = (
+            "Found "
+            + str(num_issues)
+            + " issue(s)"
+            + " made by "
+            + str(username)
+            + " in the "
+            + repo_name
+            + " repository"
+        )
+    update_report(did_check_pass, message, diagnostic)
+    return did_check_pass
+
+
+# pylint: disable=bad-continuation
+def invoke_issue_comments_check(
+    github_token, repo_name, username, expected_count, issue_state
+):
+    """Checks to see if a student has made any comments on issues in the issue tracker"""
+    # gets the number of comments the user has made on issues in the tracker
+    did_check_pass, num_comments, err = issues.check_comments_made(
+        github_token, repo_name, username, expected_count, issue_state
+    )
+    message = (
+        str(username) + " has at made at least " + str(expected_count) + " comment(s)"
+    )
+    if err == -1:
+        diagnostic = "Invalid Github Token Supplied: '" + github_token + "'"
+    elif err == -2:
+        diagnostic = "Invalid Repository Supplied: '" + repo_name + "'"
+    else:
+        diagnostic = (
+            "Found "
+            + str(num_comments)
+            + " comment(s)"
+            + " made by "
+            + str(username)
+            + " in the "
+            + repo_name
+            + " repository"
+        )
+    update_report(did_check_pass, message, diagnostic)
+    return did_check_pass
+
+
 def invoke_file_in_directory_check(filecheck, directory):
     """Check to see if the file is in the directory"""
     # get the home directory for checking and then check for file
diff --git a/gator/issues.py b/gator/issues.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8917f0a82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gator/issues.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+"""Get issues from the Github issue tracker and performs checks on them"""
+
+from github import Github
+from github.GithubException import UnknownObjectException, BadCredentialsException
+
+
+def check_issues_made(token, repo, name, expected, issue_state):
+    """Returns the number of issues that the given user has made"""
+    # github access
+    g = Github(token)
+    # gets the repo
+    try:
+        repo = g.get_repo(repo)
+    except BadCredentialsException:
+        return False, 0, -1
+    except UnknownObjectException:
+        return False, 0, -2
+    issues_made = 0
+    for issue in repo.get_issues(state=issue_state):
+        if issue.user.login == name and issue.pull_request is None:
+            issues_made += 1
+        if issues_made >= expected:
+            return True, issues_made, 0
+    return issues_made >= expected, issues_made, 0
+
+
+def check_comments_made(token, repo, name, expected, issue_state):
+    """Returns the number of comments that the given user has made"""
+    # github access
+    g = Github(token)
+    # gets the repo
+    try:
+        repo = g.get_repo(repo)
+    except BadCredentialsException:
+        return False, 0, -1
+    except UnknownObjectException:
+        return False, 0, -2
+    comments_made = 0
+    for issue in repo.get_issues(state=issue_state):
+        for comment in issue.get_comments():
+            if comment.user.login == name and issue.pull_request is None:
+                comments_made += 1
+            if comments_made >= expected:
+                return True, comments_made, 0
+    return comments_made >= expected, comments_made, 0
diff --git a/gator/orchestrate.py b/gator/orchestrate.py
index 886cb7dcb..c599c54f3 100644
--- a/gator/orchestrate.py
+++ b/gator/orchestrate.py
@@ -69,6 +69,46 @@ def check_commits(system_arguments):
     return actions
 
 
+def check_issues(system_arguments):
+    """Check the number of issues made in the github issue tracker"""
+    actions = []
+    if system_arguments.issues is not None:
+        actions.append(
+            [
+                INVOKE,
+                "invoke_issues_check",
+                [
+                    system_arguments.token,
+                    system_arguments.repo,
+                    system_arguments.name,
+                    system_arguments.issues,
+                    system_arguments.state,
+                ],
+            ]
+        )
+    return actions
+
+
+def check_issue_comments(system_arguments):
+    """Check the number of comments on issues made in the github issue tracker"""
+    actions = []
+    if system_arguments.issue_comments is not None:
+        actions.append(
+            [
+                INVOKE,
+                "invoke_issue_comments_check",
+                [
+                    system_arguments.token,
+                    system_arguments.repo,
+                    system_arguments.name,
+                    system_arguments.issue_comments,
+                    system_arguments.state,
+                ],
+            ]
+        )
+    return actions
+
+
 def check_exists(system_arguments):
     """Check the existence of a file in directory and return desired actions"""
     actions = []
@@ -305,6 +345,8 @@ def check(system_arguments):
         "check_count_file",
         "check_count_command",
         "check_executes_command",
+        "check_issues",
+        "check_issue_comments",
     ]
     # iterate through all of the possible checks
     for a_check in checks:
diff --git a/tests/test_arguments.py b/tests/test_arguments.py
index d3a37d711..b1ac29807 100644
--- a/tests/test_arguments.py
+++ b/tests/test_arguments.py
@@ -544,6 +544,64 @@ def test_is_valid_comments_valid(chosen_arguments):
     assert verified_arguments is True
 
 
+def test_is_valid_token_false():
+    """Tests valid_token specifications when it args.token is None"""
+    # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
+    # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
+    class args:
+        token = None
+
+    args = args()
+    expected_output = False
+    assert arguments.is_valid_token(args) == expected_output
+
+
+def test_is_valid_repo_None():
+    """Tests if repo does not have valid specifications"""
+    # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
+    # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
+    class args:
+        repo = None
+
+    expected_output = False
+    assert arguments.is_valid_repo(args) == expected_output
+
+
+def test_is_valid_name_false():
+    """Tests is_valid_name when args.name is None"""
+    # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
+    # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
+    class args:
+        name = None
+
+    expected_output = False
+    assert arguments.is_valid_name(args) == expected_output
+
+
+def test_is_valid_state_True():
+    """Tests if it is a valid state"""
+
+    # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
+    # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
+    class args:
+        state = "something"
+
+    expected_output = True
+    assert arguments.is_valid_state(args) == expected_output
+
+
+def test_is_valid_state_False():
+    """Tests if it is a valid state"""
+
+    # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
+    # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
+    class args:
+        state = None
+
+    expected_output = False
+    assert arguments.is_valid_state(args) == expected_output
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "chosen_arguments",
     [
diff --git a/tests/test_invoke.py b/tests/test_invoke.py
index 11e121da8..0b79f4415 100644
--- a/tests/test_invoke.py
+++ b/tests/test_invoke.py
@@ -32,6 +32,74 @@ def test_commit_checks_exact(reset_results_dictionary):
     assert details is not None
 
 
+def test_invoke_issues_check_GitHub():
+    """Checks to see if the github_token is invalid and expects False"""
+    github_token = "fake token"
+    repo_name = "fake_name"
+    username = "user"
+    expected_count = "0"
+    issue_state = "all"
+    expected_output = False
+    assert (
+        invoke.invoke_issues_check(
+            github_token, repo_name, username, expected_count, issue_state
+        )
+        == expected_output
+    )
+
+
+def test_invoke_issues_check_repo():
+    """Checks to see if the github_token is invalid and expects False"""
+    TOKEN = "3e20125561f10fa4df42"
+    Next = "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8"
+    github_token = TOKEN + Next
+    repo_name = "fake_name"
+    username = "user"
+    expected_count = "0"
+    issue_state = "all"
+    expected_output = False
+    assert (
+        invoke.invoke_issues_check(
+            github_token, repo_name, username, expected_count, issue_state
+        )
+        == expected_output
+    )
+
+
+def test_invoke_issue_comments_check_GitHub():
+    """Tests for an Invalid GitHub Token supplied"""
+    repo_name = "fake_name"
+    username = "user"
+    expected_count = "0"
+    issue_state = "all"
+    github_token = "fake_token"
+    expected_output = False
+    assert (
+        invoke.invoke_issue_comments_check(
+            github_token, repo_name, username, expected_count, issue_state
+        )
+        == expected_output
+    )
+
+
+def test_invoke_issue_comments_check_repo():
+    """Tests for an Invalid GitHub Token supplied"""
+    TOKEN = "3e20125561f10fa4df42"
+    Next = "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8"
+    github_token = TOKEN + Next
+    repo_name = "fake_name"
+    username = "user"
+    expected_count = "0"
+    issue_state = "all"
+    expected_output = False
+    assert (
+        invoke.invoke_issue_comments_check(
+            github_token, repo_name, username, expected_count, issue_state
+        )
+        == expected_output
+    )
+
+
 # pylint: disable=unused-argument
 # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
 def test_file_exists_in_directory_check(reset_results_dictionary, tmpdir):
diff --git a/tests/test_issues.py b/tests/test_issues.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b7febc669
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_issues.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+"""Test cases for the issues module"""
+
+from gator import issues
+
+# will need to not use this and take out the second half of the token later.
+TOKEN = "3e20125561f10fa4df42"
+
+
+def test_issue_made_pass():
+    """Checks to ensure that issues are correctly being checked"""
+    out, num, err = issues.check_issues_made(
+        TOKEN + "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8",
+        "GatorEducator/test-repository",
+        "yeej2",
+        1,
+        "all",
+    )
+    assert out is True
+    assert num == 1
+    assert err == 0
+
+
+def test_issues_made_fail():
+    """Checks when issues_made is less than expected"""
+    out, num, err = issues.check_issues_made(
+        TOKEN + "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8",
+        "GatorEducator/test-repository",
+        "yeej2",
+        2,
+        "all",
+    )
+    assert out is False
+    assert num == 1
+    assert err == 0
+
+
+def test_issue_comment_pass():
+    """Checks to ensure that comments on issues are correctly being checked"""
+    out, num, err = issues.check_comments_made(
+        TOKEN + "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8",
+        "GatorEducator/test-repository",
+        "yeej2",
+        1,
+        "all",
+    )
+    assert out is True
+    assert num == 1
+    assert err == 0
+
+
+def test_issue_comment_fail():
+    """Checks to ensure that comments on issues are correctly being checked"""
+    out, num, err = issues.check_comments_made(
+        TOKEN + "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8",
+        "GatorEducator/test-repository",
+        "yeej2",
+        2,
+        "all",
+    )
+    assert out is False
+    assert num == 1
+    assert err == 0
+
+
+def test_issue_invalid_token():
+    """Checks to ensure that an incorrect token returns the correct error"""
+    __, __, err = issues.check_issues_made(
+        "aaa", "GatorEducator/test-repository", "yeej2", 1, "all"
+    )
+    assert err == -1
+
+
+# pylint: disable=function-redefined
+def test_issue_invalid_repo():
+    """Checks to ensure that if there is an incorrect repo it returns the correct error"""
+    __, __, err = issues.check_issues_made(
+        TOKEN + "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8", "GatorEducator/gator", "yeej2", 1, "all"
+    )
+    assert err == -2
+
+
+# def test_check_issues_made():
+#     """Checks the final output of check_issues_made"""
+#     actual_output = issues.check_issues_made(
+#         TOKEN + "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8", "GatorEducator/test-repository", "yeej2", 1, "all"
+#     )
+#     expected_output =
+
+
+# pylint: disable=function-redefined
+def test_comments_invalid_token():
+    """Checks to ensure that if there is an incorrect token it returns the correct error"""
+    __, __, err = issues.check_comments_made(
+        "aaa", "GatorEducator/test-repository", "yeej2", 1, "all"
+    )
+    assert err == -1
+
+
+def test_comments_invalid_repo():
+    """Checks to ensure that if there is an incorrect repo it returns the correct error"""
+    __, __, err = issues.check_comments_made(
+        TOKEN + "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8", "GatorEducator/gator", "yeej2", 1, "all"
+    )
+    assert err == -2
diff --git a/tests/test_orchestrate.py b/tests/test_orchestrate.py
index f0ce1eb66..05155b298 100644
--- a/tests/test_orchestrate.py
+++ b/tests/test_orchestrate.py
@@ -102,6 +102,64 @@ def test_perform_actions_display_welcome_and_ready_check_commit(
     assert exit_code == 0
 
 
+TOKEN = "3e20125561f10fa4df42"
+
+
+# pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+# pylint: disable=bad-continuation
+def test_perform_actions_display_welcome_and_ready_check_issues(
+    capsys, reset_results_dictionary
+):
+    """Check argument verification, messages, and continue"""
+    chosen_arguments = [
+        "--token",
+        TOKEN + "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8",
+        "--repo",
+        "GatorEducator/gatorgrader",
+        "--name",
+        "gkapfham",
+        "--issues",
+        "1",
+        "--state",
+        "all",
+    ]
+    exit_code = orchestrate.check(chosen_arguments)
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+    counted_newlines = captured.out.count("\n")
+    assert "GatorGrader" in captured.out
+    assert counted_newlines == 6
+    assert exit_code == 0
+
+
+TOKEN = "3e20125561f10fa4df42"
+
+
+# pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+# pylint: disable=bad-continuation
+def test_perform_actions_display_welcome_and_ready_check_issue_comments(
+    capsys, reset_results_dictionary
+):
+    """Check argument verification, messages, and continue"""
+    chosen_arguments = [
+        "--token",
+        TOKEN + "ac38d5bdd114df9a0ee8",
+        "--repo",
+        "GatorEducator/gatorgrader",
+        "--name",
+        "gkapfham",
+        "--issue-comments",
+        "1",
+        "--state",
+        "all",
+    ]
+    exit_code = orchestrate.check(chosen_arguments)
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+    counted_newlines = captured.out.count("\n")
+    assert "GatorGrader" in captured.out
+    assert counted_newlines == 6
+    assert exit_code == 0
+
+
 # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
 # pylint: disable=bad-continuation
 def test_perform_actions_display_welcome_and_ready_check_exists(